Quote:
Originally Posted by maggies_mama  |
Okay, I'll try to answer............4 weeks might be a bit young to tape ears and/or you don't necessarily even have to. Yorkie ears are supposed to come up naturally. But if you're anything like me, I get paranoid and do like to tape them.....just to be sure. I've seen threads where some breeders start taping them at 5-6 weeks. Yes, first you will need to shave the hair off of their ears. I've always used masking tape; I've heard people using painters tape-I think it comes off easier. I usually tape each ear and then tape them together with tape going across between them. If you do a search hereon YT of "taping ears", you'll probably come across more info on this or Google "taping yorkies ears" & you should get some websites that actually show pics or drawings of the process.
As far as starting the kids on solids????? IMO, I think 4 weeks is a bit young for this also, but when the time is right; you start by grinding up quality dry puppy food very fine and mixing in warm water, puppy formula, and/or a
tiny bit of canned puppy food. Mix it all well (in a blender) & let the fun begin! Weaning pups is a messy process. Until they are all eating the gruel well, "mom" will still have to supplement them also. I'd maybe start trying the weaning process at again...5-6 weeks. In the meantime....is mom eating plenty of food & drinking plenty of water herself? She should be eating puppy food also until the pups are weaned.
Have you been to the debbie jensen website?
Canine Reproduction Video and Book on Breeding and Whelping dogs by Debbie Jensen for dog breeders and Whelping Supplies needed to deliver puppies. It is my favorite site (besides YT) and has a section on the weaning process. Check it out.