alligande Posted June 26, 2015 Report Share Posted June 26, 2015 I have just received a 6 week old foster puppy, she is the youngest and smallest puppy I have had in my house and I was looking for advice on what to feed her. This is a very last minute thing, and as usual my husband and I have sucker printed on us, so all advice is welcome on how to make this very young little girl comfortable. She left her mother and littermates 2 days ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted June 26, 2015 Report Share Posted June 26, 2015 What was she eating before you got her? If you don't know, you can simply transition her to any good all life stages food. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligande Posted June 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2015 I have no idea what she was eating, how much do you think I should be feeding her Julie? Farmers here are mostly very traditional, I don't think this was a planned liter, and as soon as the puppies were 6 weeks they wanted them gone so mama could get back to work. How I ended up with her is a convoluted story, I am just hoping she finds a home quickly I might fall in love and I have plans for my next dog.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medic09 Posted June 26, 2015 Report Share Posted June 26, 2015 and I have plans for my next dog.... Appropriately enough, it was a Scotsman who said "the best laid plans..." (of course, we'll ignore the ending there since that isn't what happens with our dogs) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligande Posted June 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2015 Appropriately enough, it was a Scotsman who said "the best laid plans..." (of course, we'll ignore the ending there since that isn't what happens with our dogs) I hope this young lady already has a home lined up and we are just a way station .... as that quote has been going through my head ever since I saw her picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GentleLake Posted June 26, 2015 Report Share Posted June 26, 2015 Appropriately enough, it was a Scotsman who said "the best laid plans..." Actually, he wrote "schemes" instead of "plans" . . . but you got the gist. (“The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft a-gley.”) I agree, just feed her a decent food and she'll be fine. Since I don't feed kibble I can't comment on amounts (other than at this age she should be eating 4 times a day). But you can always adjust based on her body condition. Whatever happens, I'm sure you won't gang aft a-gley. Oh, can we get a picture, please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rallers Posted June 26, 2015 Report Share Posted June 26, 2015 My vet told me to just free feed when Piper was really little, but I know that won't work for everybody. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligande Posted June 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2015 This has been my shortest ever rescue.. She is already settling in her new home. The photos are her in my lap, and in her new owners arms. From the photos do you think she is 6 weeks or even younger .... We have our suspicions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CptJack Posted June 26, 2015 Report Share Posted June 26, 2015 She looks very much at the developmental stage as Kylie (maybe a touch older) when we found her. Which was estimated at our vets to be somewhere between 4.5 and 5 weeks old. Dark blue eyes, wobbly walk, funny head shape and ears, and with a few molars still not through her gums. She is ADORABLE. Thank you for taking care of her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urge to herd Posted June 26, 2015 Report Share Posted June 26, 2015 I know nothing about puppies, but the roundness/softness of her features makes her seem more of a baby, rather than a ready-to-go puppy. She is truly adorable - hope her new home treats her well! Ruth and SuperGibbs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloria Atwater Posted June 27, 2015 Report Share Posted June 27, 2015 Oh, wow, she IS a tiny baby! I'd say maybe 5 weeks. Maybe. Will you be working with the new owner to assure that she gets the care she needs? The hardest thing I think will be how *often* babies this young need feeding. Hope those folks don't mind going without sleep for a few weeks. ~ Gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligande Posted June 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2015 The new owners mother is a dog trainer, foster, and all-round experienced dog person, as well as the owner of my agility club so there will be plenty of support. She looks very much at the developmental stage as Kylie (maybe a touch older) when we found her. Which was estimated at our vets to be somewhere between 4.5 and 5 weeks old. Dark blue eyes, wobbly walk, funny head shape and ears, and with a few molars still not through her gums. She is ADORABLE. Thank you for taking care of her. I did not check her teeth out, but she had a really wobbly walk, her legs look to short for her body, even for a small border collie she seemed tiny but I don't have a lot of puppy experience. If they wanted those puppies gone so mama could go back to work quickly, then I reckon they were capable of lying about their age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcv-border Posted June 27, 2015 Report Share Posted June 27, 2015 I am glad everything worked out so well for the wee pup! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CptJack Posted June 27, 2015 Report Share Posted June 27, 2015 I did not check her teeth out, but she had a really wobbly walk, her legs look to short for her body, even for a small border collie she seemed tiny but I don't have a lot of puppy experience. If they wanted those puppies gone so mama could go back to work quickly, then I reckon they were capable of lying about their age. Sounds about right. She'll be fine, I think. Kylie got fed frequently, peed every 10 minutes, and slept a lot for a few weeks, but she did okay with just basic gentle, consistent, care, and certainly didn't have some of the issues I half-expected from early separation from a litter, or that people warn about. With a dog trainer that baby should be in even better hands. (Kylie also changed a TON - she's the middle dog in my signature!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligande Posted June 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2015 Sounds about right. She looks just like, stubby little legs, eyes don't focus yet. She is a brave and tenacious little thing, we were playing tug together, and she kept coming back with the toy, and when I did not want her to go back in the house till she peed, she was climbing all over me and did not want to be put off. I think she is going to do fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gideon's girl Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 When I had to take care of pups that small, I moistened their food with goats milk and put it through a blender. As they got older, I would start giving it less soft and less wet. Now, I've come full circle and I feed wet food with plenty of water or goats milk to my adults. Go figure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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