[merryallthetime]

I am fostering a momma and 8 puppies. She was pregnanat and abandoned, and brought to the local shelter. we took her home, and a week later, she had puppies. Now they are 6 weeks old, and still nursing. They are huge, and have been eating kibble for weeks.

Do I need to do anything, like separate them? Or does the momma do the weaning? The puppies seem so big, and momma looks so tired. thank you.

 

[Chas]

I'm not sure of the answer I just wanted to say they are amazingly adorable!

 

[animalcraker]

Are they eating solid kibble? And is she with them 24/7?

 

[merryallthetime]

yes, they are eating solid puppy kibble, and drinking water. the mom lives in the house with the puppies. she isn't in the pen with the24/7. i put her in the pen when she alerts me, so she can nurse them. she's been biting them (solftly) in the head, and running away when they come after her, but she still nurses them.

 

[akodo1]

weaning doesn't happen all at once. It generally starts at 4 weeks and goes to 8 weeks. Possibly longer. In weaning the pups eat more solid food and the mom nurses less and less.

Make sure Mom is able to get away from the pups as she sees fit, or if you are lifting her in when she alerts, stay close by to lifter her back out soon after. Also feed pups when mom isn't in there, so they stop associating her directly with mealtime.

Realize that this is going to be a stressful time for mom and pups (and you) but just let nature take it's course and don't worry about it until 10 weeks