Quote:
Originally Posted by JeanieK  Ollie started weaning her's by herself at 4 weeks. I noticed that she would regurgitate her food for them.
So now I am also feeding the Gerber rice with goats milk and I mix in a little pedigree lamb and rice puppy formula and a touch of karo.
Last night was they first night they were separated from their mom all night and I was scared to death that I would wake up to dead puppies. But they were fine and hungry and ate VERY well. Prior to this they have been taking a few licks but did not eat a lot.
My concern is, How often should I feed them. I don't like to leave wet food set for over an hour. Is 4 times a day enough? Or should it be every 3 hours? |
I read it should be 4-5 times a day, but when I was doing just the rice cereal, I wasn't home enough to do it that many times. Lily pretty much nursed them up full time up until 5 to 5 1/2 weeks and I gave them the cereal only in the evenings.
Now, I'm doing what Angelbaby Mom's recommended and taking dry puppy kibble, soaking it in water until it's soft, and leaving the bowl in there with them. I bought a doggie bowl that was wide so they can't knock it over. I am now doing this about 4 times a day (morning, lunchtime (thx to my husband), evening, and before bedtime). Lily still goes in the pen with them a few times a day, but when she's in there, she's ready to come out pretty soon after. I'm not sure how she can deal with them still nursing with those teeth of theirs!
I tried the wet puppy food and none of them seemed to really like it, plus then there is the hassle of not being able to leave it out and having to store it away hoping it stays good, etc.
I also am letting them try to lap up water too in case they get thirsty after eating the kibble, but a lot of them don't know what to do with the water and are more interested in the shiny, silver bowl the water's in.
I don't leave the water in there with them though. I put it in there and pretty much take it out soon after.