Weanning Food for 4 week old puppies

[Officially Retired]

Thank you for the responses. I was planning on using my raw diet as well since I find NV to be expensive. I just wondered if it was any better than what we would be supplying through our premium raw diet (on a fair budget). I guess it just means I have to spend more time fine chopping. How small/fine are you guys breaking the meat and bones down for this age? I don't have a meat grinder.

You have to cut it pretty small at that age, which is why I don't bother and use NV for a few weeks, until they're old enough to take bigger chunks.

I can't tell you an exact size, I just eyeball it. I look at their little heads, little teeth, and little throats and do the best I can.

If you're using a meat cleaver, and if you have a lot of pups, I can tell you that you will get blisters trying to cut through that much bone every day.

At least a peddler like me does

Jack

[skipper]

Thank you for the responses. I was planning on using my raw diet as well since I find NV to be expensive. I just wondered if it was any better than what we would be supplying through our premium raw diet (on a fair budget). I guess it just means I have to spend more time fine chopping. How small/fine are you guys breaking the meat and bones down for this age? I don't have a meat grinder.

A good thing is to have contact with supermarkets in your area. Have them call you when they have meat past last date. They can't sell it, so they'll probably just throw it away. I've come over lots and lots of ground beef like this, witch are perfect for pups.

[No Quarter Kennel]

What do you guys think about mixing boneless chicken, heart, liver, gizzards, and bone meal, and putting this all through the grinder and then adding the egg, yogurt and oil to it and serving it up that way?

I've never used bone meal, so if I were, how much would I add if wanting to use it for weaning purposes? It says 1 teaspoon, I would think that 2 teaspoons would be sufficient for 4-6 pups.

Ideas?

[Officially Retired]

What do you guys think about mixing boneless chicken, heart, liver, gizzards, and bone meal, and putting this all through the grinder and then adding the egg, yogurt and oil to it and serving it up that way?
I've never used bone meal, so if I were, how much would I add if wanting to use it for weaning purposes? It says 1 teaspoon, I would think that 2 teaspoons would be sufficient for 4-6 pups.
Ideas?

If you feed raw meat to pups, without bone, they stand a real good chance of getting ricketts.

Always use bone when you feed raw

[act284]

Instead of starting another thread I thought I'd just continue on this one. Hopefully Jack and anyone else can help us out.

We are planning a possible breeding in the next few weeks. My partner and I have been debating the whelping process and how things change if done outdoors. He insists it can be done as successfully outdoors.

We are based in the Los Angeles area. The weather as you may know or hear of is quite amazing, but it does get somewhat chilly at night.

Do you think it is a good option to use above ground pen and wooden dog house? Would you suggest or recommend another heat source? If so, what type would be ideal and how would you set it up?

[Officially Retired]

Instead of starting another thread I thought I'd just continue on this one. Hopefully Jack and anyone else can help us out.
We are planning a possible breeding in the next few weeks. My partner and I have been debating the whelping process and how things change if done outdoors. He insists it can be done as successfully outdoors.
We are based in the Los Angeles area. The weather as you may know or hear of is quite amazing, but it does get somewhat chilly at night.
Do you think it is a good option to use above ground pen and wooden dog house? Would you suggest or recommend another heat source? If so, what type would be ideal and how would you set it up?

You will not need another heat source at all. But you very much will need a shade source to protect from the direct sunlight

Keep in mind, if you breed now you won't have the pups till the end of June, so it will be HOT not cold.

You have got to make sure whatever roofing is at least 3' higher than the pups, and that the sun cannot shine directly on the house.

If the mama's in there, there will be no worries about cold at night.

Good luck,

Jack