When to start pups on supplement food other than mother.

[wyolion]

I have a litter of five week old walker pups and would like to start some of them on other food other than their mother. Some pups aren't doing as well as the others. Anybody have any suggestions.

Thanks
Nate

[livetohunt]

I feed the mother milk (powdered) from day one as soon as I know she is bred. After she has the pups I keep feeding her the milk mixed with her dry food. Most times at about 4-6 week the pups start eating with her and by about 6 weeks they are eating more food/milk mix then drinking from her. I also start to cut the milk out at about 6 weeks but then still add the powder to there food dry till they are about 8-10 weeks old. At about 10-12 weeks I still feed soft food mixed with a little water but start to dry it up to so that at about 12 weeks or so they are eating the same dry food as the older dogs.

[carlisle]

i would take the pups that are doing good and start them on a high quality dog food mixed with baby formula milk blended in a blender mush fed 3 times a day...the mothers milk is probably the best thing for the pups and the ones that arnt doing well probably just arnt getting enough cause the healthier pups are taking the lions share of it so wean the healthy pups and keep the smaller ones on the mom for another week..

[wilson]

I just had a large litter (11) plott puppies. at 3-1/2 weeks i started feeding them puppy chow mixed with warm water in blender twice a day. Then three times a day after 4-5 days. Then over to dryer puppy chow. Took mother off several hours a day during this time. Then totally off at 5 1/2 weeks. Making sure they got wormed at 3-5-7-9 weeks old.(very important). Puppys shots started at 6 weeks or so.

Randy
N.C.