Joi Hart avatar image

Week 3 English Bulldog puppy advice (I need)?

This is only my second time Breeding my English Bulldog. Since I'm sleep deprived I can't find some of my notes and my two breeders I work with are

not responding, I think real busy. I need some general advice again.

1. What week do I introduce the mush to my pup's?

2. When do they usually go from 3 hours to feeding every 4 hours?

3. Teething anything I can do to help them and Mom?

Any general advice to help me with the next 6 weeks would be appreciated, I love networking and adore doing this, Always for the better of the breed.

We only had 2 pup's this time, last time 6 and it flew by but I had a 20 year breeder working with me.

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Joi Shirley

omegabulldogs's picture

Answers

1. What week do I introduce the mush to my pup's?

Now. I also always left a bowl of  dry puppy kibble in with them at all times. Amazing how soon they will start to eat it on their own and some actually prefer it to the mush. I also left a water tower in with them (shallow,small bowl prevents them from crawling in it or falling in and possibly drowning) I found a way to secure the bowls so they could not be tipped.

2. When do they usually go from 3 hours to feeding every 4 hours?

Now is also good. However I continued to put Mom with them every 3-3.5 hours during th day but skipped a night feeding. Would give a last feeding at 10-11pm and then did not feed again until 6 or 7. At that time I gave a bowl of  mush. Found however that some would already be eating the dry kibble.

3. Teething anything I can do to help them and Mom?

Wean them. I weaned "cold turkey" between 3 and 4 weeks. I watched Mom very carefully and if boobs seemed to full or she was dripping milk I would let pups nurse briefly to releave her. You need to be careful because the pups can suck so hard they can create a vacuum which can allow bacteria to enter and cause mastitis. I found however that by this time Mom's milk production had decreased so much there usually was not a problem. I also withheld food from Mom for 24 hours which helped to cause a rapid decrease in milk. I then fed her according to her needs.

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Miriam

omegabulldogs@aol.com

Joi Hart's picture

Thanks so much

Wonderful, Anything I can do to help pups teething put on their gums or to chew on 

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Joi Shirley

MarsHillBulldogs's picture

I actually skipped the whole "mush" thing with my current litter

Royal Canin has a "mini-starter" which my pups were able to eat at 3 weeks of age.  It's a tiny, dry kibble.  They have thrived on it.  No more mush for me!

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Cathy Hardegree