Expert: Jannie Balliett - 11/30/2008

Question
hi! our female dog mollie who is 3 had her 6 puppies almost2 weeks ago. my question is when can we start to feed them puppy dog food?  thanks ashley from ohio

Answer
Ashley,

Do not feed them anything except mama's milk and if there isn't enough to satisfy them, you can also bottle feed them this homemade formula:


1-12 ounce can evaporated milk (not condensed milk)

4 ounces sterile or filtered water

1 raw egg

1 cup whole, plain unflavored yogurt

1/2 teaspoon Kayro syrup

Blend in blender but do not froth it. Serve warm like mama's body temperature.

You can feed them baby rice cereal. Buy a box of dry rice cereal and mix with the above formula until soupy and let them lick it out of a big spoon. Sweeten with a tad of Kayro syrup.

You can add carrots in a week, then you can add chicken and beef flavors. These baby foods must be the creamy first stage baby food, not second or third stage.

Buy a all natural brand puppy food with no corn, corn meals, corn glutens, and keep in a sealed container with water to soften it well at all times. Mash the amount you intend to feed them well with a fork until it is a "mash" like mashed potatoes.

This is a "puppy mash."

Let them eat out of bowls, and I would suggest three bowls for six puppies so they don't compete.

Do not feed them puppy mash until they are at least 5 weeks old. Never give them dry.

They can not have dry puppy food until 8-9 weeks old. You can sprinkle a tad on the floor to let them pick one piece at a time to learn to crunch and chew. If you put it in a bowl they will scoff it down and choke.

They are still newborns and learning and can choke in a second flat. Treat them like your own newborn baby and use common sense.