Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I found a puppy, who is maybe 1 week old as he doesn't have any teeth, so I gave him milk. The first 3 days he drank milk alright, but after the 4th day he lost interest in drinking the milk. Someone gave him human cookies and he ate that. Is it the cause he lost his appetite for milk, or is it OK to give him cookies? It is been 7 days he is here with us. Today I saw little blood in his stool, is it serious? What shall I do now?
By Gulru
This little pup is failing fast and you need to take him to a vet now!
He lost interest because he probably has parasites. Don't feed a puppy cow's milk or human food. Cow's milk is not the same as dog's milk.
Goat's milk is better for a puppy since it doesn't have as much lactose. I've seen it at Walmart. Or you can get puppy formula at a pet store. Your dog needs it for six more weeks. Then you can switch to puppy chow mixed with warm water to make it mushy.
First, though, take him to the vet for a heartworm test and to get treated for parasites that are making blood in his stool.
Do not feed a puppy that young any solid food. It must have the right kind of nutritional value equal to its mother's milk. You do not give a human infant milk from the jug, but baby formula. So, there's formulas on the market just for animals. I would also visit a popular pet store or a feed and grain business that has well informed staff to assist you in choosing the right type of formula or ask a vet.
You need to get him wormed by a Vet soon. The parasites will ruin his health. Get some proper puppy food for him and get his vaccinations before too long. A vet will know when he should have them.
I have a Chi who I thought had 4 pups when I was in the hospital. My husband was supposed to tend to them. When I got home 3 days later to look at them and clean out her whelping box and discovered a 5th puppy. She is much smaller than the other 4 and her siblings seems to "push" her out of the way when its comes to nursing. Should I bottle feed her but keep her with mama and her siblings? Thanks so kindly for your help. God Bless.
By Andrea Rossi from Palm Coast, FL
Absolutely! Or move mom and the runt to a separate box to allow it to suckle without issue.
I have had a few litters of puppies and i think it depends on how the mother treats the puppy. If she doesnt seem to want to feed her then try bottle feeding, it isnt as good as mammas milk but it will help if the other puppies wont let her eat.
Good luck with this litter, I hope all is well. But please get your momma dog spayed and do not go through this again. There are too many dogs in shelters needing homes and look what a mess you have made of this batch. don't do this again for the sake of the all the dogs, please.
Thank you all for your feedback. I did try the bottle feeding and even the syringe, neither of which worked, so I brought her in immediately to our vet. Sadly, her lungs didn't develop all the way in the womb and we had to put her down. It was heart breaking, even though it had only been a little over a week. You still get attached, especially my 11 yr old son.
Marfette: Yes indeed, I do intend on getting her fixed. There's no excuse or reasons not to at this time. Without going into too much detail, my husband is leaving me after 16 yrs so priorities are switching. I have a lot on my plate, but I DO understand and agree with you. Thanks again to all of you! God Bless!
I don't know what to do with my runt right now. He was eating & now he stopped. He is about 2 and 1/2 months old. Anyone on here can help me with feeding ideas. It would be much appreciated. :) Thank you
email: tinker_luv1992 AT yahoo.com. Please email me ideas asap.
How do Poodles do after being taken away from their mom at 4 1/2 weeks old? I guess the breeder was sick and can't take care of them. Will the puppies be compromised health wise? We just lost our 19 month old Standard Poodle to a neuter gone wrong and couldn't stand to lose another one young.
Sheri
By Sherri from Loveland, CO
I'm sorry that she passed. When the puppy grows up and is able to do more things like bark and growl the puppy will begin to become very demanding like if you try to pick it up it will growl and nip at your hand. If it does,you pinch it's neck lightly and make a sssttttt. noise, that is like their mom [AKA dog] nipping then on the neck teaching them how to grow up.
My chi puppy was eating on it's own and quite robust at 4 weeks. She did remain with her mother until 6 weeks but would have been fine at 4 1/2 weeks.
You said the breeder was ill and not the dam? I would never try to wean a pup that young. It is going to put the pup behind the eightball physically.
If the breeder is too ill and wants to move the pup at 4 weeks, I would ask to bring the dam home with me until the pup is weaned.
Pet stores have puppy formula, just like for babies. That works. My Pug?Boston (Bug) was sold at 5 weeks. She needed food often, and softened. But the formula is good too. That dog will want to be warm, and near your heart, so get ready! The bond never breaks-he/she will be one for life-a long life!
The reason puppies should stay with their mom longer is to be weaned properly and to learn proper behavior. Puppies learn how to socialize from their mom so a pup who doesn't have that will be dependant on humans to teach them. Make sure you socialize this pup with other dogs as soon as it has had it's shots, begin training early and the pup should balance out. Address bad behaviors immediately, just as the mother would, don't let cuteness get in the way.
As far as nutrition, feed 1/2 tsp whole plain yogurt, 1/2 tsp cottage cheese and one raw egg mixed with canned food. Add canned pumpkin, Libbys has real pumpkin, not pumpkin filling. Start with 1/2 teaspoon, this will keep the digestive tract flowing, add less if you notice diarrhea. Do this until the pup is 4 months old. This can also be continued as it adds nutrition to the food. Feed a puppy 4 times a day until 6 months old, then 3 times a day until 1 year old, then 2 times a day through adulthood to avoid digestive upset.
We have a mother dog, mutt, who had a litter of 3 pups. She stopped feeding the runt when he was about 4 weeks old. My daughter has been softening dog food in water, feeding the pup, and has warmed regular milk, I think twice. I told her she probably shouldn't give the pup the milk, so she stopped. This morning, the pup was moaning, like it had a stomach ache and has been doing this most of the day, on and off, laying like it is really, really weak. I think it may be dying. Is there anything we can do?
