Puppies are 7 weeks old tomorrow, yesterday was the first full day without nursing, now the dam is bursting with milk (food has been withheld since this morning to get her to 'suck up'). should I go ahead %26 let pups nurse once to empty her, or will that make it worse? She is squirting on the floor as she walks around. Thanks for your advice.
Answers:
I usually wean pups gradually..such as taking them away for longer periods each day, and getting them full of food before going to bed with mom at night..I think if she is acting miserable, it wold be better to wean them a little more slowly, but if its just a matter of milk dripping, and no misery, then she will be ok without them.but, really, just feeding them and then putting them to bed with her works well..
My pups are never weaned until 8 weeks old.
It is better to wean them slowly instead of all at once. First, keep them seperated during the day and leave them together at night. Do this for a few days. Then let the mom feed them first thing in the morning and keep them seperate the rest of the time. Do for a few days and then go ahead and wean them altogether.
I'm not a dog breeder or will ever allow my pets to bring more unwanted animals into this world (how can you tell I use to be the person who put the unwanted pets down at the shelter?) I did however breastfeed my kids, If you all of a sudden stop nursing your body will continue producing the amount of milk it's use to putting out, this is VERY painful! I would let the pups nurse a few times each day and slowly, like 4 times one day, 3 times the next, 2 times the next until they are no longer nursing, this will allow the mom's body to get the hint that it doesn't need to produce milk any more.
I would, as a nursing mom of a 5 month old daughter I can sympathize with your poor dog. Let the puppies nurse so she can be more comfortable. If she's engorged too long it could also cause mastitis.
What I do is let the mom decide. I let her decrease her daily feeds as she sees fit and as she slows what she feeds them, I add to the feedings that I give them. I'm unsure as to why you are withholding food from her. She needs to eat and she will eventually dry up over time. Good Luck
we used to raise german shepherds, dobermans, airedales
and rottweilers.all my mother dogs weaned their pups on their own.i did start using puppy chow at about 6/7 weeks of age
but the mother decided when to wean completely
let your pups nurse, you know the mother is uncomfortable
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