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Originally Posted by Rosiegirl  Hi Everyone. I have a question about my mom and her 3 1/2 week old pups. I am pretty sure all of this is normal but I just want to ask so I know for certain. She is spending more time away from her pups, she does not avoid them or anything, but I just want to make sure all of this is normal. When she feeds them should it only take 3 or 4 minutes ? I am sure their teeth are probably coming in and it might hurt her a bit. I just sat with them all and they ate for 3 or 4 minutes, a few pulled off and looked happy, but a few weeks ago they stayed latched on longer. They also aren't crying or anything, they are starting to wander out of the bed area a little, that is truly adorable, they walk and sometimes roll around when they lose their balance, it is too cute! ( I am not wondering about them moving around, just the feeding part)  Thanks for any advise comments.
P.S. When do some of you like to introduce mushy food? Water? (There are 5 pups, so that is a pretty big litter, should I introduce the food sooner because there are 5 pups?) I have read to start w/ mushy food 1X a day at 3 weeks but that seemed too soon to me. |
I start offering Gerber's rice cereal at about 3 1/2 to 4 weeks mixed with a bit of goats milk, enough to make it soupy, offering it 3 times a day. With a litter the size of yours, it's probably a good idea for your mom too. You can also offer a dish of Plain ole canned Goats Milk. Remember everything should be served at room temperature. They are draining so much calicium from her. As they get older and get their teeth I begin adding kibbles and making the gruel less liquidy...By the time my pups are weaned anywhere between 8 and 10 weeks, they're on puppy kibbles mixed with a bit of wet food, sometimes adding grated cheese, cottage cheese, boiled skinless boneless chicken breast shreds. Sometimes, when I have a pup that is not taking to their food readily, I'll add Parmasean Cheese, don't ask me whey they love the stinky stuff.