Comments on: Bichon Puppies feeding advice?

By: Blueyedshewolf

Blueyedshewolf — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:09:45 +0000

At 5 weeks old it is not uncommon for the mother to start to wean her pups. AS you are feeding the canned puppy food you may also want to start feeding them a dry puppy food mixed with water or puppy formula. This will fill them up and you can ask your vet how much they should eat for their size per feeding or per day. Most of the preg females I have fostered and the dogs I used to breed would start to wean the pups at this age and soon she will start to dry up her ilk as well since the less she allows them to nurse the less milk she will produce. Yes they ca have water, and do not feed them milk unless it is a puppy formula type of milk. Your vet can tell you the proper things to feed her but dont be alarmed this is pretty normal and so as long as tey are eating food they will be ok. You are lucky she is doing it herself. I had one that I fostered once that would not wean they at all. So finally at 7 weeks old we had to start making her spend time away from the pups. We would take her in another room of the house for a few hours at a time and we would feed the pups.

By: NY at heart

NY at heart — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:24:35 +0000

no cow milk, dogs are lactose intolerant. puppies normally get weaned between 6-8 weeks, so it’s not a big emergency. if i were you, i’d be careful about wet food (due to the recall). get some puppy formula, and really soak some dry food. ask your vet what’s best. we got my puppy when he was about 8 weeks, and he happily crunched his way through dry food from day one. talk to your vet to make sure, and get them their shots when they need them. good luck!

By: raspberryswirrrl

raspberryswirrrl — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 02:04:05 +0000

the mother is weaning the puppies, her behaviour is normal.

you can introduce soft food to pups at 4 weeks old – they are 6, so you can increase the amount.

by 8 weeks of age, they should be eating solid food and no longer drinking milk from their mother at all – if they are at this stage, seperate them from the mother..

DONT feed them cows milk – ALL dogs are lactose intolerant. this is because they are dogs, not humans, and lack the enzyme to break down cows milk. You dont need supplements if you are feeding them a good quality puppy food.
make sure there is plenty of water available to them all the time.

Dont forget to get them immunised, the diseases pups are immunised against are deadly.
.

By: happynoodledance

happynoodledance — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:11:38 +0000

Get a good quality puppy food, and if you’re concerned about supplementing the diet add colostrum. Pedigree is not a very good food, look for something with protein as 2 of the first 4 ingredients and few preservatives. You should feed them as much as they will eat at least twice a day (many people feed three meals a day). They won’t over eat, there should always be food left in the bottom of the dish.

Your puppies should always have a supply of water. It is very important to give them a lot of water. Also, make sure to put water in their dry food to soften it up. Milk is not good. Colostrum is what you should give if you are concerned.

By: llsnwtsn

llsnwtsn — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 00:40:57 +0000

If the guys are eating solids, stay with it and don’t give them cows milk either. Try a better brand of food than Pedigree though