[dawnjami]

I am a new mum to 5 puppies, they are now 4 weeks old. I was told to feed them waterdown puppyfood, they don't seem to like it much and don't eat alot of it. Is there something else I can do? Also do they need to be drinking water? My vet says no they get enough in the food.
Also how to I potty train them at this age? My vet is not alot of help, I think he wants the office call moneyLOL Are they still suppose to sleep alot? They seem to sleep alot after they eat. I need all the help I can get I don't know what to do for them at all! When do they get weaned from mom she does not go to them alot now

[cindylou_38]

How about dipping some bread into to watered down dog food!

[LoveLilly]

They sell puppy formula you can feed them. Privately owned pet stores seem to be more educated on this type of feeding need and may have the products or can direct you.

Little puppies like yours will sleep all the time.

For bathroom, I suggest using newspaper or potty pads. They physically cannot hold it long enough to be trained in my opinion.

Also, they are generally weaned from their mother around 6-7 weeks.

[dawnjami]

Thank you so much!

[workingdog]

Frist of all, the mother is staying away from them alot cause they now have teeth and they bite her when nursing.4 weeks is a good time to start feeding them.Just add water to the dog food and let the food get real soft and add some powdered milk warm. Mush up the food so they can eat it, at frist they will just play with it and get it all over them but offer it to them 2 times aday, you will notice that after a few days they will get the hang of it and start eating it better.The mother dose not have to be with them 24/7anymore but untill you know that they are eating real good let the mom in there a few times aday.As far as potty training, thier not even weaned yet, to much to soon.Don't even start thinking about potty training untill they are way older.When they get the eating down, then put some water down.

[dawnjami]

Wow that makes alot of sense! So if they are not eating alot I don't have to worry? Do I need to start giving them water?

[dawnjami]

okay thanks I din't know I coulddo that

[blackgavotte]

The post from Workingdog was right on. At four weeks the mother is starting to wean them, and now its time for you to help her out. By feeding them, you will help preserve the mom's strength, also she will naturally start making a bit less milk now since they will be fuller with the extra food. As they become more active they will be wanting their solid food more, don't be grossed out if mom starts regurgitating food for them. I personally hated that, so I would tend to keep the mom from doing that, but its a natural thing, some moms have a stronger instinct than others about that.

[myrna]

Spay And Neuter...why Would Someone Breed When There All Kinds Of Pups At The Shelters.

You Vet Probably Thinks You Are Stupid!!

[shkncr]

This woman posted a serious question and just because she has a litter of pups doesn't mean she is stupid. There are a lot of reasons for there to be a litter of pups and since she is trying to get educated and take the best care of those pups she can she needs to encouraged and educated, not ridiculed.

I do rescue work and currently have three bitches expecting. Does that make me stupid? Actually it probably does since all three dogs were taken in after they became pregnant and the owner's no longer wanted them. Chill out and encourage not discourage and ridicule.

Ignorance can be be taken care of through education. Rudeness?????

Good luck with your pups and all the previous advice (except the last one) are helpful.

[Cheetah]

Myrna, please stop chastising everyone on this forum who ends up with puppies. The puppies are already born and are here. This person now needs help caring for them, so why don't we all help her to do that? When you yell at somebody like this, it doesn't usually make them listen anyway. What is that saying I like? Oh yes:

"You attract more flies with honey than vinegar."

When there are people wanting to breed (not people who have already got the puppies), please try to calmly speak your case in order to educate. It usually works better, and doesn't make people mad or cause fights. >^_~<

[foxywench]

i wouldtn worry about them not eating "alot" right now, even tasting a little bit is fine. and start off with it almost liquid, over the next 3 weeks youll lower the liquid content and eventually they'll be on dry. id give it another week or so and then start introducing water.

if you want to start early pottytraining id invest in a bag of wee wee pads and place one in the puppypen, the pads are treated with a natrual attractant and its a good way to start paper training early without placing too much learning pressure on them...

good luck!
what kind of pups are they?!

[myrna]

I also do rescue work and have horrible situations. some people can't be educated they just keep on breeding. the puppies can also be aborted.

[myrna]

I totally agree with you I was very out of line and apologize....I really think I have had it!! Ist is best not to do rescue work when you are burned-out.

[dogsgalore]

When the adopted rotty I had, had pups I fed them watered down puppy food I would put it in the microwave with some warm water let it cool then feed them, I still do that for my older shih/tzu since the dry food is hard for her at times

[Jessica&Crew]

I'm raising a very young puppy myself.

Once he began eating more on his own I bought a lot of packaged, moist puppy food and mixed it with puppy formula.

This helped him continue to recieve formula nutirents and helped introduce him to more solid food.

Egg can be added to his formula (raw, mixed into the liquid to add extra nutrients.


Gradually you can do a mix of hard food with the moist.

It does take time and patience, but the rewards are well worth it.

It is very improtant to keep the pups hydrated, so I strongly suggest making sure they eat enough moist and formula at this point.


Housebreaking at this point shouldnt be a concern. The puppies have a long way to go development-wise, so you can still hold off another 2-3 weeks before starting their training.

[mistyinca]

Originally Posted by Jessica&Crew

Egg can be added to his formula (raw, mixed into the liquid to add extra nutrients.

I read that raw eggs contain an enzyme that decreases dogs' absorption of some b vitamins.

[Jessica&Crew]

Egg alone, in a dry dog food diet, given daily *could* possibly cause that, depending on the health, and age of the dog, combined with the quality of diet given.


By mixing egg into puppy formula that is supplimented with dry food, plus occasional feedings from the mom, the egg itself will dog good. There's enough base product in all forms provided that extra nutrients will actually be taken in.


You've also got to consider it will be one egg mixed with everything, shared by 5 (or was it 4?) puppies?

In all, the combo will be much better than watered down dry food that the pups cant quite handle right now.

Dry food is composed of many trace lements that will not break down, so even if the water mush is drank by the pups, there is a lot lacking in that sort of diet.

Supplimenting for a week, or possibly longer may be what the pups need if the Mom totally refuses to nurse.

Im not clear on what type of dog or mixed pups they are, but here's some glop recipes to look at, too.


Doggie Gravy for Dry Food (3 Dog Bakery)

· 1 Boneless/skinless Chicken Breast
· 4 Cups Water
· 1 Cup Flour
· 2 Whole Eggs
· (all items approx.) Boil chicken breast for about 1/2 an hour, remove to cool. Add flour to chicken water. Beat out lumps. Add pre-beaten eggs. Cook on low heat until it's done thickening. Pulverise chicken in food processor. Add to flour/egg gravy. May need to add more.water. Unfortunately it won't freeze. But using a few tablespoons daily, it should be used up before it sours.


http://www.northernontarioboxerclub.com/orphan.html

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...+puppy+formula


The best, when using egg, is to use the yolk only, especially with pups.