hi which is the best age to start to wean pups, as cindy is looking very worn out even though she is on four meals a day.the pups always what to eat.

HI, weaning usually starts between 3 and 4 weeks, it sounds like Cindy could do with some help now. How old are they and what breed/size, and how many? have they been wormed yet? If you could give a little more info then we can advise further.

Hi WL

They were born 20th July so they should not be ready for weaning yet unles their mum has a problem!
~~
Hi Minnie Mouse

Did you get a copy of The Book of the Bitch as this will answer many of your questions. If you think your bitch is looking really down then get her checked out by your vet. You say you are giving her four meals a day - is this her normal food or a higher quality one - she should be getting good quality and feeding just about ab-lib at this stage

Christine

I don`t know what breed you have or even if this is your first litter.....first litter for your bitch, just in case someone jumps in here!!!!

Before I attempt to answer or advise I need to know also how many puppies are in the litter.

Many breeds are started on weaning at 2 weeks and some bitches need feeding 6 times daily when they are rearing their litters.

Hi Minni Mouse, am I right in thinking this is a litter of Boxers?

ANOTHER QUESTION..IS THIS THE FIRST LITTER YOU HAVE EVER BRED OR WHELPED?

Hi our bitch had 9 pups and we started at 2 weeks,have you tried bottle feeding to give your bitch some rest

Have just searched and seen these are 5 cav pups. Are you still there minnie mouse? As the pups are just 2 weeks old the mum should be coping if you are feeding her enough good food. You could also give her drinks of Welpi ( 1/2 a pint twice a day) or diluted evaporated milk, Perhaps she should be having 5 meals - she should have as much as she will eat - as this is the time -2-4 weeks - where she should be making the max amount of milk. I am a little concerned for your bitch-has she ever had her heart checked? Please get back to us or we cant help much. What are you feeding her on, and how much, how often?

You could start the puppies on flaked baby rice mixed with warm Welpi. make it quite runny, no lumps, - like thick cream and put it in a deep saucer. Pop it directly under the chin of the pups in turn and if they dont get the hang of licking it up offer some on the end of a clean finger tip for them to lick- make up about a dessert spoonful each. If they dont want it it means they are getting enough from mum, try again about 6 hours later just in case they were full up at the first attempt - if they still refuse it , then dont worry they are doing fine. re offer every other day, as eventually they will want it. Mum will happily finish off what they dont want.
Its ususally easier to remove the mum as she will try and pinch it! Let them have as much as they want twice a day to start with and after 3 days add some Pedigree Chum Puppy Food (in tins from supermarkets)- about a teaspoon per pup , very well mashed/squashed with the back of a spoon mixed in with the flaked rice. Up it to 3 meals daily if they want it. Once they have been eating for a week, ( at 3 -31/2 weeks) worm them with Drontal Puppy or Strongid paste and then start them on a puppy complete ( I like Arden Grange) well soaked in hot water for 1/2 an hour or so first. By 4 weeks they could be on 4/5 little meals a day. Watch Cindy's undercarraige - if you start feeding lots of solid food to the pups she may be producing more milk than they now need and she could get uncomfortable. Ideally you want to give the pups extra food but allow her to continue feeding them at least some milk til 5 weeks.
Rearing pups is very hard work for the mum, so she will look tired sometimes but I think you should get her checked out by the vet asap just to be sure she's ok. Ask him to check her heart if he doesn't automatically do it.

hi she is on royal canin starter bag for breeders it is a complete dry food plus she is haveing scarmbled egg made with lactol milk and a drink made with lactol and i leave her a bowl of food when i go to bed.Yes i took her to the vets he said her heart was healthy. I had all the checks done and very thing was normal i would not have had her mated if she had not been in perfect hearlth. pups are doing very well yes this is my first litter Cindy is over 2years.

No offence intended minnie mouse :-). I just know that some cavs have heart problems and thought that if she had, that it may be why she was getting so tired, I was just concerned for her. Hope my post was helpful. Is she actually losing weight? or just looking drained.

I never took any offence at all was just glad of the input. Just looking drained thank you for your concern.this is a great website it helps a lot.

Minni Mouse..in an earlier post you mention you had 7 bitches last May or was it 5 bitches last May.

So why do you now ask what us the best time to start weaning? Surely if you have other breeding bitches you know when to start weaning puppies.

I have 7 bitches but i only breed from one of them, she is the only one who is right for breeding and this is her first litter.i have spent 2 years planning this litter.

Cochen, even if someone has bred a litter or litters before - it doesn't mean to say that they have encountered a particular problem before. Regular posters here usually try to answer the post, and only ask questions to find out more when they are relevant to the posters original question, with view to helping. Your posts come over as a little domineering sometimes, did you realise? Lets keep it friendly here :-)

Minnie mouse, I think I would add some fresh cooked chicken to her food - about 2 plump drumsticks cooked , deboned and chopped up small with the royal canin. You could also give the broth its cooked in when cooled for a nourishing drink or soak the canin in it if you are soaking it. Apart from upping her protein the only other thing that springs to mind is how warm you are keeping her now? Could she be too hot? I would think a steady 65 degrees would be fine as long as she is lying with them most of the time. How are the puppies doing - I bet they are gorgeous - just opening their eyes and getting about. It will soon be mayhem. :-)

Westie Lover the puppies eyes are open and doing very well.I gave Cindy chicken and minced beef in her royal canin food the weather here is very warm, iam trying to keep her as cool as i can.Thank you once again for all your good advice.

Well said Westie Lover :-)

Hi Westie Lover.I have replied to this but have no idea where it has disappeared to. Any explanations anyone?