Dog Training & Health

[Guest]

My dog gave birth to a litter of 9 puppies 3 weeks ago, for the first week and a half or so she was feeding them just fine. After that we started to have to help her switching off 3 then the next 3 then the last 3. For the past week or so she has pretty much refused to feed them when they are hungry. We have to lay her down and let them feed. They just turned 3 weeks on Friday, and i fed them some gruel today, which they gladly ate all of. They are not sluggish, or delayed developmentally, they are active, alert and playing. I wonder though is there anything i can do to help her feed them better, and more regularly? We have been feeding her puppy vitamins as well as calcium tablets, but that did not seem to help. There nails have been clipped, and that did not seem to help either. I don't think it is a production problem. Milk is coming out and her sacks are full but she does not seem interested in them when it comes to feeding. She does clean them and make sure they are peeing and pooping, and she is still eating it. At this point should i stop trying to force her to feed a couple of times a day and rely only on the gruel? Or keep this up until they are 6 weeks? The vet does not have a strong opinion, he thinks she knows the right time for them to wean. Which i agree with but i don't think that is what is going on. He disagrees.

[meezermom]

Ok, first thing..........do NOT GIVE CALCIUM!! It is dangerous to her and the puppies so please, stop immediately.... Are you feeding her puppy food? If not, you should be. She should be eating at least three times what she normally ate and a good healthy mix......puppy kibble mixed with some canned puppy food and maybe a cooked egg and some shredded cheese or yogurt and some mashed sweet potato. She may not have enough nutrition herself to nurse her babies! Yes, three weeks is a bit early but she may not be strong enough and they are draining her too much. You can try upping what she is getting to see if she has enough milk. Is she feeding them standing up? If not, she should be allowed to....At this age, the bitch does not often lay down to feed her babies. You also want to check her breasts and make sure she does not have mastitis or cracked nipples. Re-check the puppies nails. They grow fast and all it takes is one or two sharp nails to get her to stop.

If she is drying up and will not feed them anymore, you can make a good healthy starter food for them. Use a good puppy kibble and soak it, add a couple cans of canned puppy food......I used the Authority brand as it has the most meat, added a couple eggs and yogurt and mashed sweet potatoes. In the beginning I ran it through a food processor and made it runny so they could lap it up. After a point though, I simply soaked the kibble till soft........and the puppies flourished on it.... .

If your bitch is a first timer, they often will not nurse as long.....they really are a bit confused and not sure what to do..... Give a bark if you need more help!

[Guest]

Thanks for your help!

The supplement was given to us by the vet. He said that she would need it to ensure her calcium levels were not low since she would be feeding so many pups. And to be exact i think it's calcium carbonate not calcium.

No, this isn't her first litter it's her second. The first litter went rather smoothly and she never had a problem feeding. I just clipped there nails again last night and it doesn't seem to have helped. I'll go ahead and make them the gruel you suggested and see how that works. Thanks!!

[marryroy01]

Hi Guest,
Here David from USA. Have a Nice Day. In human lifestyle dogs are remain as a great friend,
they are also very honest for them owners. You have also greatly discuss about your dog
and its small puppies. you have take care of them. it is good and appreciative work as a human.
It i so quit and innocent puppies can be the thee week old puppies.Thanks