Cross Breeds

When should I deworm puppies and how much should mother eat?

I work with a local rescue group and have always rescued big dog breeds (Husky, Shepherds, Mastiffs). I now have 12 day old russell rat terrier puppies. I need to know when to worm them and how many times a day should the mother be eating. Also is can food better for her than dry. She seems to scarf it down like she's starving but wont touch the dry.

Public Comments

1. sounds like she likes canned rather than dry try mixing the two together and to worm puppies go to pet shop or vet they can tell what to use good luck
2. Around six weeks for the pups...that is when they should get their first shots. Make sure to feed the mum some puppy food as well, believe me this helps her! Try dribbling a bit of the wet food over the dry, and it may suit her tastes a bit more.
3. First deworming should be done between 4 and 6 weeks old. Deworm mom-dog at the same time, in 2-week intervals until 8-12 weeks. Different veterinarians will tell you different things. Mom dog should be allowed to eat all she wants while she's nursing. Nutritional value is more important than soft/dry. Make sure the food she's getting is meat based. Avoid any food that lists corn, or animal by-products as a main ingredient, and neither is particularly good for a dog. You may be best off giving her puppy food, to help her produce the much needed nutrition through her milk for her puppies.
4. I use the dewormer pyrantle from the vet, they are dewormed 2, 4, 6, 8 ,10 weeks of age until they go home. mom should kind of be left down and let her eat as much as she wants she needs the calories to feed the puppies. you can mix the can with the kibble to hold her off longer and she wont scarf it down as fast. She might be VERY hungry depending on how many pupps she is nursing.. You also want your momma dog on puppy food .. Purina puppy chow is good :)
5. Let the vet worm the pups. The mother should be eating all she wants. Mix the wet and the dry. Make sure she has plenty of water.