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When do I introduce food to the puppies? They are just over 3 weeks and seem to be doing quite well and are growing and such. My momma dog has quit feeding me as much, and I really think she is growing tired of them again. The look like they are trying to eat her alive when they nurse and she has whelps on her belly from them. She is not enjoying it all. That, I think, is the reason she is not feeding them as often. They ALWAYS seem hungry, even after she has nursed them for 30 minutes straight. I believe she is producing enough milk still because her bag will drag the ground before she goes and feeds them, and they suck her dry. So when can I introduce puppy food? Do I wait til she has quit nursing or is there a certain time frame that is good?? Thanks!! |
YOu can sryringe find the babies milk and nutra cal now..that what I do at 3wks with my pups and at 4 weeks at start giving them can puppy food mixed with puppy milk with nutra cal in it also and they LOOVE it! ALL litters are different..you will just have to try it..mine do well with it. ;) |
I would not recommend syringe feeding them if you do not have experience you can easily drown or choke the babies if you do not know how to administer milk from a syringe. If I were you I would give them atleast 2 more weeks with their mother before I tried to ween them off of nursing from their mother, if they were hungry you would know it because all they would do is cry, if they are not crying then their mother is doing fine. In two more weeks when you do start to introduce the babies to food I would crush hard food into a powder almost and mix it with a little bit of esbilac milk on a flat saucer and let them feed that way, if they do not feed through the saucer then try with a syringe but only give them a little at a time do not empty the whole syringe into their mouths you could choke them. |
It sounds like your momma is doing a wonderful job of taking care of her puppies. I would not recommend supplementing the puppies unless you feel they are not getting enough milk but from what you described, it sounds like she is producing plenty of milk. Three week old puppies will have to nurse only every 3 or 4 hours. They will suck the momma dry in a short period of time. It is very important that the momma eats 4 good meals a day and has dry food always available. Also, make sure she is getting her calcium supplement. Make sure you keep the toenails on the puppies trimmed because they can get razor sharp at this age and that can really be painful to the momma. Once the puppies are walking around then you can introduce them the ground up puppy food. |
Thanks everyone! I thought it might be a little to early to start with feeding them puppy food. I will clip their nails, I never even thought of that. Of course they would be hurting her. I wouldn't want sharp claws tearing up my boobies either! Hopefully that will help. She is not really feeding them every 3-4 hours.. more like every 6, but they are not crying or anything and seem pretty content most of the time. I have one that cries a lot, but if I lightly pet it, or if mama will go to it and lick it (sometimes she wont) it will stop. |
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I have two litters of pups that are 4 1/2 weeks old... I just started yesterday giving them soaked dry food (mushed up). They all have been interested in their mom's food for awhile now.... and have started using the pee pads... I wait for the pups to give me a sign... but usually by 5 weeks I start feeding the pups soft food. Good luck with your pups... |
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