My puppies are 22 days old. Yesterday for the first time, I gave them boiled cow's milk diluted with water (50:50 ratio) . I put the milk in a shallow saucer and took it up to the pup's face and they licked it up.

Bommi is still feeding them regularly. However their teeth are starting to grow out and I was told that as their teeth grow out, Bommi will feed them lesser and lesser.

I want to be prepared.

Here are my questions.

1) Can I still keep feeding them cow's milk 2 times a day?
2) When I can I start on cooked chicken bits?
3) When can I start on puppy kibble?
4) Even though I try to keep their room clean, some times they step on their own pee. Most of the times bommi licks up all the pee and poo. Should I stop bommi from doing this?

As a temporary measure, can I spread some wood chips? I am concerned that it may cut the puppies. Saw dust on the other hand wont cut, but if it gets in their lungs it may be harmful. What should I do?

5) I have started taking out bommi for walks again and I have started doing some basic Obedience (which she enjoys) . Is 22 days OK to start Obedience for the mother.

6) Bommi still has a bit of bloody discharge now and then. When is this expected to stop.


Regards


Ram

I'll leave most of your questions for the experts but as far as the weaning process goes I would follow Bommi's lead. Most of the time mama really does know best about these things. Are the pups doing ok on cow's milk? I've had better results with pups I've had with goat's milk. But my pups were not weanlings so maybe that makes a difference. If they're drinking the milk ok you could make a gruel with milk and a bit of kibble or baby cereal and very small, easily swallowed bits of chicken or even baby food. But why kibble and cooked meat? Do you plan to feed raw?

I dont think I will keep any of the pups, so it is going to be up to the new homes to decide kibble or raw. I am sure it will be kibble as raw is not popular in India.

I have not been feeding them with cow's milk as a replacement for their mother's milk. I just wanted to introduce the concept of taking food from a human. I have been doing it for the past two days. They are doing OK AFAIK, they seem normal and play around on wobbly legs.

I bet they're adorable. I didn't think you were replacing mother's milk with cow's, just starting the weaning process.It's just that cow's milk seems to often be harder on canine systems than goat's milk.That's why I mentioned it.

Is Bommi starting to do things like stand up when they feed or not let them feed as often of for as long? Is she starting to regurgitate food for them?

No, no regurgitation happening. Ok, now that would be a clue to amp up the other foods.

Thanks Elaine.

IME cows milk can give pups diarrhea.
Also, you should know that as soon as you begin to supplement foods, Bommi will abandon her cleaning of the puppy stool, which means a lot more mess for you, so I sure wouldn't rush it.
A method which has served me well is to soak kibble in water until it is a gravy-like consistency, and serve it in a flat tin big enough for all to eat at once. I'd use a kibble readily available so that new owners can find it easily.
The discharge will end soon. Rarely there is a condition where the placental sites fail to involute completely and hormone therapy is needed, but in this case the discharge is abundant (a mess).
I would think that no bedding other than the sleeping area would be the most sanitary. Or newspaper, no dust, and sterile, amazingly. The print may mark their lovely white coats though.
I would not rush weaning until she is clearly beginning to be sick of them. It is more them becoming "dogs" than the teeth that drives Mom away.