Weaning Puppies
Frank's Pro Gold Puppy Feeding Program has been developed for growing dogs of different ages and sizes. Formulated by veterinarians Frank's Pro Gold Puppy and Frank's Pro Gold Large Breed Puppy make it possible for you to chose exactly the right nutrition for your puppy during the most important period of his development and growth. Frank's Pro Gold Puppy Feeding Programmes are balanced, complete foods containing top quality proteins essential for good muscle development and optimal levels of calcium and phosphorous for healthy bones and teeth. Omega3 and Omega6 fatty acids promote a healthy skin and coat.
Weaning is the term used to describe the introduction of solid foods into the puppies diet. The time chosen to begin weaning can vary due to several factors.
Generally, three weeks of age is the norm, however, if a new mother has a large litter weaning can begin as early as ten days. Depending upon the breed most will cope adequately with six or seven puppies. Beyond this number, even a bitch in excellent condition can only produce so much milk and has a limited number of teats. Greedier puppies will get the majority of the milk and within a matter of days you will notice a difference in size - contrary to popular belief "runts" of the litter are not small by design but are the puppies who have been the last in line at the "milk bar". Providing all puppies in a large litter were similar birth weights, and are allowed sufficient nutrition they will all generally remain even in size, weight and condition.
Correct diet and a plentiful intake of fluids are essential for a lactating bitch as the nutrients she receives from her diet enables her to produce a highly nutritious milk which in turn provides her growing puppies with all the energy, protein, vitamins & carbohydrates they require. Some mothers, though, can have a poor milk supply - either lacking in quality and/or quantity. As the puppies grow she may be unable to provide enough milk to sustain their optimal growth up to the three week stage.
All puppies, irrespective of breed, should be weaned using Frank's Pro Gold Puppy. The food should be soaked using hot water, mashed to a porridge and allowed to cool to warm. Puppies at the normal weaning age of three weeks will have some teeth already present and a normal porridge consistency will be easy for them to manage; puppies at earlier ages, may prefer a more liquid porridge to enable them to lap it. The porridge should be spread around the edges of a large flat bowl - small legs find it difficult to stand for more than five or ten minutes without tiring and a shallow bowl allows them to sit whilst eating. For the first few feeds it is advisable to bring the mother away from the puppies for an hour to ensure they have not fed from her and filled themselves with milk. Position the puppies around the edge of the bowl so they all have access to the food. It is sometimes helpful to place a small amount of food on your finger in front of the puppy's mouth. If some seem a little reluctant a small smear of food on the puppy's lips will encourage them to lick it off and sample the food - sometimes a new smell is not enough, but the taste soon makes them realise its edible!
The quantity fed will depend upon the breed. Until the puppies are about three weeks old small regular feeds are easier for small stomachs to cope with and produce the best growth. A good rule of thumb for feeding quantity at this young age is to prepare enough food that the puppies can eat in a ten minute period with a small amount left over, so you know that each puppy has had his fill. The remainder needn't go to waste and can be fed to the mother. Let the mother back in with her puppies immediately after they have fed as they will still require a drink from her and as they usually toilet shortly after a meal she can still clean up after them.
Once the puppies are eating readily and their teeth are coming through the food can gradually be dried off until it is fed with a little water only which ensures they have sufficient water intake and also prevents the food from being scattered around the kennel during feed time! As the puppies grow and their appetites increase the amount of food should be increased accordingly, still bearing in mind the ten minute guideline. At about five weeks old it is advisable to begin measuring quantities especially with the larger breeds to prevent overgrowth. Fast growth at such an early age can cause strain on young joints which can have detrimental effects at a later stage such as hip dysplasia and other joint problems due to excessive weight bearing on the soft cartilage in the joints. Below is an approximate guide to quantities. Please bear in mind it is a guide only and that certain breeds may require more or less.
For all puppies up to 8 weeks of age:
Frank's Pro Gold Puppy
|
| |
Small Breeds - (1-10kg)
Age (Weeks) |
|
Medium Breeds - (11-25kg)
Age (Weeks)
|
|
Large Breeds (25kg+)
Age (Weeks) |
Weight |
3-12 |
12-24 |
24-40 |
Weight |
3-12 |
12-24 |
24-40 |
Weight |
3-6 |
1-2kg |
75-120 |
40-55 |
45-70 |
|
100-180 |
|
|
3-4kg |
100-180 |
3-4kg |
100-190 |
85-150 |
90-110 |
5-6kg |
150-250 |
120-200 |
|
5-6kg |
150-250 |
5-6kg |
|
120-200 |
90-140 |
6-10kg |
225-350 |
150-290 |
135-225 |
6-10kg |
225-350 |
7-8kg |
|
25-285 |
160-190 |
10-15kg |
|
250-400 |
200-300 |
10-15kg |
300-500 |
8-10kg |
|
|
200-240 |
15-20kg |
|
350-490 |
250-380 |
15-20kg |
450-600 |
| |
|
|
|
20-25kg |
|
|
350-450 |
20-25kg |
|
| |
g/day |
|
|
25-30kg |
|
g/day |
400-510 |
25-30kg |
g/day |
All large breed puppies from 8 week of age should be changed to Frank's Pro Gold Large Breed Puppy. The food should be mixed half and half for a couple of days. Large Breed Puppy is specifically formulated to ensure larger breeds do not overgrow and have the optimum levels of calcium and phosphorous to promote healthy skeletal development.
Frank's Pro Gold Large Breed Puppy |
|
8wks-7months Age |
7-12 months Age |
7-12 months Age |
Weight |
150-290 |
|
|
6-10kg |
250-450 |
|
|
10-15kg |
400-520 |
185-250 |
|
15-20kg |
500-610 |
225-285 |
200-265 |
20-25kg |
550-700 |
250-325 |
225-300 |
25-30kg |
650-850 |
300-375 |
265-335 |
30-40kg |
|
350-450 |
300-400 |
40-50kg |
|
400-525 |
350-475 |
50-65kg |
|
500-625 |
450-575 |
65kg+ |
g/day |
600-725 |
550-650 |
You may well find that the greedier puppies remain dominant at the food bowl and that it may be necessary to split the litter at feeding times into fast and slow feeders so that all puppies have the correct quantity of food.
Puppies should have access to fresh water at all times.
When your puppies are ready to go to their new homes it is strongly advised that the new owners keep their puppy on the same diet. The excitement and change of environment can cause stress (also being away from Mum and his litter mates) to young systems which can affect digestion until the puppy is settled in his new home. A change of diet at this time can give rise to upset stomachs and diarrhoea. For information on selling Frank's Gold Puppy with your litters please Contact Us
|
