Expert: Jana Connell RVT, CVT - 1/29/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hi
 im having 2 pups of st Bernard having no mother with them. what and how should i feed them. and im having a Labrador female which is all reading feeding 4 pups already of her. can i feed Labrador female milk to st Bernard pups. and were should i keep st bernard.
thank you

ANSWER: Yes dog milk is dog milk. There is no difference between the breeds. Two more puppies won't matter. I don't understand the last part of the question. They should be kept with the mother lab. How old are they? You didn't say how old any of these puppies are...

If the mother lab can't/won't nurse them then you need to get Puppy Milk Replacement for them and a puppy nursing bottle. I can't tell you how often to feed them because I have no idea how old they are.

http://www.amazon.com/Nurturall-C-Puppy-Milk-Replacer-Powder/dp/B001VNLMNE/ref=s

http://www.amazon.com/PetAg-Complete-Nursing-Kit-4oz/dp/B00063KN5S/ref=sr_1_5?ie

Where did the St. Bernard mom go?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: i have 2 pups of St Bernard pups are 1 week and 2 day old ( 1 male 1 female). and bought pups from breeder. and i didn't know that its to soon to take away St Bernard pups from there mother. breeder cheated me. a friend of mine having Labrador female she is feeding four pups of her own (Labrador pups age is 3 week. i am feeding St Bernard pups milk of Labrador . is it safe for all? for St Bernard pups (1 week and 2 day old), Labrador pups (3 week old) and Labrador female mom? and is there risk of milk lessing factor of Labradors mom for here own Labradors pups?
following question are for St Bernard 1 week 2 day old pups ( 1 male, 1 female).
Q: what should be the weight of them (male, female)?
Q: what should be feeding schedule?
Q: at what temperature should i keep them?
Q: how much should allowed to play (out of there box in which there are living and sleeping)
and any thing that i should know for caring them.
and please tell me every thing you know about St Bernard pups like what should they poo or pee look like. and in this age how should they react to any thing or how should be there behavior. tell each and evey thing you know.  i think you got my point.
thank you

Answer
One week old puppies do not play Azher. If they have their eyes open and are moving around then they are not one week old. Their eyes do not open until they are 10-13 days old and they do not move much until they are 3-4 weeks old.

If they are that old, then you just need to put them on puppy milk replacer and start introducing them to canned food at this time. They can nurse on the Lab bitch but they might not be getting enough food.
Their bellies should be slightly rounded after eating. Not bloated and not skinny.

If they are one week old then you need to help them eliminate if the mom dog isn't cleaning them up. If she is nursing them I am sure she is cleaning them as well.

They need to be kept warm of course, although isn't it summer down there? (I thought this said you were in Australia).
They need to have a heating lamp over their bed if they are alone. You can get one of those at a pet supply place. It should not be more than 4 feet over the bed. You should just barely feel the warmth of it when you have it on and you place your hand in the bed.

You can also pick up books on raising puppies at a pet store, but your best bet is to take these two into the vet hospital you go to and have the vet evaluate them and tell you how old they are.

There are also thousands of sites online about raising puppies. However, you are not sure of their age and if they are as I said above, they are not one week old. Your headline says that they are 4 weeks old but then you say that they are one week old.

So find out how old they truly are from the vets and go from there.