Weaning Puppies
Is Only Natural
Weaning puppies is a perfectly natural process. Mamma dogs
have been doing it successfully for ages, so how hard can
it be, right?
But humans, not being dogs, can sometimes forget the natural
part, and get confused about it.
Fact is, weaning puppies is an easy, logical process.
When you're ready to begin weaning your new puppies, keep
in mind that this should be done gradually, in small steps.
You can’t rush it, and you definitely don't want to
begin when the puppies are too young.
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Sometimes people get impatient and
try to begin weaning puppies before they're three weeks
old. That's too early. Their bodies need to develop
the ability to handle solid food, and that takes time.
Wait the three weeks -- it's not really so long.
The first step in the weaning process is to take
the mother away from the puppies at least an hour
before it’s time for them to eat. This gives
the puppies a chance to get good and hungry. They'll
be more inclined to try the new, alternative food
you offer them.
Remember, when it’s time for the puppies to
eat, the mother should be nowhere around. |
The alternative food you offer them should be liquid or
semi-liquid so it's easy for them to swallow and digest.
Solid food won't work for them yet.
You can make a gruel of commercial dog food mixed with water
or baby cereal thinned with water. Another option when weaning
puppies is to use diluted strained baby food.
Put any of these mixtures in a small, shallow dish. Some
of the puppies will have no problem eating. They'll catch
on immediately. But there may be a few that just don't get
it. So they'll need some encouragement. The easiest way is
to put a little of the mixture on the tip of their nose or
on their tongue.
When weaning puppies you'll also need to decrease the amount
of food you're giving the mother. This causes her to produce
less milk. At the same time, you can gradually begin increasing
the amount of food you give the puppies, and over the next
several days make it less soupy. As they grow and their digestion
matures, their food should slowly become more solid, day
by day.
Weaning puppies at this point becomes easier because, as
the solid food grows more familiar to them, they learn to
enjoy it more. Let them eat as much as they want as long
as they don't become bloated.
If you approach weaning puppies like this, the process should
be simple, painless and easy. Expect to see them completely
weaned by the time they're six to eight weeks old.
About the Author
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information on Weaning Puppies.
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