Puppies first meal other than from Mama

Tink · Last edited by Tink on Sun Sep 23, 2007 7:31 pm; edited 1 time in total

The past 2 days I've been finding this:

Which suggested to me that my pups are showing an interest in Mamas food. So this evening I decided to mix up a bit of puppy formula and crustless soft white bread crumbs to see if any would try to eat yet. The first one dove in like an old pro, so we pulled the others out and OMG it was a feeding frenzy! We ended up going through 4 cups of formula and 4 slices of bread. Every one of them went away with a round belly and covered in it. LOL

Next time I'll be crushing up puppy chow instead of bread, but since they don't have any teeth yet, I figured it wasn't like they'd do much more than suck some formula and get a taste. MAN did they surprise me! I started out with one cup and one slice... then had to run back in and make more. Not bad for 19 days old!

We checked each one after their meal and not one got away without getting a big round tummy, so it was 100% success!
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annabelles mom · Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 7:05 pm Post subject:

Tink the feeding frenzy pics are hystertical ! But the first one of the sweet baby sleeping in Mama's bowl is priceless, a definite "awwwwwwww" moment
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seazr · Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 7:48 pm Post subject:

Oh!!! I'm so happy all is going sooo well!! They are too cute!!
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blueteal · Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 9:09 pm Post subject:

What wonderful photos.
Makes me smile big time!!!!!!!!!!
So cute ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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lmtoth2 · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 7:11 am Post subject:

OMG that top photo is so great. you should enter it in a contest!!
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Jac · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:13 am Post subject:

Tink, those pictures are adorable!!
I love it when they get so content that they fall right to sleep in their food bowl (or water bowl!)
Speaking of which, be sure that they get plenty of water with the dry food too. They usually start making huge messes about now, but it is cute and they are sooooooo happy to hear you coming with the food!
We start by grinding ours and adding a lot of warm water to it, making it very "soupy" because they get a lot of the water that way, and then the "gruel" thickens to a canned food consistency...we just keep adding water!
We give the whole food pieces more as a treat for them at the early stage.
You are doing a fantastic job! Looks like those adorable babies are thriving and happy...you can't ask for more!
One thing to watch for...once they begin to wean, and usually not until maybe the first week, they may get really bad (watery) stools....if so, you can cook up some bland chicken and rice, be sure they get lots of fluids to replace the water in the stools...and start more slowly.
This happens to us every time (and we always thing we have the start of Parvo! LOL)
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gene · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:30 am Post subject:

I can just imagine the dreams that first pup is having on that bowl of food.....

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Tink · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 2:18 pm Post subject:

That's too cute Gene... Thanks!

Jac, I crushed up puppy chow today and soaked it in warm water till it got nice and soft (Gross) then sprinkled a bit of milk replacement forumla in and offered that. They ate till their little tummies were full, and are now sound asleep. I've left 3 one inch deep 8x 8" pans of water within reach as well. If I leave the food, Canada seems to think she has to finish it off, so they don't get it anyway. LOL What's this from a dog that wouldn't EAT puppy chow before?

Canada seems very happy to see the pups eating on their own. Should I be offering this 3 times a day to start? It's been so long I seriously don't remember. They got some last night and again this morning, so far.
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Raleighsmom · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 3:23 pm Post subject:

Those are the sweetest pics Tink....especially the baby curled up in the bowl!!! I think it's amazing that they gobbled down every last bit, even without teeth!!!
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sessa35 · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 4:35 pm Post subject:

oh Tink, that first photo is just SO precious!!!

I'd call it convenience factor---hungry when you wake up? no problem, just roll over and munch away!! ROFL!!!

Thanks for sharing these!!!
Very Happy

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Tink · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 7:11 pm Post subject:

The pups ate so good tonight again. I stayed with them after they finished and played with them and was relieved to see they're adjusting to the new diet very well. Several pooped and it was just average peanut buttery puppy poop... not gravy... so they seem fine.

Jac was right though, that they already associate me with food. When I went out tonight they came waddling over right away. When they got done eating I sat in the grass with them and had a few climbing into my lap and trying to make friends. The smallest of the bunch is a little white male with a very poodle type head so he's easy to pick out... he seems to think he's my new shadow. He folowed me around and crawled in my lap licking on my arm. OH so easy to love!
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annabelles mom · Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 11:53 am Post subject: