Problems Weaning a Puppy

By the age of four weeks old, puppies are ready to be weaned from their mother to eat on their own. This is important for the health of the mother and the puppies. As puppies get older, their teeth will start to hurt their mother's teats. Weaning also helps socialize puppies and get them ready to be a lovable family pet.

  1. Dealing with the Mother

    • Gradually separate mother from pups.

      The maternal instincts of a dog are strong. Although even the mother will eventually push their pups to eat on their own, it is still a process that should be a gentle transition if you need to intervene. Gently remove the pups in intervals, gradually increasing the frequency of weaning sessions until both the mother and pups are accustomed to you providing food, water and sanitary care for the babies.

    Digestion and Special Foods

    • Weaning slowly -- fruits and vegetables are not appropriate for puppy digestive systems.

      Weaning a puppy is not a quick task. It can be problematic because a puppy's digestive system can be quite fragile. The mother's milk contains just the right amount of nutrients and a sudden change in diet can cause diarrhea in an infant pup, which can dehydrate them quickly. Cow's milk can be too harsh for weaning. Replacement milk like goat's milk or special blends are best to use, gradually mixed with soft foods made specifically for weaning a puppy.

    Monitoring Weaning

    • Never leave developing puppies alone with food or water.

      Monitoring the weaning process is important and sometimes overlooked, much to the detriment of young pups. If you cannot provide vigilant and all-inclusive care during weaning, you should not attempt the process yourself. You must monitor pups for development and contact your vet immediately if they grow lethargic or weak. Also, a dog owner is responsible for everything -- including cleaning up after pups to keeping bedding free from bacteria. Lastly, due to under-developed muscles in early stages of growth, it is possible that puppies could drown in their own food or water. Never leave weaning animals alone with food or water.

    Socialization

    • Socialize with gradual handling during weaning.

      The socialization process of a puppy starts at birth with the mother; however, it transitions with weaning when humans begin to handle and care for the young animals. Just as with children, too much handling or too little interaction can affect the dog's long-term social development. Mother and litter mates provide excellent socialization during the weaning process, so it's important not to separate them completely. Believing you must hold and handle your puppies constantly because they are weaning is a big mistake. Introduce them gradually to other stimuli and environments.