Should I wean my litter - Page 1

Help please my bitch has a litter of 7 very large, hungry 3 week old male puppies, today  the puppies have been crying,  which is unusual and when I checked her mammary glands they are all red and sore - no lumps - no open sores but does have scatches and it looks like the pups may have been biting on her nipples as she has skin off. She has a normal temperature, still eating and has lots of milk  but she must find feeding very painful, so far has been a perfect mum. 

She did appear to be more comfortable when I gave her only 2 pups to nurse.

Yes I have been cutting nails every few days.

I did post an hour or so ago re giving them goats milk and I have tried them and they lapped it up well. They are very voracious feeders.

My question is should I take Mum away and wean them ( I believe that this would really stress her) or is there something else that I can do? Any reccomendations for a safe cream to apply

Thanks in advance

I would start feeding them.  Mom will still help, but the transition should start. 

Yes it is time to supplement but let mum keep nursing them, and you will start with 1 or 2 small feedings a day and soon you will be feeding 3 or 4 goodsized dishes by that time pups will be about  5 weeks old and mum will probably cut them off. everything you describe sounds normal and she has just reached the point where she is unable to produce enough for these hungries. We use goats milk or evaporated milk, eggs, yogurt,  ground meats with warm water to make it very moist as they get older less wet and semisoft can be fed so you can use chunkier foods like canned fish and organ meats.

Thanks guys, It's good that I can come here and get all the information I need.

Cheers

Hi dogshome9,

Congrats on your new litter!

 I weaned my pups at about 4 weeks old, also, I trimmed their front nails at 3 weeks old,
 so they dont scratch the mom too bad.

 I currently have 2 litters of pups that are eating Canidae All Life Stages dog food,
 each pup eats about a cup.
 I put a little reg. milk with warm water, let it soak for a few minutes to soften it,
 and BOY, they are luv'n it!!!!

 www.vonryansgermanshepherds.com

                   Paula

Thanks mirasmom, this bitch is a first time mum and has done a very good job so far. 

I thought she would manage to feed them a little longer.

This morning I fed them beef mince and added goats milk and they wolfed it down, this took the

edge off their hunger so when mum went in to clean up she let them suckle while she stood up.

She is no longer keen to lay down for them to feed.

Next feed I will add some soaked dry puppy kibble.

I have been cutting nails every 3-4 days.