WEANING PUPPIES ON ARDEN GRANGE PUPPY FOOD

 Arden Grange Puppy Food is an easily digestible, extremely palatable Fresh Chicken based food, containing the concentrated calories, vitamins and minerals that puppies need at this all important, rapid growth, stage. Our foods contain the correct calcium/phosphorus ratio to promote healthy bones and joints, as well as Glucosamine, Chondroitin and MSM (an organic form of sulphur) to protect and aid the development of the skeletal system. As we have included everything that puppies require, in the correct proportions, further supplementation is not required or recommended.  To add extras will upset the fine balance our nutritionists have formulated for your puppy.

 Our foods are hypoallergenic, and are free from wheat, beef, soya and dairy products, and do not contain any artificial colourings, flavourings or preservatives.

 Different breeders and different breeds will have their own timetable for weaning puppies.  As a general guideline, most breeders wean gradually onto solid foods over a period of about 3 weeks, beginning when the puppies are around 3 weeks of age.  However, if the litter is unusually large for the particular breed, you may wish to start weaning a little earlier than normal in order that the bitch is not overly fatigued.

 To use our Puppy Food at weaning, it should first be soaked with warm water and mixed with a fork to form a smooth porridge.  More warm water may need to be added to achieve just the right consistency for lapping. Initially, make sure that you offer the porridge at a luke warm temperature (not cold), as the pups are used to suckling warm milk from their mother. You may need to encourage each puppy to take the food by placing some on the end of your finger, and allowing them to lick or suck; they soon associate the smell of the food with eating.

 We recommend that puppies are fed by the portion control method, which allows you to monitor their individual intake more accurately.  We suggest you leave the porridge down for around 15 minutes each time, after which you should remove any uneaten food (or give it to their mother).  It is a good idea to let your bitch out, to have a break from her pups, a little while before you offer the puppies their solid food. They will then be keener to eat, as they will not have just 'topped up' their appetite from their mother.  Once they have finished eating, their mother can be let back in with them again. This routine should be repeated for each mealtime, usually 4 times per day.

 When the pups are established on the porridge, and are eating readily, you may gradually reduce the amount of water added to the dry food. As they consume more solid foods, and as long as they are healthy, you should increase the periods that your bitch spends away from her pups, so that by the time they are about 6 weeks of age she may be moved away from them completely.

 Remember that, during this weaning period, your bitch's intake of food should have been gradually reduced.

 Once your bitch is completely away from her puppies, adding some chopped fresh parsley to your bitch's food may help to reduce the risk of mastitis if she is still producing milk.  However if her milk production is excessive, and her mammary glands become hot and engorged, do not hesitate to seek immediate veterinary treatment, as mastitis can build up only too quickly.

 Please use the suggested feeding quantities on the bag as a guideline only. The required amounts will vary with the age of the puppies, individual breeds and level of activity. As the puppies develop, you may wish to leave a small bowl of dry food down for them to investigate, in addition to their set mealtimes.

 Medium, large and giant breed puppies should be gradually changed to either Arden Grange Graduate or Arden Grange Junior between 8-12 weeks of age.
(See feeding chart in our brochure).

For further information on feeding Arden Grange, and brochures, please do not hesitate to contact our nutrition advisers on 01273 833390.