Not logged inChampdogs Information Exchange
Forum Breeders Help Search Board Index Active Topics Login

Find your perfect puppy at Champdogs
The UK's leading pedigree dog breeder website for over 25 years

Topic Dog Boards / Breeding / 4 week old pups not eating
- By barneyfoz [gb] Date 12.05.10 08:49 UTC
My pups are 4 weeks old and i started weaning last week, only a little each day, they didnt seem interested, now a week has passed and they still wont eat. Mu,'s milk have virtually dried up now and i cant get the pups to eat. I started off with james wellbeloved soaked in puppy formula, but i dont think they like it. I went in pet shop yesterday and the lady gave me samples of burns. Tried them on that and they still wont eat. They eat a very tiny bit. They are all starting to cry now and getting frustrated when they try to suck on mum, dont think she has any milk let. I have also tried them with puppy meat. They just dont like anythink i give them.
- By TheMutts Date 12.05.10 08:56 UTC
Have you tried raw or something like naturediet (it mashes down really easily) mixed with some whelpi to make a soup? Try putting a little on your finger and rubbing it on the pup's lips. Most, once they get the taste of it along with the smell, will dive in! I start weaning at around 2 1/2 to 3 weeks and by 4 weeks, they are taking a good few small meals a day with a top up from mum.
- By toffeecrisp [gb] Date 12.05.10 08:58 UTC
Keep going..make it very sloppy so they can lap at it.
try getting them to lick it off your fingers or a spoon.
Try one pup at a time and as soon as that one gets the idea then try another...how many in the litter.
They will eventually get the idea.
- By barneyfoz [gb] Date 12.05.10 09:03 UTC
I have 3 in the litter. They will lick a very small amount of my finger but thats it. I did try a very tiny bit of raw last week as i dont want to try to many different things incase they get the runs. Mum ended up eating raw. Im at my wits end.
- By TheMutts Date 12.05.10 09:10 UTC
It's best not to try them with too much all at once, the reason I suggested naturediet/raw is for the smell factor and ease of mashing/mixing. I've found this by far the easiest over soaking complete dry food as the pups seem to not be bothered so much with it. Once they are eating well, I gradually add some soaked puppy kibble and they take to it much more readily! This way they are used to both for the new owners when they go to new homes. Like toffeecrisp said, they'll get the hang of it.
- By barneyfoz [gb] Date 12.05.10 09:14 UTC
where do you get nature diet raw?. I have the raw frozen chicken mince which you get from PAH, is this the same thing?
- By WestCoast Date 12.05.10 09:18 UTC
I've never had raw scrapped beef refused.
- By barneyfoz [gb] Date 12.05.10 09:24 UTC
I got a bit mixed up there, i meant frozen chicken mince from PAH, is this what you mean by the raw?. I used nature diet on my last litter and they seem to enjoy it. Well i think thats me off to PAH to get some. Thanks
- By dogsdinner [gb] Date 12.05.10 09:29 UTC
Do not have anything really to add, but as a last resort will they take rice pudding?
- By toffeecrisp [gb] Date 12.05.10 09:36 UTC
wat about raw mnced beef...(frozen then defrosted)
That usually goes down without touching the sides!!!!
- By TheMutts Date 12.05.10 11:53 UTC
Yes, raw chicken or beef. Naturediet is a pre-packed wet food you can get it at most pet places, it's really easy to mash down and to digest.
- By Brainless [gb] Date 12.05.10 12:00 UTC
Are the pups still gaining weight well, if they are then Mum has plenty enough milk, your just not seeing ti as it disappears down their little gullets.

I have had pups whose Mums were doing well be very uninterested in solids until about 5 weeks, they took a bit at each meal, but it was more playing and half hearted.

Use pups weight as a guide to if things are going well.

The litter I had like this their appetites increased almost overnight when Mums milk really did start drying up (she was choosing to ration them).

As long as they know how to eat then go with what Mum wants.
- By Liz_R [gb] Date 12.05.10 12:39 UTC
I buy a piece of braising steak from the supermarket and scrape it with a serrated knife then warm it in my fingers. Hold a pup on your knee and push a tiny piece into the pups mouth. I have never known it to be refused. When they are eating it well I start to mix it with a bit of made up lactol. They soon get the hang of eating it.
- By rocknrose [gb] Date 12.05.10 12:47 UTC
Wainwrights pouches go down well too. Nice and smelly and easy to mush

chicken mince, from Tesco also had success with. Mine won't eat it raw so I have to cook everything but its no matter if they eat it.
- By barneyfoz [gb] Date 13.05.10 15:49 UTC
i have been and got some puppy nature harvest, and they seem to like it, ate only a little bit, but its a start. I will just keep perserving and hope for the best.
- By toffeecrisp [gb] Date 13.05.10 16:36 UTC
They will eat it...they have to now...lol
Topic Dog Boards / Breeding / 4 week old pups not eating

Powered by mwForum 2.29.6 © 1999-2015 Markus Wichitill

About Us - Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy