hi all 2 things to ask tonight firstly how old before you start to ween pups?mum is not as intersted in them as she used to be there 3wks old but just dont seem redy at the minute still sleep most of the day what things should i try them on first? secondly vet beds is ther any way of purchasing this on line?thanx...mel

My pups are coming up 5 weeks, mum hasn't been that interested for the past 7-10 days, so tonight I'm putting her in the other room away from the pups, I think I'm going to have a restless night even though she doesn't feed them she still likes to be around them! She has very sore nipples, so I think it best to keep her away when I can't supervise, I started weaning them at 2.1/2 weeks as there is a history of eclampsia, pups are doing really well eating and drinking water, so I think the only problem I'm going to have is with mum not the pups!

Ps. sorry not sure if you are in the UK, but I buy my vetbed at Argos superstore

Thanx for replying so soon i am in uk so off to argos i go what did you use to start them weening?...mel

Have you trimmed the hooks of the pups nails? Bitches just wont feed them if they are getting hurt/scratched. If one person holds the pups up another can trim the nails easily with "human" nail clippers. I wouldn't take the bitch away from the puppies unless she is being impatient, they need her for more things than just milk! I start my pups off on sloppy baby rice+ dilute evaporated milk ( small breed) or very well soaked - sloppy - and mashed complete puppy food, porrige consistancy.(large breed) After 48 hours if tums ok worm mum and pups. Offer twice daily to begin with working up to 5 times when they are hungry enough. If small breed change from baby rice to soaked puppy complete biscuit after 2-3 days. When you feed the bitch keep her away from them for 1 -1 1/2 hours after or she will regurgitate food for them. Please put her back with her puppies if she will tolerate them.

Weaning puppies is a process not a spot where they are nursing and then they stop. I raised Wire Fox Terrier puppies. At three weeks I start feeding the puppies one meal a day while the balance of their nutrition comes from nursing from the bitch. As their activity levels increase so do their appetites therefore the solid food meals are increased to two meals morning and night. Again the balance of the nutrition is supplied by the bitch's milk. When you increase solid thus decreasing the need for suckling, the bitch will dry up slowly avoiding problems. At this point water is left down all the time for the puppies in addition to the bitch's bowl. It is not uncommon to see really young puppies eating and drinking out of their bitch's food and water bowls. You would continue to increase the meals as the hunger increases to 3 and 4 meals a day but they are still nursing each day but the length of each feed and number is gradually reducing itself. It is not a hard and fast rule that a puppy will be weaned at 5 weeks or 6 weeks. Some will be but some my be as old as 7 weeks or more.

At this time the bitch maybe will let them nurse for just a few minutes to drain her but then it's "I'M OUT OF HERE" as those little gaffers bite. This is the easiest way with the fewest problems. The bitch can dry up slowly so she will not develop any medical problems. The puppies get the most suckling time which they require to develop into happy healthy emotionally stable puppies. Emotional development is just as important as physical growth. A lots less work and frustration than yanking the brood and the bitch apart on an artificial schedule. Let the bitch suckle the puppies as they require it. The bitch won't let them suckle for long if she has no milk or she is being bitten.

If your bitch is taking a long time tucking up her tummy (mammary glands{teats}) after this litter, you can rub on her belly straight Apple Cidar Vinegar a couple of times a day. It works like a charm. I used it on my show bitch when she had her two litters. Gorgeous Result! :eek

Margaret :)