Remblak

I generally don't reduce the quantity of food to the bitch until the pups are 7-8 weeks old, but that does depend on her condition obviously.

The quality of the food is the thing I was talking about.

I have no idea about Advance rehydratable but for mine it would be instead of a chicken Maryland she'd get a drum stick and 1/2 a carcase for example - anything that gives them the same weight of food but less lean protein and more fat/skin/bone.

Maybe old fashion, but works fine for me

Thanks Sandra, appreciate your response

Thanks all for your responses, much appreciated!!

I start mine at three weeks with mince in little balls then mixed with a little warm water to make a slurry to teach them to lap. Then gradually start adding puppy kibble to the slurry and adding less water. I don't substitute any milk until about 5 weeks if mum still has plenty then I start giving meat/kibble meals followed by a drink of milk substitute (usually divetelact) and start dropping mums food down. By 6 weeks they are on a variety of meat/protein sources including chicken wings to chew, dry puppy kibble, hard dog biscuits and milk drinks totalling 4 meals a day. I let the bitch decide when she wants to stop feeding and it is usually around 7 weeks.

Thanks everyone

In regards to reducing your bitches food - how much and how quickly to you reduce the bitchs food intake??

I was told by my mentor to use goats milk and a baby cereal such as farex which you can pick up at the supermarket.

ETA cuz I didn't read where you said puppy milk in the OP

Hi Trina,

We are using Puppy milk atm and the pups seem to be stomaching that quite well.

I bought some Farex yesterday so may try that tomorrow. I dont want to give them anymore than two meals a day just yet as we have only just started introducing these initial meals.

Remblak,

Don't feed them weetbix and milk.......as there is no nutritional value in it. Why people insist on feeding their dogs that rubbish I don't know (not meaning you here as everyone who gets a dog seems to feed it weetbix and milk *sigh*)

There are some great puppy porridges (not milk) out on the market today. I used to use Mera Dog's meaty puppy porridge but that is no longer available . I also fed them raw minced chicken necks.

Even Farex (from chemist) ..mixed with a little minced chicken necks or minced lamb is far better for them than weetbix or any other adult human breakfast foods.

We used Farex last litter but also used the Weetbix & Puppy milk with our puppies and all seemed to enjoy it anyway. Interesting as many breeders have recommended using Weetbix and we have done this in the past with no issues at all.

Tapferhund, as the pups are only just beginning to start on solids, we have given them mince also mixed up in the Puppy milk and that was a success. I just think minced chicken necks might be a bit too hard for them to digest just yet.

Appreciate your insight though :-)

At that age mine are with mum 24/7 although she has the means to get away from the pups if she wants to.

They would get a piece of minced or scraped meat about as big as a golf ball twice a day in addition to whatever mum wants to give them.

With a mastitis bitch it's generally OK to reduce the quality of her food and up the fat %, old timers always told me fat doesn't make milk as well as high quality protein does, and I've found this to be true despite the fact that it doesn't make a lot of sense and I don't know why it works. Reducing the quality of the food helps her reduce the milk production naturally, but at 3.5 weeks I wouldn't be too bothered by this - let the mum and pups work thisout between them and she'll reduce production in her own time.

Thanks Sandra, mum has complete access to the pups 24/7 and she comes & goes as she pleases. Mum is being fed Advance Rehydrate atm, would you recommend slowly changing this? With our previous litter we slowly reduced the amount the bitch was being fed (although the previous litter from a different bitch never suffered from Mastitis) and I guess this is why I am being so cautious.

Hi guys,

Pups are now 3.5wks old and although the milkbar has been quite good and kept up with its demand, these puppies are wanting more than just milk now.

We introduced a mixture of Weetbix with Puppy milk and the pups hoovered that down quick smart. We also gave them a pink slushie mixture last night and that was scoffed down even quicker than the Weetbix mixture. So yesterday they had 2 meals plus mum.

So my question is, how many meals should mum still be giving her pups, when her babies are happy lapping from the dish and even after they have been fed by her are still searching for more food?

Also mum has had a hint of Mastitis in the early weeks of lactating so need to be mindful of how we reduce her milk produce.

I have spoken to my vet who is happy to give her medication to stop the milk production. However I am reluctant to use it just yet as I would like to do it without the drugs if possible.

Any suggestions and advise from your experiane is very much appreciated.

Only adding one more here, dont want to bore anyone. Here's Betty

What a head

Shes lovely.....could she be a keeper

Not quite sure the keepers will be as yet, but there are a few I have my eye on already :-)

Only adding one more here, dont want to bore anyone. Here's Betty :D

I read that as here's " Bretty" and thought noooooooooooooooooooo, don't do it

Front view :-)

Only adding one more here, dont want to bore anyone. Here's Betty

I took some more now of the bubs, are you on FB?

Awww, how proud is Molly

What a lovely photo

Thank-you!!

Mel you should post the pic of Molly sitting with them

Shes so pretty

Here you go

We have puppies. Ebony gave us 5 beautiful black and white babies 3 boys and 2 girls.

Huge Congratulations Bel, now c'mon some piccies please!!!

Awwww, great, now I am puppy clucky again

They are gorgeous...

Believe it passes when your sleep deprived

I just cant believe how quickly they have started turning into lil doggets now and getting cuter by the second (I know I'm only a lil biast) LOL!

Congrats Mel, Molly does look pleased with herself doesn't she!

Hugs to all 2 legs and 4 legs from me

Thanks so much Em, she's taking it all in her stride now and we are really proud of her. I'll keep you posted on them as they grow.

xxx

Jett had her x-ray this morning..... :D ;)

12 skulls, however he said there could be some hiding behind the ribcage. She is booked in for a c-section on Friday

I have a 10kg barrel of biolac and bottles to feed them, lucky school holidays are on as Riley will be helping me

OMG!!! Sending you the very best of luck and looking fwd to seeing your babies soon!!!

Awwwwww....they don't look like little furry slugs any more!

Give them a squish from me!

Thanks Lisa, will do xxx

Last one, this is cute of Mumma & her lil baby girl xxx

And another :rolleyes:

This boy is named Jasper, unsure as yet if he'll be our keeper.

Hi All,

Thought I'd give you a few pix of Molly and her babies, now 2.5wks and doing really well :-)

Cheers,

Mel

:rolleyes: I was wondering when you'd get in here and spill. The suspense has been killing me!

Just after catching up on my zzzzz, I actually got 3 hrs thanks to my OH last night.

Mind you doesnt look like I've had any sleep for days, OMG!!

We have puppies!!!

Arrived in the early hours of the morning - Monday 6th September.

Molly had a c-section and had 8 puppies, sadly one baby boy was lost.

Attached is a photo of proud mum with her puppies, we have 4 boys & 3 girls :rolleyes:

I have enquired about a nice looking staffy, however am concerned about the age the seller is passing it onto me at 6 weeks old.

Should i be alarmed, he said the VCA recommends 8 weeks, but 6 weeks will be ok.

Thoughts? I'm due to have a look tomorrow morning.

Name and shame as far as I'm concerned

What kind of un-ethical breeder??? would let their 6wk old baby leave at this young age absolutely ridiculous!!!

If I were you, I'd be running a mile and finding a reputable, ethical breeder who not only keeps their puppies till the appropriate but also health tests.