I have a 6 week old puppy; she is a Chorkie. I got her early as her mother was not well enough too look after her. So I am feeding her powdered milk and puppy meat. She's been eating and drinking fine, but the past 2 days she won't eat anything.
She is drinking the odd bit of milk, that's it. She is OK herself and is playing and running about, but looks a bit dopier than normal. Do I need too worry about this? XI found a 4mo old puppy, dehydrated and malnourished. What should I do? The The vet is closed today.
I got a new blue nose Pit Bull puppy. We adopted him from a worker that works with my dad. When it's night and everyone is sleeping he starts crying and barking and won't stop. It's been going on for 3 days and I don't know what to do. We leave him downstairs in a cage and it still doesn't stop. Does anyone know what to do or when he will stop crying?
I just bought a 13 week old dog and it's scared and shy. It does take food from my hand and feels somewhat comfortable at that time, but when I move or something or it's around people it gets really scared and runs to hide.
It doesn't wanna go walk. What should I do?I have a 5 day old puppy. The mom feeds it, but it's not pooping and I need help on to how to make it poop.
By Madison M from Vidalia, GA
When feeding baby mammals you have to stimulate them to defecate and urinate! I use a washcloth with warm water, then very gently rub the areas. Generally, the baby will "go" when you start massaging these areas. The moms' lick them to stimulate them to evacuate! Good Luck! Aren't you glad I told you about the washcloth? Look at the alternative.
If the pup is with the mother dog (bitch) then you need not worry about the pup seeing evidence of the pup peeing or pooing.
The mom takes care of it by licking the baby and therefor no mess evident in the box.
Now after the pup starts eating solid foods, you will have messes and you must clean up after the puppies. The mom will no longer take care of it. Gross but true.
I'm getting a puppy soon, a Staffy/Lab/ cross. I have had experience with dogs, my brother and sister both got one, a Lab and a terrier. So, I'm not unaccustomed to training/walking, etc.
However, my parents are split up. My mum takes care of my brother and sister's dogs because my brother is at university and my sister is lazy. She isn't allowed more than two dogs where she lives. I spend half the time at my dad's and half at my mum's. My dad hates dogs, completely and utterly.
I am only allowed to get my puppy (eight weeks, his name is Tino :3) on the condition that I only keep him at dad's house while I'm there, and only if he's not allowed in the house. (My mum is allowed more than two dogs if it's only temporary.)
Now, I may not be a genius entirely about dogs, but I don't think keeping him outside constantly is a good idea. My dad is adamant, though. So I have three questions. First, would a Lab/Staffy get along with two other dogs, and four cats? Would it be okay to leave him outside? And, would it be okay for him to move between two houses? Thanks for your answers.
By Veritism
I have a eight week old Chihuahua who I named Jax. About two days after I got Jax I noticed that he was acting like he was trying to throw up, but I didn't pay much attention to it because I just thought it was a puppy, you know. But the next day I had put him in the bathroom and when we came back from the store he had diarrhea and vomit everywhere so I took him to the vet that night and they had said he had parvo, but the whole thing is a little sketchy and if you ask me. I took him to another vet who said he may just have a little upset stomach from the stress of being in a different home. 
They sent me home with three different kinds of medicine and two different kinds of dog food to try. As of two days ago he had not vomited anymore and as of, probably 24 hours ago has had not had any kind of diarrhea. His fever is down, his stomach is no longer swollen, and he is not dehydrated.
I have been syringe feeding him, but he still will not eat on his own nor drink on his own. He still seems a little weak and has no interest in anything. Since he is not showing any signs of diarrhea, vomiting, or the fever anymore, can you please tell me why he may still be weak?
My Pit Bull gave birth to 11 pups 2 days ago and things seemed to be going well until I realized that one of the pups had not been cleaned and the mom wasn't even nursing the pup. The mom was sitting this pup to the side all alone. This pup is also much smaller and seems to be breathing differently than the others. I tried leaving this 1 pup and mom alone, but the mom just stared at the pup. What can I do to keep this pup alive?
By Drall from New Orleans, LA
The mom rejected this puppy. She can't afford to provide food to a puppy she doesn't expect to survive. She knows there is something wrong with it and did not bother cleaning it.
You'll have to take the puppy to the vet to get a set-up of puppy formula, tiny bottles, etc. Call first to be sure they have this.
Keep the puppy very warm. The puppy will need twenty-four hour care with feedings every few hours. You'll also have to carefully wipe the bottom to stimulate defecation (see link). If you aren't able to do this the puppy needs to be taken to the Humane Society or SPCA for round-the clock care.
Keep in mind that even if this puppy survives, it may have a congenital defect that will require expensive surgery. I'm sorry you're having this problem.
Here is a link for better info: www.aspca.org/
I received a Pit Bull puppy exactly 5 weeks and 4 days old. She is very healthy, urinates 4-5 times a day, and "poops" 1-2 times a day. The reason I took her so early is because for about 6 days now the mom weened all the pups, because they started eating regular puppy chow and maintained healthy eating, etc.
So I decided no harm done. She is doing fine as far as I know, but I'd like to now of any signs I should be on the lookout for to know if there is anything wrong with her. Thanks.
By Nelson from IN
I would be sure to feed her a high quality puppy food, ask vet for recommendations and if not started vaccinations, especially Parvo are essential.
Caring for a puppy that is younger than typical weaning age can present its own challenges. This is a page about caring for a 5 week old puppy.
