By: Jane R. Bicks, D.V.M.
Early weaning is selfish and unnatural, unless the health of the mother is at stake. Puppies require the easy-to-digest, nutrient packed milk from their mother or puppy formula until 6 weeks of age.
Early weaning can create all types of health problems, including food allergies, during their adult life. If you keep mom's puppy food in a shallow dish, the inquisitive puppies are sure to walk into the food, smell it, and eventually try to eat it!
They will also start to lap water as they fall in it and play around
it. To prevent drowning, it's essential to put water in a shallow spill
proof dish, then clean and refill it as often as needed.
Weaning Puppy If Feeding Mom Dry Puppy Food
Fill another shallow dish with puppy food and add enough water to soften it (making it the consistency of oatmeal) Just as with mom's hard food, the puppies will eventually end up in the dish, lapping the "mush" that tastes just like mom's milk. Timing is everything.
At this stage, mom is tired, sore, and in need of escape. Once the puppies
start to eat on their own, they will demand less milk from mom and give
her the chance to leave the den for longer intervals. Day by day you will
decrease the additional water until the puppies are eating solid puppy
food, free-feed. That's when mom and the puppies can celebrate their independence.
Weaning Puppy If Feeding Mom Canned Food
imply add water until the food becomes a mush. Day by day you will decrease additional water until you are serving direct from the can (heated to room temperature). Since canned food can spoil, you will need to refill the bowls frequently.
Weaning Puppy With No Mom
Once the puppies reach 4-6 weeks or have become brave enough to investigate beyond their den, it's time to add a puppy food to their formula. Start with 1/4 food and 3/4 formula. Don't add too much additional water because you will dilute the puppy's meal.
Day by day you add more puppy food and less formula until you are feeding only food. Congratulations, job well done, Mom!
If Your Puppy Isn't Getting Enough Nutrition
Consider.....Starting Your Puppy Out The Right Way!
Do you really believe that feeding your puppy a cheap supermarket food
that contains fillers and meat residue from dead, dying, and diseased animals
is really going to help your puppy develop strong bones, teeth and muscular
tissue that will be the strongest possible in fighting off diseases......and
help your puppy live the longest life possible?
Degenerative type diseases happen because of life style choices.
What your puppy eats is your choice alone. However, if you want to
give your new puppy the best chance at avoiding those horrible degenerative
diseases, you can do so by giving your puppy the best possible start in
life you can.