weamimg....when and how?

[HeatherHamptons]

Im a bit confused by what i've read. Some things say to start weaning at around 6 weeks while others day they should be weaned BY 6 weeks.

When do I start the pups weaning, and how do I do that?

[YorkieRose]

I think most want them done by 6 weeks...I start at 4 1/2 to 5 weeks..
I make enough soaked dry food for a day or so...
I use one can evaporated milk, one egg yolk, no whites in a large pitcher.
I soak dry food for until mushy in a plastic container..refrigerate. I make a dish at a time...scoop out some mushed dry, add water...it has been soaked in canned milk, so adding water reconstitutes it. I make it soupy..also can add a bit of puppy canned..I like the small cans of Iams puppy..at 6 weeks I leave dry kibble out or add it to the mush and by 7 they are off mushy food...I just add a bit of canned food, water to dry kibble and give it to them right away without letting it get mushy.

[HeatherHamptons]

How do you stop them from feeding off of mom? Is it ok if they still do while eating their mush?

[Olivier]

How is the mother's reaction when they nurse at her ? Does she seems to enjoy the pups or she is rejecting them ?

[YorkieRose]

My girls want them weaned...they have an area they can get away from the pups and they can not nurse. When they see I am feeding them from the dish they won't let them nurse for more then a second or two, then they jump up on a couch

[HeatherHamptons]

Well, she's ok feeding them if I sit with her while she does that but if not she wont go in the bedroom and feed them. They are only 19 days old. She doesn't reject them persay, she just prefers to follow me whever I go and if I am not sitting next to the whelping box while she is feeding them then she wont feed.

Sometimes the pups try and feed on each other. At first I laughed but now it's like "c'mon angel, gotta feed your babies".

Once she does feed them, she licks them to potty and then immediatly hops out. They try cuddling with her but she would rather run around play.

[Lady of Yorkies]

I always let the mom ween them. When I see her trying to ween them then I put food down for the babies. Lady only has the one and she'll be 3 wks tomorrow. Lady doesn't spend a lot of time with her but she is well fed(fat) and there are times when they are together and Matty gets to snuggle. Sylvia

[HeatherHamptons]

Only one? If you dont mind me asking...did something happen to the others or was she the only one in her tummy? I apologize if I am out of line.

[Lady of Yorkies]

Heather you are not out of line. Lady had 2 puppies. I have had lots of dogs and have seen inexperienced moms do some strange things. This was Lady's first litter and she didn't do the usual rooting, digging and scratching around that females usually do. THIS IS GRAPHIC. She must have had the little boy first and the instinct to eat the placenta and afterbirth must have been strong. I think she didn't know when to stop eating and she ate the little legs and tail off the baby.

I was on the way to the bathroom when I saw him and at first I thot he died because he was deformed. My eyes are real bad without glasses. She ran under the bed and we had to pull it away from the wall to find the little girl. She was ice cold so I think she had been there a little while. I know that Yorkie babies can die from being cold up to 3 weeks, maybe more. So I have been keeping a close eye on her. She was making gurgling sounds, so I swung her a few times, but I was afraid of the "shaken baby" syndrome so maybe I didn't do it hard enough. We picked up mom and brother and went to the vet. They took Matty in back and brought her out a little bit later and she was much warmer and breathing better. So far so good, knock on wood. Sylvia

[HeatherHamptons]

Originally Posted by Lady of Yorkies

Heather you are not out of line. Lady had 2 puppies. I have had lots of dogs and have seen inexperienced moms do some strange things. This was Lady's first litter and she didn't do the usual rooting, digging and scratching around that females usually do. THIS IS GRAPHIC. She must have had the little boy first and the instinct to eat the placenta and afterbirth must have been strong. I think she didn't know when to stop eating and she ate the little legs and tail off the baby.

I was on the way to the bathroom when I saw him and at first I thot he died because he was deformed. My eyes are real bad without glasses. She ran under the bed and we had to pull it away from the wall to find the little girl. She was ice cold so I think she had been there a little while. I know that Yorkie babies can die from being cold up to 3 weeks, maybe more. So I have been keeping a close eye on her. She was making gurgling sounds, so I swung her a few times, but I was afraid of the "shaken baby" syndrome so maybe I didn't do it hard enough. We picked up mom and brother and went to the vet. They took Matty in back and brought her out a little bit later and she was much warmer and breathing better. So far so good, knock on wood. Sylvia

OH MY! I am so, so sorry! I was worried that Angel would do the same thing with her pups. I watched her like a hawk. At one point, I thought she was trying to eat the babies so I freaked out and hopped on yorkie talk. (Thanks to everyone who supported me).

I can't imagine how upset and hurt you must be. I wouldn't know what to do besides cry hysterically.

Im glad the other little one is doing well. Are you keeping the little girl?

[CC's]

I start mine out at about 4.5 weeks.

I have a blender I put dry food in that chops it almost to a powder. I just add hot water and 2nd stage milk supplement to make it like soup at first.
Gradually I serve it drier and drier. By 6 weeks they are off the dam but it still takes a bit before they eat completely dry food.

[HeatherHamptons]

I called the vet a little while ago so I can bring in angel (she's still bleeding) and we talked about the puppies.

See, angel doesn't exactly push them away, but she wont feed them unless I put her in the whelping box and put her the whole time. If I do nothing, she wont go in there and feed.

Fortunately, the puppies are licking at things like my cheek, fingers, etc so the vet said I should start weening them now. They are only 20 days old, but Angel seems to be tired of feeding them. Plus, they are taking so much from her that she is having a hard time producing enough milk between feedings.

So, im gonna go make a mix now so I can feed them before I take her to the vet. Hopefully all will go well. If not, they said to use a milk replacer on top of the soaked puppy food.

Wish me luck!

[Laura]

Good luck to you! I find when you care and put in effort, things generally work out fine. I have one from a litter of 5 that is not growing, they are three days old. I have to put him on to suck a few times a day, and I am about to go out to get him nutrical at Kimberly's suggestion. I gave him a little goats milk this morning but he only took about .25 ml. (not much). I just want him to pick up a couple of ounces and a little strength and I think he will be fine.

[HeatherHamptons]

Originally Posted by Laura

Good luck to you! I find when you care and put in effort, things generally work out fine. I have one from a litter of 5 that is not growing, they are three days old. I have to put him on to suck a few times a day, and I am about to go out to get him nutrical at Kimberly's suggestion. I gave him a little goats milk this morning but he only took about .25 ml. (not much). I just want him to pick up a couple of ounces and a little strength and I think he will be fine.

Aww poor guy. He's the tiny one and is having a rough time. Your female had a large litter. We only had 3. Fortunately, they are all doing fine.

Have you taken him to the vet to get checked out?

[Laura]

They have an appointment tomorrow to have their tails docked at 2:30.

I will keep close tabs on him until then, if he seems to get weaker, I will rush him over. Right now, he seems fine, he is just not seeming to grow.