Thanks for responding. I read a few articles which said that you should very gradually start weaning them around 4 weeks with the goal of having them on puppy chow by 8 weeks. My real issue is I kinda feel that first time mom isn't digging on the nursing as much as she did at first. I trimmed and filed their nails. As soon as she hops in the box, they attack and she's not staying in the box for lengthy nursing like she used to. They cry sometimes and it's not until I approach the box that she even comes. She jumps up abruptly while they're latched onto her and they've come out of the box because they hold on until she shakes them off. She does seem to go in for more frequent but shorter nursings. When I come home from work and 1 or 2 haven't gained much or anything during the day, it makes me nervous. So that's part of the reason I supplement them with formula and thought I should try to get them weaned. Overall they are gaining and I suspect that the supplementation has helped.
My vet gave me the okay and I had been giving mom a vanilla pudding concoction (pudding mix, whole milk, egg yolks and a little sugar) which I'd read helped bring down the milk. At first she loved it and would nurse almost immediately after she had some but today I noticed she's not as interested in it as she used to. Do you have any suggestions with that? She does seem very interested in the puppy formula (full fat vanilla yogurt, evaporated milk, baby water, mayonnaise and egg yolks). Sometimes she interrupts their feeding to try to take some for herself. So after I give the 4 pups each about 1/4 ounce, I give her what's left which is about 1/2 to 1 ounce. Do you think I'm giving her too much calcium?
So many questions! Are you sorry you responded? I really appreciate any feedback. |