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Topic Dog Boards / Breeding / pups not eat at 4weeks and 2 days
- By white lilly [gb] Date 20.06.14 08:00 UTC
These pup dont want to wean small breed mums around 9kg so is dad
What would/should pups weigh at 4weeks 2days when they was
780g
754g
756g
720g
666g
Would it be double or triple in 2 weeks?
Im going out my mind mum dont want to feed them im doing everything i can to encourage her shes feeding them 4times in 24h but they cry for her shes happy to play and clean them still ...im keeping her away before i try to feed them ..if i put it on my finger they back away iv tried weaning moose kibble soaked in goats milk mince beef baby rice ....they have teeth now so they should have a problem eating and nature diet ...help!!
- By MamaBas [gb] Date 20.06.14 08:14 UTC
Weaning, for us, usually started by the end of week 3 going into week 4 and depending on how well the litter was doing.   We started using warmed goats milk and teaching each individual puppy how to lap.   Some were better at this than others...... and at this point most of their nourishment was still being taken from mum.   We did this 4 times a day and once a day (NOT MORE) a tiny amount of lean raw mince (hamburger) - only once although the way this disappeared would tempt us to give more, which would upset their immature digestive system, so don't.

Once they could lap, then we added a good quality puppy food, complete food, and mixing it either with warmed goats milk, or warmed water into a porridge, cutting back on the moisture as they got older.  Fresh water would be available, in a shallow dish from this point, but not overnight.   With our big boned breed we'd also add scrambled egg, cottage cheese, and raw mince (not all at the same meal!!) and continue with the goats milk drink, but with a tiny breed, this isn't needed.

By just over 4 weeks, your puppies should be able to cope with the porridge mix.   Yes, remove mum while you start feeding them but she should be let back in to clean up afterwards and to allow 'comfort suckling'.   I did this up to around 6 weeks of age by which time our dams were off their litters, usually.   None of our puppies went home before 8 weeks, and only then if I knew the people well and they were experienced.   Otherwise we kept them to age 10 weeks.

For us, there was no hard and fast rule re weaning - when they are ready, they'll take to solids.   Can't comment on the weights, sorry.
- By white lilly [ie] Date 20.06.14 08:24 UTC
This is how i started at 3weeks and 3days with goats milk xx
- By Lexy [gb] Date 20.06.14 08:40 UTC Edited 20.06.14 08:44 UTC
We have always started from around 3 weeks, using scraped rump steak, then onto mince beef. We havnt started with milk as they are getting that already from mum. The time of starting depends on how many pups & how mum looks but just after 3 weeks is usual, well after eyes are open & when on their feet fairly well. Milky drinks come after around a week/just after 4 weeks.
- By tooolz Date 20.06.14 09:07 UTC
Entirely breed dependent.
Most Cavalier breeders don't even bother until between 4-5 th week unless mother can't feed for any reason.
In Some breeds of dogs the pups are up and eating at 2 weeks...so no ' one size fits all'.
I have a litter of 5 week olds here and they will have a half hearted lick at raw beef but I'm not in the slightest bit worried.

Perhaps those "Pups must leave home at 8 weeks" people can now see why this is too generalised.
....All breeds are different and it's so easy to get upset when advice from those in other breeds, who's development is ENTIRELY different, isn't appropriate for your breed.
Ask a breed mentor.
- By Goldmali Date 20.06.14 09:21 UTC
Ditto to tooolz. Toybreeds do NOT develop at the same rate as larger breeds hence they are kept for at least 12 weeks and I have had pups not eating solids until 5 weeks. They are far more like kittens than puppies as far as development goes. Much slower. Some are early to eat but usually they are later in EVERYTHING.
- By Dill [gb] Date 20.06.14 09:22 UTC
From birth, I feed mum in the whelping box, this way the pups get the sights and smells of the food.   Then when they start showing interest in mum's food,  I start them on a tiny bit of minced beef once a day.  Just an m+m sized piece, or smaller, depending on how big they are, they often spit it out at first.   Then once they are taking that with gusto, I up it to twice a day etc.

Never had a mum who didn't want to feed her pups, I have the opposite problem, they never want to stop and would quite happily feed for months after 8 weeks!

Have  you checked her 'milk bar'  ?   It could be that she is sore or has a problem there,  or  maybe  the pups' nails need attention ?

I do think that really you need breed specific advice here,'as all breeds  are different.   What about your breed mentor?
- By white lilly [gb] Date 20.06.14 10:06 UTC
If i come across rude i dont mean to be im tired very stressed and dont want to sound not greetful ....iv feed mum in thebox i know what im doing not my 1st litter i dont need pups to go till ther ready small breed but live food iv spoke to a fair few in this breed to no help as they never had this problem mum is doing whats natural to do at this stage shes weaning them by going in less and less they just NOT EAT.....mum is still being feed inthe box and drinking with them ther weight gain isnt good i dont know why they not eat i cant forse mum in to feed if she dont want to id be called for being cruel this breed are terrires
- By Merlot [gb] Date 20.06.14 10:52 UTC
White Lilly, just relax a little, I know its hard but time will out and they will eat in the end. Try a little finely minced beef. Freeze it first in tiny batches then thaw and pop a little on your finger and smear it on their noses. They will lick it off and get a taste. Try them about 3-4 times a day. As long as they are putting weight on its fine. Weigh them every day for a few days and record the weights, you will see if they are gaining easier that way.
Mum will do what nature tells her too and so will the babies one day. They will suddenly start and life will look better again.
Aileen
- By Hazenaide [gb] Date 20.06.14 14:46 UTC
White Lily - I have had that problem and I also have Terriers which are notorious for not just eating anything put in front of them.
I know how you feel as I remember one litter and I sat crying and threw the bowl across the room as all my instincts were that they should be eating more and they were not.
I tried all sorts of different foods for them.
All I can say to reassure you is that they did grow up perfectly normal dogs in size and weight. With my knowledge now I would also try and relax ( I know it is not easy ) and miss meals and see if they eat the next time due to hunger. It wasn't how I dealt with it at the time as I was very upset and stressed. Terriers can be a stubborn lot and it may just be that even at that tender age they are feeling your stress. Nowadays  would treat non eating as not wanting. Tough, tough,tough I know.
If it carried on for too long then there is a possibility that something is wrong but hopefully they are just testing you.
I have not had that problem for a long time since changing my line - all good eaters since.
- By white lilly [gb] Date 20.06.14 19:30 UTC
Yes iv got to learn to relax :/ iv gone back to the start so time will time thankyou xx
- By JeanSW Date 21.06.14 00:10 UTC
Shoulder here to cry on white lilly.

HUGS.
Topic Dog Boards / Breeding / pups not eat at 4weeks and 2 days

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