Weaning Process

[Remblak]

Hi guys,

Pups are now 3.5wks old and although the milkbar has been quite good and kept up with its demand, these puppies are wanting more than just milk now.

We introduced a mixture of Weetbix with Puppy milk and the pups hoovered that down quick smart. We also gave them a pink slushie mixture last night and that was scoffed down even quicker than the Weetbix mixture. So yesterday they had 2 meals plus mum.

So my question is, how many meals should mum still be giving her pups, when her babies are happy lapping from the dish and even after they have been fed by her are still searching for more food?

Also mum has had a hint of Mastitis in the early weeks of lactating so need to be mindful of how we reduce her milk produce.

I have spoken to my vet who is happy to give her medication to stop the milk production. However I am reluctant to use it just yet as I would like to do it without the drugs if possible.

Any suggestions and advise from your experiane is very much appreciated.

[Sandra777]

At that age mine are with mum 24/7 although she has the means to get away from the pups if she wants to.

They would get a piece of minced or scraped meat about as big as a golf ball twice a day in addition to whatever mum wants to give them.

With a mastitis bitch it's generally OK to reduce the quality of her food and up the fat %, old timers always told me fat doesn't make milk as well as high quality protein does, and I've found this to be true despite the fact that it doesn't make a lot of sense and I don't know why it works. Reducing the quality of the food helps her reduce the milk production naturally, but at 3.5 weeks I wouldn't be too bothered by this - let the mum and pups work thisout between them and she'll reduce production in her own time.

[Remblak]

At that age mine are with mum 24/7 although she has the means to get away from the pups if she wants to.

They would get a piece of minced or scraped meat about as big as a golf ball twice a day in addition to whatever mum wants to give them.

With a mastitis bitch it's generally OK to reduce the quality of her food and up the fat %, old timers always told me fat doesn't make milk as well as high quality protein does, and I've found this to be true despite the fact that it doesn't make a lot of sense and I don't know why it works. Reducing the quality of the food helps her reduce the milk production naturally, but at 3.5 weeks I wouldn't be too bothered by this - let the mum and pups work thisout between them and she'll reduce production in her own time.

Thanks Sandra, mum has complete access to the pups 24/7 and she comes & goes as she pleases. Mum is being fed Advance Rehydrate atm, would you recommend slowly changing this? With our previous litter we slowly reduced the amount the bitch was being fed (although the previous litter from a different bitch never suffered from Mastitis) and I guess this is why I am being so cautious.

[Tapferhund]

Remblak,

Don't feed them weetbix and milk.......as there is no nutritional value in it. Why people insist on feeding their dogs that rubbish I don't know (not meaning you here as everyone who gets a dog seems to feed it weetbix and milk *sigh*)

There are some great puppy porridges (not milk) out on the market today. I used to use Mera Dog's meaty puppy porridge but that is no longer available . I also fed them raw minced chicken necks.

Even Farex (from chemist) ..mixed with a little minced chicken necks or minced lamb is far better for them than weetbix or any other adult human breakfast foods.

[Tapferhund]

Check the bitches teats everyday to make sure they are supple. Any slight hardness or heat...get the pups to suckle from that teat to help bring it back to supple. If you are worried at all......ring your vet for his her advise.

The more you are weaning the pups the less you feed the bitch. This, along with the fact she will want to be with them less and less will help dry her milk up.

[TrinaJ]

I was told by my mentor to use goats milk and a baby cereal such as farex which you can pick up at the supermarket.

ETA cuz I didn't read where you said puppy milk in the OP

Edited September 30, 2010 by TrinaJ

[Remblak]

Remblak,

Don't feed them weetbix and milk.......as there is no nutritional value in it. Why people insist on feeding their dogs that rubbish I don't know (not meaning you here as everyone who gets a dog seems to feed it weetbix and milk *sigh*)

There are some great puppy porridges (not milk) out on the market today. I used to use Mera Dog's meaty puppy porridge but that is no longer available . I also fed them raw minced chicken necks.

Even Farex (from chemist) ..mixed with a little minced chicken necks or minced lamb is far better for them than weetbix or any other adult human breakfast foods.

We used Farex last litter but also used the Weetbix & Puppy milk with our puppies and all seemed to enjoy it anyway. Interesting as many breeders have recommended using Weetbix and we have done this in the past with no issues at all.

Tapferhund, as the pups are only just beginning to start on solids, we have given them mince also mixed up in the Puppy milk and that was a success. I just think minced chicken necks might be a bit too hard for them to digest just yet.

Appreciate your insight though :-)

[Remblak]

I was told by my mentor to use goats milk and a baby cereal such as farex which you can pick up at the supermarket.

ETA cuz I didn't read where you said puppy milk in the OP

Hi Trina,

We are using Puppy milk atm and the pups seem to be stomaching that quite well.

