My pups are 5 1/2 weeks old and mum is very thin ,skin and bone nearly.Vet says she won't put weight on until she stops feeding pups. Pups not very interested as are fed 5/6 times daily and eating well but mum still wants to top up what should I do, I've kept her away 2 days she is still full of milk but she wants in with pups, I just want her to get back some of her weight.

How many times a day are you feeding her.  I have never had trouble keeping weight on my nursing bitches even with a large litter of 9 or a bitch who was normally rather anorexic.

I feed my girls four times a day a god quality puppy food and other protein sources too.  If you can't up the quantity of what she will eat up the nutrient quality.

My bitches will top thei pups up sometimes to 12 weeks (if pups stay that long) and certainly still give a comoft feed when pups leave for new homes around the 8 week mark, and I would never prevent them.

Mum is fed 4 /5 times aday,vet told me not to feed puppy food as too high in protein., what do you feed yours? Cassie eats the puppy food anyway

Hi Diane,

I don't see why your vet should criticise you feeding puppy food while your bitch is still feeding the pups - even if it's only a top up at night time.  If your bitch is anxious to be with them and happy to feed them I personally think it's best you still permit her to.  All I did with my pups was those leaving first were prevented from feeding from her two days before they left - more to make it less stressful for them going to their new owners.  They still got access to their mum for playing etc but were distracted or taken out and played with by us when the others got a little drink from the milk bar.  Yes, my bitch was quite thin despite eating well but I figure she would have been worse if she'd been made over anxious too.   Just my opinion based on my experience - to do with (or not) as you will :)

Good luck, regards Teri    

I have always fed my bitches puppy food, th3ey need the protein to make milk and keep condition for themselves.

The problem is the more you feed mum, the more milk she will make and the more the pups will feed, so it's a vicious circle.   I put one of my girls in a 'boob tube' type thing to stop the pups feeding from her!  Sorry don't know what else to suggest :-(

thanks for advice,I'll feed her puppy food shes ravernous anyway so she will eat anything at the moment and I will continue to let her topup puppies until couple of days before they leave for their new homes.
Thanks Diane

What a brilliant idea, I will definitely try the boob tube next time my girl has pups,may help prevent that stretched saggy look...In fact I did something similar after having my last baby, and my milk dried up in days with no probs :D ( I didnt have any trouble putting weight on tho ;) )

Another suggestion for you, have you wormed her at the same time you wormed the pups? I do this with mine, I find bitches will lose some weight, but when pups leave for their new homes and mum is wormed when they leave its not long before she starts putting on weight.   I would not keep her away from her pups, mine feed up until pups go to new homes, just maybe a suckle then they walk away.

thanks i will try worming her tomorrow when i do the pups