Am I feeding Yorkie pups too much? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Kittykatmeow · 05-06-2015, 05:45 PM

New to Yorkie Talk. My Yorkie had 4 adorable pups 3 weeks ago. This is my first experience with puppies!!!!

Gemma was born on the small side (3.4 oz.), wasn't gaining weight and seemed kinda weak. I found a puppy replacement and/or supplement recipe and began supplementing all 4 puppies. The pups are nursing from mom but inevitably at least 1 gets pushed out. All 4 puppies like the formula and I usually end up only feeding about 1/4 ounce to each. It's supposed to have 11 calories per cc.

One of the puppies (Tate aka Tater Tot) has an extremely healthy appetite. All puppies are fattening up well. The baby is now 11.1 ounces at 3 weeks and Tater is a whopping 17.4 ounces!!

I check their weight twice a day and some days 1 or 2 won't gain any weight during the day when I'm at work and they're alone with mama. So that's my rationale for the formula.

I thought the more formula I give them the healthier they'll be but worry that I am feeding them too much. I anticipate beginning the weaning process this weekend combining the formula they love and Blue Buffalo canned puppy food.

So,the question is, can you feed a puppy too much?

Yorkiemom1 · 05-06-2015, 08:45 PM

You are going to start weaning at 4 weeks old?.....how long are you planning on keeping the babies before removing them from momma completely? I personally dont even begin thinking about introducing canned puppy food until the pups are 6-8 weeks old. I want to be sure they are capable of digesting adequately, canned puppy food so they are getting the nutrition they need for development....

I dont think you can over feed a puppy especially if they are determining how much they are going to eat.

Kittykatmeow · 05-06-2015, 09:20 PM

Thanks for responding. I read a few articles which said that you should very gradually start weaning them around 4 weeks with the goal of having them on puppy chow by 8 weeks. My real issue is I kinda feel that first time mom isn't digging on the nursing as much as she did at first. I trimmed and filed their nails. As soon as she hops in the box, they attack and she's not staying in the box for lengthy nursing like she used to. They cry sometimes and it's not until I approach the box that she even comes. She jumps up abruptly while they're latched onto her and they've come out of the box because they hold on until she shakes them off. She does seem to go in for more frequent but shorter nursings. When I come home from work and 1 or 2 haven't gained much or anything during the day, it makes me nervous. So that's part of the reason I supplement them with formula and thought I should try to get them weaned. Overall they are gaining and I suspect that the supplementation has helped.

My vet gave me the okay and I had been giving mom a vanilla pudding concoction (pudding mix, whole milk, egg yolks and a little sugar) which I'd read helped bring down the milk. At first she loved it and would nurse almost immediately after she had some but today I noticed she's not as interested in it as she used to. Do you have any suggestions with that? She does seem very interested in the puppy formula (full fat vanilla yogurt, evaporated milk, baby water, mayonnaise and egg yolks). Sometimes she interrupts their feeding to try to take some for herself. So after I give the 4 pups each about 1/4 ounce, I give her what's left which is about 1/2 to 1 ounce. Do you think I'm giving her too much calcium?

So many questions! Are you sorry you responded? I really appreciate any feedback.

Yorkiemom1 · 05-07-2015, 09:28 AM

I have a formula that I use to supplement any of my pouppies that need it....
8 oz Just Born
4oz Peidalyte
1 raw egg yolk
1 cup live culture Yogurt
3 tbsp Dr.Millers Pet Nutra Drops

If you need to substitute for the Dr.Millers Pet Nutra Drops, you can use
2 tbsp Karo Syrup
2 tbsp ViDaylin Baby vitamins

This delivers 14-16 cal. per cc and you supplement 1cc/oz of body weight every 2-4 hours around the clock, depending on how old the pups are and how much they are weighing...if they are thriving, you are doing a good job.

Sounds like you are doing just fine! Give momma some of the formula to drink if she wants.....(mine of yours, although I wonder about the oils in the mayo!)....it is good for her! With her nursing any at all, you are OK with her calcium intake...you are not giving meds to bring her calcium up as she doesnt need them.... she is not nursing that many babies to deplete her calcium). You can even give her some of the formula over some cottage cheese As far as your reasoning about weaning, I think you nailed it....keep up the good work....step in when momma starts to fall short....thriving babies is the best guage on how they are doing nutritionally!

Kittykatmeow · 05-07-2015, 06:16 PM

Thank you so much for your advice. I really appreciate it. I will definitely try your recipes. Maybe I should hold off on the weaning for as long as I can. The fat boy is 3 weeks and 1 day today. He was born 4.8 ounces and today he's 18 ounces. From yesterday to today he gained .6 ounces but then one of the smaller ones only gained .1 ounce (she was born 4.2 ounces and today she weighs 14.7 ounces so she's not tiny). I didn't give fat boy Tater any formula tonight!! Been trying with the little one Coco and she just isn't that interested. I'm going to try again in a little bit.

Thanks again.

