Hi,
I have a small breed dog with a litter of pups that are just coming up for six weeks.
I started weaning them with RC starter at around three weeks along with mums milk they seemed fine.
Over the past few days mum is visiting less and less and does not seem to be very interested in pups.
I have fresh clean water which is changed often,but they don't seem interested in going to it I have tried.
I am now worried as their bowels seem very loose and watery over the past day or two and just wondered
if it was as a result of mum feeding less or something else.
They seem lively enough but was worried about that they may become dehydrated.
Is it normal for mum to want to be separated from them now and should I still keep her in with them at night.

I no once they start food mom isn't as interested in them something with their poo being different. You could maybe just put her with the pups and pet her while they have a drink or 2 but when she had enough then I would let her leave. At 6 weeks I would assume they should be getting on water, but if they are also eating wet food or soggy down food their is water in that and you may notice they won't drink really.

I have Tiva on soggy down dogfood due to her surgery and she barely drinks water- I keep buggying her to but I no the food has plenty in it, so reason why.

Best of luck and I am sure someone will come along with advice :-)

Hi kane by 6weeks mum dont want to be feeding her pups well most mums anyway theres always some that will feed right up to pups going! but ive not had 1 yet that wants to feed them from 5weeks old! ...if pups arnt drinking anything try adding a very small amount of goats milk to their water ,its alaways worked for me! plus at this age dont make mum go in with pups if she dont want to let her have free acsess to them ,maybe she wants to dry her milk out now and then you might find she will stay more with them to play, are pups due for worming or just been done? it can course them to have the runs, just give them more food if mum is now chooseing not to feed them ,pups do just fine on puppy food and no milk from this age.
good luck with them x

Hi,
Thanks for your advice,I have not been making mum stay with pups. I will try a little goats milk as you suggested.
I wormed them the other day so perhaps that's why they got runs.
My last litter mum stayed with pups until they left at eight weeks,but suppose they all different.
Thanks again.

I had mine in the same room as the pups but with them in the pen, so she could choose whether to jump in or not.

At this age mum gets free access, but I also have it set up so she can get away from pups and they can't follow.  I find in my breed they do want to feed the pups but the pups get too boisterous in their feeding, so mum just stays a short while.

I usually give a teaspoon or two of Bio yoghurt  on their food daily, this helps with any looseness from over eating or worming liquid/paste or just because they've been chewing something that disagrees with them :)  At this age they're into everything  ;)

Thanks for the advice,they are wild like you say and into everything,but lovely to watch and great fun.
I have just been staying with her while the have a suckle and as soon as she's had enough I let her out.
I have to keep pen shut now as one cheeky pup seems to be able to climb over the bars so it's no longer safe to leave open for mum.
I will try a little bio-yogurt with their food but I'm sure they are thriving was just a little worried about them going all night without mum
but they seem fine and mum wants to be in kitchen with the others.

At six weeks my bitches only ever went to the pups to play and check the over. Once weaned they were not bothered and in fac I was happy with that as it was less of a wrench when they went to their new homes they were properly weaned didnt cry in new homes and were independent. I recently bought a puppy which is still crying for her mum after four weeks at night. She is getting better but she was still nursing at 8 weeks from mum. Se is growing well but can only manage from midnight to six the last few days but was midnight to 3am she then sleeps most of the morning we are walking her a little last thing at night now afer a supper meal in the hope she doesnt get hungry in the night she is growing like a weed. I live about 100 yards from a suitable walk she is vaccinated.

Perfectly normal for Mum to be less interested at this age and as long as she can come and go to them when she wants then that is fine.

I wouldn't shut her in with them at night now unless she can get right away from them.

If their food contains plenty of water then I wouldn't' expect them to drink huge amounts, especially if Mum is till feeding them morning and night.

the looseness is likely caused by something else.  Have they been eating grass leaves etc?  Is their worming up to date.  If so did you measure the dose carefully and correctly?  Even then worming can make some pups loose.  Are you giving them milk, if so stop and see if that helps.

> I recently bought a puppy which is still crying for her mum after four weeks at night. She is getting better but she was still nursing at 8 weeks from mum. Se is growing well but can only manage from midnight to six the last few days

All my pups still have access to Mum until they leave and none have had issues with crying for Mum.

Young puppies do get lonely (depends entirely on their mental make-up on how they take to beign alone).

Most pups cannot hold their water long, it varies some are quicker than others. 

6 hours through the night is actually very good for a 12 week old pup to go.

Hi,
Thanks for all your replies.They are doing great now diarrhoea has stopped.
I reckon it could have been the worming paste,I did weigh each pup and give exact dose but
I suppose it can still upset them.Mum is giving them a feed first thing in the morning and last thing at night
and seems happy enough to do that.I would never make her stay with them.
They are eating well causing mayhem and are just adorable.
I have been bringing them in for a play at night with the others which they love,they will go for their first
vaccinations next week and remain with us for another two weeks before going to their homes.

glad to hear all is well ,they love to worry us dont they ;) x