Puppies...

[beardog003]

Hi to everyone, I had a quick question for those of you that may have raised a litter or two. I was wondering at what age can you start to feed soaked food, and give water to puppies? When you soak the food do you use puppy formula or just plain water?

Thank,
beardog

[Melanie Hampton]

The first litter we had I soaked the puppies food and then mixed it with a milk replace. They were about 4 weeks old.

The last litter the little monsters were chewing on mom's dry food at about 3 weeks old. So I started soaking it in water and giving it to them then. I was using milk replacer but quit because at that age they inhaled more then they ate. Once they started to get a little teeth I started adding shredded chicken to their food.. Boy did they like that

As for water, I think they started drinking it off and on about 3 weeks old. Make sure you do not have any buckets in there that the pups will fall into and drown. I used about 4 shallow dog dishes and just filled them about half way.. Mom's water was on top of her whelping box and secured to the side of the kennel so she couldn't knock the bucket off onto a pup...

[Bearhunter]

[beardog003]

Thanks for all the replies, I guess I am going to try and feed them some dry dog food soaked with some milk replacer I had my wife get at the feed store today. I hope they take to it pretty good cuase poor ol mom is getting attacked like they are a bunch of Volchers.lol
Thank you guys again, as this is the first time I ever raised any pups.

Thanks,
Beardog

[nmplott]

[Rick Anderson]

Be sure you buy the non medicated milk replacer, if you get calf milk replacer.

[Bearhunter]

[Spanky]

[beardog003]

I just want to thank all you guys for your time to help me out.

To answer Rick I don't think I got the medicated replacer, the name of the stuff I got is called Esbilac 2nd step for puppy weaning and it doesn't say anything about medicated on the label.

As for Bearhunter, you just added a new question. What is Ricketts?

and for Spanky, she is feeding 11 pups and I am not feeding her puppy food I feed them Ol' Roy high performance the brown bag. It says on the bag that it was also good for puppies; Should I consider changing this food if I already started using it to feed them? I also give the mom vitamins everyday also. I try to feed her three times a day pretty big servings but she is always hungry due to the amount of pups she's feeding I would figure.

Will the puppy weaning food make them develop to fast or is it formulated to supplement their nutritional needs as it says on the label or is that B.S. just to sell the stuff?

Thanks to everyone that has posted for their time and their knowledge as I said before this is the first litter of pups I have raised.

Thank you,
Beardog

[Spanky]

I myself would not feed Hi-pro to the pups. I would want a higher concentration of Calcium then protein. I have fed puppy food for just that reason to the mother and the pups.
Switching the mother now could cause her to have the runs which will only dehydrate her why she is still feeding the pups so my answer would be "No" to changing her food.
I would wean the pups on puppy food though when it was time.

[Rockcreek]

Ricketts is when a pup gets to much protein.... this can be treated with a vitamin-C supplement... The vitamin-C makes the pup produce Vitamin-D naturally. You will see Ricketts by a pup "Knuckling up". It can have pro-longed effect if not checked and treated at the first symptoms. Take care. Mason

[Emily]

there are all manner of opinions out there about what is best to feed pups and lactating bitches. some of the more recent research suggests that overly fast growth can lead to weak bones. but coonhound pups are pretty tough.
Most pups will start stealing mom's dry food when they are ready to wean. Meanwhile, feed mom as much as she wants to maintain weight. A lot of people free-feed when the mom has pups on her. With 11 pups, that's a pretty big drain on her. If she is too skinny, feed mom the milk replacer--that will help. Or, you can just feed her a higher fat food or supplement with table scraps.

[beardog0003]

Hello and thanks to all who helped. I took everybodies advice that posted here and I am weaning the puppies with the puppy food and mom still get the ol' Roy hi pro. I am also feeding her the vitamins I mentioned. She is getting around pretty good and I got the little ones on the soaked puppy food with out the milk replacer. The pups sure seem to be doing fine and are getting big fast thank God that those first steps are just about over. Now to the shots and wormings that I hear that they should be getting pretty soon.
I would like to thank everbody for the help and advise that was given here. I would also like to say that I sure do respect those that raise alot of pups because it sure is alot of work.
Thanks
Beardog

[BigGameHunter]

It's only a lot of work if you do it right so congrats.