05-06-2015, 05:45 PM	#1
Kittykatmeow Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: San Antonio Posts: 15 Blog Entries: 1	Am I feeding Yorkie pups too much? New to Yorkie Talk. My Yorkie had 4 adorable pups 3 weeks ago. This is my first experience with puppies!!!! Gemma was born on the small side (3.4 oz.), wasn't gaining weight and seemed kinda weak. I found a puppy replacement and/or supplement recipe and began supplementing all 4 puppies. The pups are nursing from mom but inevitably at least 1 gets pushed out. All 4 puppies like the formula and I usually end up only feeding about 1/4 ounce to each. It's supposed to have 11 calories per cc. One of the puppies (Tate aka Tater Tot) has an extremely healthy appetite. All puppies are fattening up well. The baby is now 11.1 ounces at 3 weeks and Tater is a whopping 17.4 ounces!! I check their weight twice a day and some days 1 or 2 won't gain any weight during the day when I'm at work and they're alone with mama. So that's my rationale for the formula. I thought the more formula I give them the healthier they'll be but worry that I am feeding them too much. I anticipate beginning the weaning process this weekend combining the formula they love and Blue Buffalo canned puppy food. So,the question is, can you feed a puppy too much?

05-07-2015, 09:28 AM	#4
Yorkiemom1 Rosehill Yorkies Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 9,462	I have a formula that I use to supplement any of my pouppies that need it.... 8 oz Just Born 4oz Peidalyte 1 raw egg yolk 1 cup live culture Yogurt 3 tbsp Dr.Millers Pet Nutra Drops If you need to substitute for the Dr.Millers Pet Nutra Drops, you can use 2 tbsp Karo Syrup 2 tbsp ViDaylin Baby vitamins This delivers 14-16 cal. per cc and you supplement 1cc/oz of body weight every 2-4 hours around the clock, depending on how old the pups are and how much they are weighing...if they are thriving, you are doing a good job. Sounds like you are doing just fine! Give momma some of the formula to drink if she wants.....(mine of yours, although I wonder about the oils in the mayo!)....it is good for her! With her nursing any at all, you are OK with her calcium intake...you are not giving meds to bring her calcium up as she doesnt need them.... she is not nursing that many babies to deplete her calcium). You can even give her some of the formula over some cottage cheese As far as your reasoning about weaning, I think you nailed it....keep up the good work....step in when momma starts to fall short....thriving babies is the best guage on how they are doing nutritionally! Last edited by Yorkiemom1; 05-07-2015 at 09:29 AM.

05-06-2015, 08:45 PM	#2
Yorkiemom1 Rosehill Yorkies Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 9,462	You are going to start weaning at 4 weeks old?.....how long are you planning on keeping the babies before removing them from momma completely? I personally dont even begin thinking about introducing canned puppy food until the pups are 6-8 weeks old. I want to be sure they are capable of digesting adequately, canned puppy food so they are getting the nutrition they need for development.... I dont think you can over feed a puppy especially if they are determining how much they are going to eat.

05-06-2015, 09:20 PM	#3
Kittykatmeow Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: San Antonio Posts: 15 Blog Entries: 1	Thanks for responding. I read a few articles which said that you should very gradually start weaning them around 4 weeks with the goal of having them on puppy chow by 8 weeks. My real issue is I kinda feel that first time mom isn't digging on the nursing as much as she did at first. I trimmed and filed their nails. As soon as she hops in the box, they attack and she's not staying in the box for lengthy nursing like she used to. They cry sometimes and it's not until I approach the box that she even comes. She jumps up abruptly while they're latched onto her and they've come out of the box because they hold on until she shakes them off. She does seem to go in for more frequent but shorter nursings. When I come home from work and 1 or 2 haven't gained much or anything during the day, it makes me nervous. So that's part of the reason I supplement them with formula and thought I should try to get them weaned. Overall they are gaining and I suspect that the supplementation has helped. My vet gave me the okay and I had been giving mom a vanilla pudding concoction (pudding mix, whole milk, egg yolks and a little sugar) which I'd read helped bring down the milk. At first she loved it and would nurse almost immediately after she had some but today I noticed she's not as interested in it as she used to. Do you have any suggestions with that? She does seem very interested in the puppy formula (full fat vanilla yogurt, evaporated milk, baby water, mayonnaise and egg yolks). Sometimes she interrupts their feeding to try to take some for herself. So after I give the 4 pups each about 1/4 ounce, I give her what's left which is about 1/2 to 1 ounce. Do you think I'm giving her too much calcium? So many questions! Are you sorry you responded? I really appreciate any feedback.

05-07-2015, 06:16 PM	#5
Kittykatmeow Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: San Antonio Posts: 15 Blog Entries: 1	Thank you so much for your advice. I really appreciate it. I will definitely try your recipes. Maybe I should hold off on the weaning for as long as I can. The fat boy is 3 weeks and 1 day today. He was born 4.8 ounces and today he's 18 ounces. From yesterday to today he gained .6 ounces but then one of the smaller ones only gained .1 ounce (she was born 4.2 ounces and today she weighs 14.7 ounces so she's not tiny). I didn't give fat boy Tater any formula tonight!! Been trying with the little one Coco and she just isn't that interested. I'm going to try again in a little bit. Thanks again.