At what age do you start giving a puppy water?
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Moving the bucket so folks can get C’s photo as he’s milking the goat.
Question by PoppyLunaBella!: At what age do you start giving a puppy water?
Im having a shorkie puppy in 5 days who will be 6 weeks old, I have been told to give him goats milk for two weeks, then water. Just wondering if i should give him water and milk (in separate bowls). Before you complain about the age, I have heard it all before that he is too young to leave his mum, so do not bother or I will report you… Thanks =]
The breeder is giving him goats milk at the minute
Feel free to answer in the comment section below
8 Responses to At what age do you start giving a puppy water?
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You should just let him have milk and water available to him. He will probably drink both of them and then after 2 weeks take the milk away.
Good luck..
Megan Keogh
September 2, 2013 at 4:00 am
The puppy is still a bit young to be away from his mom. The puppy should be offered water right away you can offer him some goats milk. Water is most important….
Silly Rabbit Tricks Are For Kids
September 2, 2013 at 4:11 am
If he is 6 weeks old he does not need goats milk. If the breeder was only giving him water and you give him the goats milk you are going to upset his stomach and he will end up sick. Just get a good quality puppy food. If the previous owners have him on good food keep using the same if not switch over gradually.
bostonterriersamericangentleman
September 2, 2013 at 4:39 am
Drop the attitude. There are polite ways to tell people you’ve heard it all and don’t want to be reamed and a b!tchy attitude is NOT the way to do so.
If the breeder recommends giving the pup goat’s milk for the first two weeks, so stop worrying about it. Goat’s milk is very good for a pup. Cow’s milk is NOT good for pups; dogs are lactose intolerant.
If you prefer, there’s no reason why you couldn’t offer two bowls, one with water and one with milk as he’s old enough to be weaned and doesn’t need milk.
Either way is fine. The goat’s milk is GREAT for any pup, so even if you offer water in addition to it, I’d give the pup goat’s milk in a bowl as well. As for “what age”, I believe that pups can be offered water at any time, even before they are weaned, but they’re not likely to be interested in water while nursing on mama. -!-
Nedra E
September 2, 2013 at 5:18 am
There is NO such thing as a SHORKIE, it’s a mutt, a Yorkie/Shih Tzu cross. Why would you support some irresponsible backyard breeder? Because of people like that, millions of dogs are euthanized in shelters each year. Run away as fast as you can. If you want a crossbred dog, please go to your local shelter/rescue and adopt a homeless dog. He is TOO YOUNG to leave the litter and the bitch. No reputable breeder breeds mutts, nor do they allow a small breed of dog to go to it’s new owner before it’s at least 10-12 weeks old. Also pretty doubtful that all health and genetic testing was done on the parents, prior to breeding. Is this pup coming with a hip and health guarantee?
You need to lose the attitude. You know that what you are doing is wrong, hence the bad attitude.
Bonnie
September 2, 2013 at 6:16 am
Hi there
Pups need to get used to being away from the mother and gaining independence in the litter, also although pups get lots of anti-bodies whilst suckling you cannot give vaccinations at 6 weeks old and for this reason make sure they have had their first before being sold. However do not you do not let the pup come into any direct contact with other dogs before then and it should be fine. As for the goat milk idea, water is a dogs natural drink, many people get the misconception that animals can drink milk i.e cats but it is generally not a good idea. There are specialist formulas sold in most good pet stores if you really want to go down that road, but I can’t understand why a puppy was sold so young hence someone suggesting you feed it goats milk?
Please don’t feel insulted if you know this (just a tip for others if you do) get some chew sticks to help with teething but remember some products tend to be full of fats and some a lot of chemicals, so go organic if possible and like a child always supervise, never give cooked bones even from pet sores they fracture and can have terrible consequences; tearing or getting stuck in the gut. If you read on the source of the products; some, I was socked to find that lots of these chews etc are made in foreign countries.
Also another idea you might think of is feeding your pup on natural foods, fish chicken rabbit rice and vegetables but they known that they can suffer with hypoglycemia so the vet or veterinary practice nurse for nutritional information may be a good idea too? However you can get full dry complete meals as you are aware which have most of the supplements. If you find your pup isn’t eating all of his food at one go, pick it up and give it at next meal time as it gives it a better appetite.
However like others have said it looks like you need advice to don’t be aggressive otherwise people won’t want to you.
Hope this helps and have great fun!
Bluebird
September 2, 2013 at 6:38 am
Never knew that baby sharks drank goat’s milk
never knew that real breeders bred “shorkies” either…..
in my very limited understanding of the world…breeders breed PUREBRED dogs…not worthless MUTTS
Bells - Caution! Medieval Training Tools in Use
September 2, 2013 at 7:32 am
You may have heard it all before but do you know the reasons why pups should not leave the mama & litter mates? The interactions between a mama dog & the rest of the litter is all an education of things the pups need to learn. No reputable breeder would deprive their pups from that. In my state it is against the LAW to sell or give away a puppy until it is at least 8 to 12 weeks old. This BYBer is just trying to get rid of the pups as soon as possible (ASAP) so the mama will come into heat sooner & they can breed her again & make more puppies to toss out of the nest too soon & breed again. Please, do not buy into this.
Water should be first & formost for any dog or pup & should have it down at all times. The goats milk is a food & can just be put down a couple of times a day. You can soften puppy chow with the goats milk & feed that to the pup. It should have been started on softened hard puppy chow at about two to three weeks of age.
http://www.petside.com/article/your-puppy-1-7-weeks-old
bluebonnetgranny
September 2, 2013 at 8:28 am