Feeding Puppies

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I read the request about "Pit Bull Eating Grass" and I am an amateur dog breeder and would like to make a few comments.

First off: Your pup is eating grass because it either needs to eliminate some discomfort or it is lacking a nutrient. If you get a puppy and it no longer has access to its mother's milk or the equivalent then you should not just give it what humans or other animals would use. This pup specifically should be being introduced to some form of dog or puppy chow.

We usually begin introducing food between 3 and 4 weeks softened with water to the consistency of runny oatmeal, progressively thickening as the pup ages. By 6 weeks it should be able to eat dry kibble and drink water. A milk substitute designed for pups may also be given as well until 8 weeks of age. But no other food or other animal milk should be given, your pup would be better off with the softened dog food alone than to be trying to digest something his body is not designed to digest.

Get your pups de-wormed, all pups are born with worms and need de-worming. And be careful with the flea bath shampoo as it is strong and I have unfortunately seen people actually poison a pet using this shampoo while trying to eliminate the discomfort of fleas.

Good luck and try to get your pup to a vet around 8 weeks for puppy shots.

By Barbie

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By Kathy (Guest Post)

June 7, 20050 found this helpful

All puppies are NOT born with worms. If your puppies are born with worms that means the mother has worms. Depending on the worm, puppies can either get them from the mother (a highly likely possibility) or their environment. If you keep worming the bitch and the puppies are still born with worms that menas that there is a high concentration in your yard and THAT needs to be taken care of too.

DON'T medicate an animal (especially a baby) if it is not warranted. You should bring a stool sample to your veterinarian for them to run a fecal test and THEN medicate if necessary.

Barbie

June 25, 20050 found this helpful

I made a simple one word mistake here and I apologize.....MOST pups are born with worms....it is safe to give a wormer even if they don't have it, it won't hurt them, so if you ASSUME all dogs are born with worms then the chance of worms existing among your animals will be greatly reduced!.... The infestation can occur in the womb as well as enviromental influences, this along with other puppy diseases are important factors for getting your puppy to the vet as soon as you can after you become the owner.

Information source:www.doolittles.co.uk/wormprevention.htm

Roundworm and Tapeworm prevention brought to you by Doolittle's Pet Store...

Tapeworms

The most common type of tapeworm in this country is Dipylidium caninum, a flat white worm with many segments.

Tapeworms can grow up to 50cm ( 20 inches ) in length, although you will only see the individual segments as they are shed from your dogs anus.
As these segments dry out they release eggs, which are then eaten by immature fleas or lice.
Once inside the insect, the eggs develop into worms.
Re-infestation occurs through normal grooming when your dog or cat ingests an infested flea and the tapeworm then grows in the dog or cats intestine, completing the tapeworms life cycle.
Dogs often eat worm eggs from the enviroment- The roundworm pictured here, is commonly picked up this way.

Roundworms

Toxocara canis is the most common UK roundworm and is one that has several routes of access to your dog or cat.

It is safe to assume that all puppies and kittens are born with roundworms 'on-board', as during pregnancy, hormone activity activates dormant worms and larvae which then pass to the unborn puppies or kittens.
Inside an infested dog or cat, the adult roundworm can lay several thousand eggs a day. These pass out in the animals faeces.
The roundworm eggs do not hatch immediately, after a few weeks they can continue their development, often hatching inside a dog or cat that has picked up and swallowed them.
From the intestine the immature worms will find their way into the blood stream. From there they can migrate to the liver and lungs, where they can be coughed up and swallowed again, or into tissues such as muscles, where the worms become dormant.

Symptoms

More often than not, tapeworm infestations go unnoticed by owners, but you should look out for worms eggs around your pets rear end, appearing like rice grains that may wriggle. Your dog may rub or scrap it's bottom on the floor because of the irritation, although this could also be a sign of anal gland problems.

Serious infestations may result in diarrhoea and malaise.
Roundworm infestations can equally go unnoticed. Bad infestations are unfortunately not rare and are characterised by some of the following: a pot-bellied appearance, coughing and noisy breathing, dead or dying worms in the faeces.

What should I do?

Always assume your dog or cat has worms. Treat him or her regularly with a worming preparation available at DOOLITTLE'S.
Different types of products are available, so you can choose whichever product you find the easiest to administer.
Some pets love the taste of yeast-flavoured tablets and will eat the entire box if given the chance - make sure that you store them safely.
Other dogs and cats spit tablets out faster than you can stop them, for those pets, granules or powders sprinkled on their food, or liquid preparations may be best.

WARNING: Worms can also reside in humans, it is doubly important that you worm your pet regularly.

By (Guest Post)

July 26, 20050 found this helpful

Please don't breed your dog. There are thousands of dogs and PUPPIES being euthanized every single day. Volunteer at your local animal shelter on kill day and you will understand what I'm talking about.

By misha (Guest Post)

November 13, 20080 found this helpful

Yesterday my puppy was given shots and the vet told me to give her a de-worming syrup 2hrs after her last meal.but at night she kept crying in pain because of the shot. I decided to postpone the de-worming as the vet said she might get diarrhea which could be messy. I thought she was going through enough already so gave her the syrup in the morning, but the "last meal" part slipped out of my mind. Now when am I supposed to feed her next?(how much time?)

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