When Do I Start Weaning

[somuchfor4]

Hey All,

This is our first litter of beautiful little labs.

We had 11 -5 black 5 gold 1 caramel.

Kelly (bitch) seems to be overwhelmed, puppies will be 2 weeks tomorrow.

Is it to early to start trying to give them some food.

I have been supplementing the puppies with bottles a couple of times a day and have now moved

onto a plate. Most are able to figure it out.

They have just opened they're eyes this morning- most of them.

Whats the best way to go about it?

[Mim]

You might want to post this in the breeders section, they will be able to advise you

[Guest Ams]

You might want to post this in the breeders section, they will be able to advise you

I am currently fostering a lab and puppies. I supplement fed just milk (Wombaroo or Divetelact or sim) until they were 3 weeks old. I then started giving them rehydrated kibble in the milk... not a lot just a tiny bit of kibble to make the milk look dirty.

At 4 weeks they were eating mush - rehydrated kibble in a slightly sloppy mix with yoghurt or dog milk mixed in.

This week I have started softening the kibble but not mashing it right up so they have to chew a little. Next week it will be softened kibble but not mashed at all.

Hope this helps. I am not a breeder and this is the first litter I have had since day one and the second litter I have looked after at all.

[persephone]

Hi- feeding 2 week olds from a plate is NOT a good plan. :(a puppies jaws and co ordination is wired to SUCK from a nipple.

You run the risk of having them inhale milk, and/or end up with a tummy full of wind. Eating this way also involves using more energy, which needs more food, which.......

Bottle feeding is the safest and best for the pups next to mum!

As said- feed mum a lot more quality food.. make sure she drinks heaps, and in a week or so, introduce pups to some food.

What does the breeder of your bitch suggest?

oh and IMPORTANT!!! Make sure you are supplementing the bitch with a suitable calcium supplement- hypocalcaemia is dangerous.

Edited November 18, 2009 by persephone

[Tinne]

Hi- feeding 2 week olds from a plate is NOT a good plan. :(a puppies jaws and co ordination is wired to SUCK from a nipple.

You run the risk of having them inhale milk, and/or end up with a tummy full of wind. Eating this way also involves using more energy, which needs more food, which.......

Bottle feeding is the safest and best for the pups next to mum!

As said- feed mum a lot more quality food.. make sure she drinks heaps, and in a week or so, introduce pups to some food.

What does the breeder of your bitch suggest?

oh and IMPORTANT!!! Make sure you are supplementing the bitch with a suitable calcium supplement- hypocalcaemia is dangerous.

I so agree. If the bitch is feeling overwhelmed make sure she is getting plenty of food & fluids. Also a bit of excercise (just a gentle walk around the backyard or similar) helps to bring the milk down.

For a lot of pups I usually alternate bottle feed the pups i.e. take 3 off mum & give them a bottle

of Divetelac or Bio-lac (or similar). At the next feed take a different 3 pups & bottle feed them for that feed etc. Let mum clean them upu when you return them to the whelping box.

I don't start weaning until at least 3 weeks old, or older if mum is handling it ok, starting with a milk supplement for a week.

Hope everything goes ok.

[shellbyville]

I would be feeding the mum up and also just supplementing with a bottle at this stage. I started feeding my last litter at about 3.5 weeks with soaked kibble blended with a bit of divetelact to make it nice & sloppy, also added some human grade mince in as well. The pups managed really well with this.

Also because it is a bit of 'thing' with me, we refer to the colours of labs as black, yellow & chocolate, so unsure what a caramel is, but would love to see photos, I am assuming the caramel is a darker yellow!

Good luck.