I bought some Farex yesterday so may try that tomorrow. I dont want to give them anymore than two meals a day just yet as we have only just started introducing these initial meals.

[Tapferhund]

Maybe in another week or so then........just get your butcher to mince them finely. They need the bone as that's where the nutrients are.

If you would like to know more on better feeding then check out any of Ian Billinghursts books......particularly "Grow your Pups With Bones".

[Tapferhund]

TrinaJ, you're right ....Goats milk is an excellent milk and much easier to digest than cows milk.

[ellz]

Mine are reared on cows milk diluted slightly with warm water. I don't muck around with the expensive pet type milks and can't get hold of goats milk for love nor money.

Puppies are given pink slushies from the get go, with soaked dry food added for texture as they get older and then reducing the milk in the slushy gradually until they're on complete solids

They are also given yoghurt, cottage cheese and other calcium rich foods and then vegetables are gradually added and the dry food is no longer soaked.

Considering most of us are careful of how much cereal content we feed, it's a bit of a double standard to wean our puppies on cereals IMO.

Edited September 30, 2010 by ellz

[TrinaJ]

what are the pink slushies?

[TrinaJ]

ellz, do you do sardines as well with the cottage cheese?

[ellz]

Pink slushies are basically mince mixed with milk. Starting out very sloppy and gradually decreasing the liquid.

Yep, sardines, mackerel....all kinds of calcium rich stuff.

[TeamSnag]

I soaked my guys dry food in goats milk (the baby powder tin one) I put some of that wet dry food in a blenber with bit more goats milk and some mince..I wiz it all together and they soon learn to lap it up

[persephone]

I always start with large meaty bones ( with meat scored, so pups can get hold) . the pups start to suck and then chew the meat. bones are like roo tails or large beef bones..often all pups will be hanging off one meaty bone . they have it with them until they are full, then it is removed. Mum is away from them during this time of eating.They also get mince..then meaty bones and dry puppy kibble .Nothing is ever soaked, and they get no milk. water is available 24/7.

puppies get fed- mum gets less food . usually by the time they are 5-6 weeks- she is almost out of milk....and by the time the pups are 7-8 weeks , suckling is just a dry run, but still done as a comfort thing.Mum is usually still with pups all the time ..she is free to leave if she wants tho.

Edited September 30, 2010 by persephone

[LizT]

ellz, do you do sardines as well with the cottage cheese?

Mmmmm.........can I have that on a cracker please!

[dancinbcs]

I start mine at three weeks with mince in little balls then mixed with a little warm water to make a slurry to teach them to lap. Then gradually start adding puppy kibble to the slurry and adding less water. I don't substitute any milk until about 5 weeks if mum still has plenty then I start giving meat/kibble meals followed by a drink of milk substitute (usually divetelact) and start dropping mums food down. By 6 weeks they are on a variety of meat/protein sources including chicken wings to chew, dry puppy kibble, hard dog biscuits and milk drinks totalling 4 meals a day. I let the bitch decide when she wants to stop feeding and it is usually around 7 weeks.

[Remblak]

I start mine at three weeks with mince in little balls then mixed with a little warm water to make a slurry to teach them to lap. Then gradually start adding puppy kibble to the slurry and adding less water. I don't substitute any milk until about 5 weeks if mum still has plenty then I start giving meat/kibble meals followed by a drink of milk substitute (usually divetelact) and start dropping mums food down. By 6 weeks they are on a variety of meat/protein sources including chicken wings to chew, dry puppy kibble, hard dog biscuits and milk drinks totalling 4 meals a day. I let the bitch decide when she wants to stop feeding and it is usually around 7 weeks.

Thanks everyone

In regards to reducing your bitches food - how much and how quickly to you reduce the bitchs food intake??

[dancinbcs]

I start mine at three weeks with mince in little balls then mixed with a little warm water to make a slurry to teach them to lap. Then gradually start adding puppy kibble to the slurry and adding less water. I don't substitute any milk until about 5 weeks if mum still has plenty then I start giving meat/kibble meals followed by a drink of milk substitute (usually divetelact) and start dropping mums food down. By 6 weeks they are on a variety of meat/protein sources including chicken wings to chew, dry puppy kibble, hard dog biscuits and milk drinks totalling 4 meals a day. I let the bitch decide when she wants to stop feeding and it is usually around 7 weeks.

Thanks everyone

In regards to reducing your bitches food - how much and how quickly to you reduce the bitchs food intake??

I like to do it gradually from when the puppies are 5-7 weeks until they are down to their normal maintenance ration. Of course it depends on the bitches condition. If she is thin she may need to stay on an increased amount for a bit longer. If she is fat she could be knocked back to her normal amount a bit sooner. My girls usually have about twice their normal amount plus extra milk/nutrigel milkshake suppliments so I cut out the extras first then reduce the food quantity each day over a couple of weeks.

Edited September 30, 2010 by dancinbcs