Weaning Question... - YorkieTalk.com Forums

myjordash · 10-23-2007, 05:06 AM

The pups will be 3 weeks tomorrow and are all close to or ove 1 lb. We are not necessarily weaning, but have heard the babies crying more often, and the Mom is leaving them for longer periods of time and I am afraid they aren't getting enough. She also gets up while the pups are still nursing and the pups are still sucking and hanging from her teets. We were thinking of letting them taste some soft diluted puppy food to see if they are interested in that at all. I am not looking to remove the Mom or "wean", because she IS still feeding them, it just seems like they may not be getting enough from her, and I don't want them to be hungry. I was thinking of just offering the food in addition maybe twice a day. We did give them a little Nutrical today and they LOVED it. Please let me know what you guys think.

fannie · 10-23-2007, 05:11 AM

I would definitely introduce food to them. I do my weaning a little different than most. I let the mom self-wean them and I leave her food available to the puppies at all times. I don't even soften it. They don't have a problem with it by the time they are really ready to eat it. I keep my pregnant and nursing moms on Royal Canin Starter. I'm not sure if it's called that in the stores though... I think it's Baby dog? I get mine from a supplier in huge bags and it's labeled differently. I have given canned food before and it resulted in the runs so that's why I quit doing that.

myjordash · 10-23-2007, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fannie

I would definitely introduce food to them. I do my weaning a little different than most. I let the mom self-wean them and I leave her food available to the puppies at all times. I don't even soften it. They don't have a problem with it by the time they are really ready to eat it. I keep my pregnant and nursing moms on Royal Canin Starter. I'm not sure if it's called that in the stores though... I think it's Baby dog? I get mine from a supplier in huge bags and it's labeled differently. I have given canned food before and it resulted in the runs so that's why I quit doing that.

Thank you for the info. I think I am going to soften the puppy kibble that I have been feeding the Mom and see if they like it. I may mix a little soft puppy food in to it for flavor. Thank you for your response!

yougetthesmiles · 10-23-2007, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fannie

I would definitely introduce food to them. I do my weaning a little different than most. I let the mom self-wean them and I leave her food available to the puppies at all times. I don't even soften it. They don't have a problem with it by the time they are really ready to eat it. I keep my pregnant and nursing moms on Royal Canin Starter. I'm not sure if it's called that in the stores though... I think it's Baby dog? I get mine from a supplier in huge bags and it's labeled differently. I have given canned food before and it resulted in the runs so that's why I quit doing that.

I was told when she has about 2 weeks left that I should put her on a puppy kibble. I use Holistic Eagle Pack.
Did you do this with your mom?

lkyorkies · 10-23-2007, 02:40 PM

One of the breeders on YT told me to feed Lucy's pups baby rice cereal. They love it and they have gained weight while they have been on it.

Sugar's Mom · 10-23-2007, 05:46 PM

you need to be very careful feeding three week old puppies dog food especially the wet because their digestive tracts are no able to take it. I start mine off when they start toddling into mama's food trying to eat it. It is usually when they are about three weeks old. i don't let them eat her hard food for one, they can get the kibbles in their mouth and get choked, I've had this happen, two, because the hard kibble can damage their little tooth buds when they are still below the surface. i start with a mixture of Gerber rice baby ceral, thinned to slurp with Esbilac puppy supplement and a few drops of Karo syrup.

myjordash · 10-23-2007, 07:14 PM

I actually ended up soaking the kibble in water, so it was really soft...then mashed it....and then added more water so it was more soupyish. I gave it to them on my finger, and they loved it. So I put a plastic plate down, and the larger pups started licking it from the plate, the other two smaller ones, just licked it from my fingers....so I will just probably just continue with that for now....thanks everyone!

10-23-2007, 05:06 AM	#1
myjordash YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: West Palm Beach, Florida Posts: 288	Weaning Question... The pups will be 3 weeks tomorrow and are all close to or ove 1 lb. We are not necessarily weaning, but have heard the babies crying more often, and the Mom is leaving them for longer periods of time and I am afraid they aren't getting enough. She also gets up while the pups are still nursing and the pups are still sucking and hanging from her teets. We were thinking of letting them taste some soft diluted puppy food to see if they are interested in that at all. I am not looking to remove the Mom or "wean", because she IS still feeding them, it just seems like they may not be getting enough from her, and I don't want them to be hungry. I was thinking of just offering the food in addition maybe twice a day. We did give them a little Nutrical today and they LOVED it. Please let me know what you guys think.

10-23-2007, 05:11 AM	#2
fannie Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,693	I would definitely introduce food to them. I do my weaning a little different than most. I let the mom self-wean them and I leave her food available to the puppies at all times. I don't even soften it. They don't have a problem with it by the time they are really ready to eat it. I keep my pregnant and nursing moms on Royal Canin Starter. I'm not sure if it's called that in the stores though... I think it's Baby dog? I get mine from a supplier in huge bags and it's labeled differently. I have given canned food before and it resulted in the runs so that's why I quit doing that. __________________ Steph, Mama to 6 skin babies and beautiful yorkies!

10-23-2007, 02:40 PM	#5
lkyorkies Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 176	One of the breeders on YT told me to feed Lucy's pups baby rice cereal. They love it and they have gained weight while they have been on it.

10-23-2007, 05:46 PM	#6
Sugar's Mom BANNED! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 9,248	you need to be very careful feeding three week old puppies dog food especially the wet because their digestive tracts are no able to take it. I start mine off when they start toddling into mama's food trying to eat it. It is usually when they are about three weeks old. i don't let them eat her hard food for one, they can get the kibbles in their mouth and get choked, I've had this happen, two, because the hard kibble can damage their little tooth buds when they are still below the surface. i start with a mixture of Gerber rice baby ceral, thinned to slurp with Esbilac puppy supplement and a few drops of Karo syrup.

10-23-2007, 07:14 PM	#7
myjordash YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: West Palm Beach, Florida Posts: 288	I actually ended up soaking the kibble in water, so it was really soft...then mashed it....and then added more water so it was more soupyish. I gave it to them on my finger, and they loved it. So I put a plastic plate down, and the larger pups started licking it from the plate, the other two smaller ones, just licked it from my fingers....so I will just probably just continue with that for now....thanks everyone!