Caring for a 5 Week Old Puppy

Caring for a 3 Week Old Puppy

I adopted a 3 week old pitbull pup. Her mom was killing the puppies and she is the only one to survive. I have been bottle feeding her and she shows no signs of aggression. Now I want to make sure I raise her right. She is my baby and I love her with all my heart. Any advise will be appreciated.

Sheila from Bridgeton, NJ

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RE: Caring for a 3 Week Old Puppy

You can never tell if a puppy will be aggressive or not. I have a 2 1/2 year old red-nosed pitbull that we got when she was 4 weeks old and we have never hit her...she has gotten very aggressive towards certain people...when me and my husband split up, he left the dog with me and when he comes over to see her, she is all excited to see him but if he gets to close to me she will attack him and I have to tell her that daddy isn't going to hurt mama..(he has never hit me)..then she gets all excited again...she is a very protective dog...she loves her 4 cats...good luck! (08/30/2006)

By Jannie

RE: Caring for a 3 Week Old Puppy

Sheila, Congratulations on your new family member! I use to work at a shelter and have met some very sweet pitbulls. Here's a few tips: The first few months of a dog's life (I believe 6 months) are critical for socialization. So, I suggest taking obedience training classes once your puppy is old enough. Also, pitbulls can be somewhat dominant dogs and your puppy will need to know that you're in charge. The classes can help with this. (08/30/2006)

By Michelle

RE: Caring for a 3 Week Old Puppy

what about the vet?? have they given you any advices. (08/31/2006)

By sandy63

RE: Caring for a 3 Week Old Puppy

my dd has a now 3 yr old white male pit that she hand raised from 2.5 weeks of age. he was also the sole surviver of the litter of 7. he was raised with an older, smaller female who was dominant. he is now with 2 chiwahwah(sp) and he has never been aggresive towards people or animals, including my 8 yo male boxer. just my 2cents. (08/31/2006)

By cleo235

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Caring for a 5 Week Old Puppy

I have two English bulldog puppies that are 5 weeks old. The mother has nothing to do with them. I have been bottle feeding since they were 1 week old. How often and how much should I feed them and when can they eat regular puppy food.

Josie from El Paso, TX

Editor's Note: Here are some other posts about feeding young puppies on ThriftyFun

• Caring for a Young Puppy
• Feeding Puppies

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RE: Caring for a 5 Week Old Puppy

At five weeks they could/should be eating dry puppy food. Mine started on their own at 3 1/2 weeks (08/02/2007)

By Glenda

RE: Caring for a 5 Week Old Puppy

If you can't find a source of fresh goat milk (ask at the feedstore or go to the American Dairy Goat Association online to find a goat person near you) then there is canned or powdered goat milk in the stores. Feed very tiny amounts and then feed water between times, at first. Never dilute milk with water as is commonly recommended. It is very important for the milk to react with stomach acids and form a solid in the stomach in order to be digested right and not cause diarrhea. With water dilution it won't set right. Your vet will have a very expensive formula to use if you are completely desperate. (08/02/2007)

By kimhis

RE: Caring for a 5 Week Old Puppy

You can start teaching the puppies to eat dog food at 2 weeks of age. I would put a little bit of the can dog food (this is mushy and easier for them to eat) on my finger and put into the puppy's mouth. I would do this twice a day for about a week to a week and a half as it takes about this long for them to learn to eat. At about the age of 2 weeks the mother does not constantly feed the puppies. By the time the pup is 4 weeks old, I would be using dry dog food with water on it so it is easier for the puppy to eat the dog food. You must remember the mother usually starts to wean her puppies about 6-7 weeks old. By the time she weans the puppy it can eat dry dog food with no water on it. I do not know how often to feed milk to the puppy. I have not had to do that in a very long time. (08/03/2007)

RE: Caring for a 5 Week Old Puppy

You must ask the vet. He will tell you exactly how often and what to feed. He might even have a formula for them or he will tell you what to feed them. If you can't afford a vet, an English Bulldog rescue will probably take them off your hands and give them good care until they can find them a loving home. If you need to find a rescue, you're local animal shelter or SPCA can help. (08/11/2007)

