QuestionI have a 12Lb mixed yorkie who just have birth. The puppies are six weeks old and we just started weaning them. However they still want to drink her milk along with the puppy food and she growls and refuses to let them drink. Is this normal and how long will her boobs continue to be swollen after she stops feeding them?
AnswerAngela,
It is perfectly normal for the mother to growl at her puppies. She is weaning them and you should not allow the puppies to nurse. I would suggest that you get a crate to keep the puppies in so they can be separated from their mother. Once the puppies are weaned the mothers job is over and they need to learn to be on their own. It should take about a week for the mothers milk to dry up and for her breasts to start going down but keep in mind every dog is different. You should offer the puppies water and their dog food should be puppy chow or something comparable. You should wet the puppy chow with warm water until it swells up and all the water is gone. Then feed it to the puppies. In the beginning you may have to mash it up so they can eat it. Puppies are like babies, you could nurse them till they are well into being adults if the mother doesn't wean them. Keep in mind that the mothers milk will be trying to dry up but if you let the puppies nurse on her even for a few minutes it will come back in again and take that much more time to dry up so keeping them away from mom is important. If she want to be with the puppies you can put a doggie coat on her and that should keep the puppies from nursing. Congratulations on your new babies!
