Sorry, you had a bad experience and lost one. At 4 weeks, abbi should be being fed 4 times a day. Don't leave wet food out for more than 20 minutes because of the risk of bacteria. Discard what the pup doesn't eat or let the Mom finish what is left. By 6 weeks they can usually start eating dry food which I leave out all the time, but still continue to feed the wet meals. Put a quality dry puppy food in a food processor or blender and turn it into a powder. It's not necessary that it be powdered, but it is a lot quicker to mix since you don't have to wait for the pellets to soften which takes a while. Mix the powderized dog good, a teaspoon of canned and warm water, stir well and make a soupy gruel. The consistency should be something she can lick up, more than chew. I think you will be amazed at how much she enjoys it. I put it in something with a very low rim, dip my finger in it and let them lick it off and that is all it takes. I start adding less water when I see they are not having any constipation problems.
It's normal for Moms to not let them nurse all the time at this stage. She will probably continue to nurse several times a day, but will put her on a schedule. She just doesn't want the puppy hanging on her all the time. Definitely start feeding Abbi the gruel though. Mom's will usually clean up the poo until you start feeding them. I am sure she is pooping and Mom is just eating it, but that will stop in the next couple of days. |