By Stngray

RE: Caring for a 5 Week Old Puppy

I have a five and half week old pit bull who wouldn't eat. I tried baby food and wet Eukanuba mixed together (it's very messy but he ate it). I wanted him to eat something more so I bought baby dog Royal Canine which he likes (but doesn't eat on a regular basis). What I found most helpful and what he guzzles down is newborn puppy milk that you can buy from PetCo (it's on the same aisle as the vitamins). Good luck! (03/22/2008)

new puppy

I am about to be given a 3 1/2 wk old puppy half Wiener dog, half mix of who knows what. I know it is probably too early to take the puppy away from her mother, but the family is just getting rid of all the puppies. Will someone please give me some suggestions on what to do to take care of such a young puppy? ex: food? environment? (b)Editor's Note:(/b) Way too early to take a puppy away from it's mother. 6 weeks is a minimum and 8 weeks is much better. Your pup will have a much better start if you can convince the owners to keep the pups longer.

(07/17/2008)

By Nickie

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Caring for a 5 Week Old Puppy

I have a pit bull/mastiff puppy that is about 5 weeks old. The breeder told me she was 8 weeks, but it's clear that she's not. He said that they had to get rid of all the puppies or they would be put down. I just want to know what I should do with her to help her grow healthy. She cries most of the day, even when she's eating and drinking. I really need some advice on this.

Lori from Thermopolis, WY

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RE: Caring for a 5 Week Old Puppy

Besides the advice here, you should talk to your vet about this and contact the ASPCA and turn in the breeders. (03/11/2009)

By Deeli

RE: Caring for a 5 Week Old Puppy

Invest in the puppy milk for at least a few weeks. Make sure she is using the bathroom. You may have to stimulate her to go by rubbing her with a tissue or paper towel. Good luck! (03/12/2009)

By kflawson

RE: Caring for a 5 Week Old Puppy

All the ideas here have merit, but they don't address your poor puppy's true misery. I expect the poor thing is missing his/her mama. It's been a long time since we've had really small pups around here, but if you can get an old-fashioned wind-up clock (the kind that ticks), and a heating pad you can set on low to put in the pup's bed, that might help some.

Give your new "fur baby" all the cuddling and physical affection you can during waking hours, and try the heating pad-clock combo at bedtime. Hope it helps! (03/13/2009)

By JustPlainJo

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Caring for a 5 Week Old Puppy

How do you care for a very small 5 week old puppy?

By Jeisha from florida

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RE: Caring for a 5 Week Old Puppy

Wow, 5 weeks old is very, very young to be away from its litter mates. A lot of dogs end up with biting problems because they leave their litters too young. They learn about the consequences of biting from playing with their brothers and sisters, but I'm going to assume it was not your choice to get a pup so young. Back to feeding, I feed pups that young dry puppy chow from Purina and I mix it with Alpo puppy food. Just enough canned food to coat the dry. Too much canned food will give it diarrhea. I don't know how big the pup is, but give him enough four times a day to fill him up and then let him have as much dry food as he or she wants. Eventually you'll be able to just feed dry food which I think is the best for dogs. I have raised Australian Shepherds for the last 8 years and my dogs stay on Puppy Chow until their 9 months old. Sure hope this helps you out. (08/25/2009)

By bsmoreland

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Caring for a 5 Week Old Puppy

I have a 5 week old puppy. He keeps throwing up after sucking milk. They are Chinese Crested Puffs. What should I feed them beside goats milk and pablum?

By Robbie from Winnipeg, Canada

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RE: Caring for a 5 Week Old Puppy

Please get that puppy to the vet. You may have more than feeding issues going on there, and a pup that young can dehydrate from vomiting very quickly. At any age, dehydration can mean the systems of the body can shut down; it's even more potentially lethal in very young puppies. (08/06/2010)

By PupperMom

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Caring for a 5 Week Old Puppy

I have a 5 week old puppy. My mother's dog is the mum, she hasn't got much milk left, so I decided to try and nurse him on puppy milk, but he won't lap. When I take him to visit my mum he will lap for her. What am I doing wrong? Please help, I am so worried.

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Caring for a 5 Week Old Puppy

I have a 5 week pit bull puppy. I'm unsure on what to feed him. He also won't stop crying. Can anyone give me suggestions on what to do and tell me why he cries?

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Caring for a 5 Week Old Puppy

What should I feed a 5 1/2 week old puppy?