Excerpts from a top dog breeders website.
"PUPPIES AT ONE WEEK OF AGE:
During their first week puppies spend 90% of their time sleeping and 10% of their time eating. Being very susceptible to heat and cold.
Their central nervous systems are developing rapidly at this age and they gain a significant amount of weight. By the end of the week the puppies should have doubled in size.
PUPPIES AT TWO WEEKS OF AGE:
At two weeks of age the puppies ears and eyes begin to open slightly and they are able to move about the whelping box by "scooting".
PUPPIES AT THREE WEEKS OF AGE:
At three weeks of age their ears and eyes are open fully and their teeth begin to come in. They attempt to stand and walk and have developed their sense of smell. They begin becoming very aware of their environment and playing with other litter mates is their main focus. They begin to bark and growl and their little tails start wagging.
PUPPIES AT FOUR WEEKS OF AGE:
At four weeks the puppies are now on mashed (gruel) food supplementation, though they still need their mother for stability and additional feedings. Depth perception is now present.
PUPPIES AT FIVE WEEKS OF AGE:
At five weeks the litter has established a dominance order. Rapid growth and development is present and play begins to become more exuberant. Weaning should begin at this age once the mother agrees.
PUPPIES AT SIX WEEKS OF AGE:
At six weeks of age a puppy should be given more individual time and attention away from their litter mates which is critical for proper development. Though their mothers will still check in on them, the puppies should be fully weaned.
PUPPIES AT SEVEN WEEKS OF AGE:
The puppies at seven weeks are on dry puppy food. They have total hearing and visual capacity at this age and are very curious.
Some states have recently changed their laws and require puppies to be at least 8 weeks old before placement. These new laws are to protect the health of puppies being produced by puppy mills that are sold to dog brokers and then delivered to pet shops.
There are some articles on the issue stating that the new laws are to ensure puppies are raised properly and not separated from their mother before 8 weeks of age. But people that have backed these laws have not raised puppies properly (or not at all). Puppies that are still dependant upon their mother for care, even at 8 weeks, are not physically or mentally ready for a new home."
As far as food, Natural Balance is pretty good.. here is a web site that rates dog food. Dog Food Reviews - Main Index - Powered by ReviewPost
Right now we are switching from Purina One, (which is about the same not so good quality as Science Diet) To Kirkland (Costco brand made by Diamond) middle of the road quality but very reasonably priced. Some dogs have problems with runny stools with Diamond, so far one of our two pups is, so we are not sure we will stay with it or not. Origen, Blue Buffalo, and Wellness are top of the line, but VERY expensive, four times the price of Kirkland.
Just wanted to mention a bit about spaying,,, Spaying a dog early will cause their bones to grow for a longer period than normal, which is not usually an issue with taller dogs, but on the short legged breeds it can be problematic in their joints. Best time to spay a basset is after 5.5 months and before the first heat cycle. (Yeah, I know, who knows when that will happen)
The same thing happens when neutering a male dog and it is not recommended to neuter a short legged dog until after 10 months.
Also,,,!!! your vet may be correct and the puppy may only be 5 weeks old, but I have seen 8 and 9 week old puppies that were that under developed.. one of the pups from the same litter as our girl was that way with no apparent problems.. attached are the pics of our Mercedes at 8 weeks and her litter mate taken on the same day. She was considerably less developed, but in good health.
That said, Snap Gardia , or liver shunts can cause lack of development and maybe should be tested for.
And did you vet do a fecal antigen test or just a fecal float test? The float test can miss a lot.
"PUPPIES AT ONE WEEK OF AGE:
During their first week puppies spend 90% of their time sleeping and 10% of their time eating. Being very susceptible to heat and cold.
Their central nervous systems are developing rapidly at this age and they gain a significant amount of weight. By the end of the week the puppies should have doubled in size.
PUPPIES AT TWO WEEKS OF AGE:
At two weeks of age the puppies ears and eyes begin to open slightly and they are able to move about the whelping box by "scooting".
PUPPIES AT THREE WEEKS OF AGE:
At three weeks of age their ears and eyes are open fully and their teeth begin to come in. They attempt to stand and walk and have developed their sense of smell. They begin becoming very aware of their environment and playing with other litter mates is their main focus. They begin to bark and growl and their little tails start wagging.
PUPPIES AT FOUR WEEKS OF AGE:
At four weeks the puppies are now on mashed (gruel) food supplementation, though they still need their mother for stability and additional feedings. Depth perception is now present.
PUPPIES AT FIVE WEEKS OF AGE:
At five weeks the litter has established a dominance order. Rapid growth and development is present and play begins to become more exuberant. Weaning should begin at this age once the mother agrees.
PUPPIES AT SIX WEEKS OF AGE:
At six weeks of age a puppy should be given more individual time and attention away from their litter mates which is critical for proper development. Though their mothers will still check in on them, the puppies should be fully weaned.
PUPPIES AT SEVEN WEEKS OF AGE:
The puppies at seven weeks are on dry puppy food. They have total hearing and visual capacity at this age and are very curious.
Some states have recently changed their laws and require puppies to be at least 8 weeks old before placement. These new laws are to protect the health of puppies being produced by puppy mills that are sold to dog brokers and then delivered to pet shops.
There are some articles on the issue stating that the new laws are to ensure puppies are raised properly and not separated from their mother before 8 weeks of age. But people that have backed these laws have not raised puppies properly (or not at all). Puppies that are still dependant upon their mother for care, even at 8 weeks, are not physically or mentally ready for a new home."
As far as food, Natural Balance is pretty good.. here is a web site that rates dog food. Dog Food Reviews - Main Index - Powered by ReviewPost
Right now we are switching from Purina One, (which is about the same not so good quality as Science Diet) To Kirkland (Costco brand made by Diamond) middle of the road quality but very reasonably priced. Some dogs have problems with runny stools with Diamond, so far one of our two pups is, so we are not sure we will stay with it or not. Origen, Blue Buffalo, and Wellness are top of the line, but VERY expensive, four times the price of Kirkland.
Just wanted to mention a bit about spaying,,, Spaying a dog early will cause their bones to grow for a longer period than normal, which is not usually an issue with taller dogs, but on the short legged breeds it can be problematic in their joints. Best time to spay a basset is after 5.5 months and before the first heat cycle. (Yeah, I know, who knows when that will happen)
The same thing happens when neutering a male dog and it is not recommended to neuter a short legged dog until after 10 months.
Also,,,!!! your vet may be correct and the puppy may only be 5 weeks old, but I have seen 8 and 9 week old puppies that were that under developed.. one of the pups from the same litter as our girl was that way with no apparent problems.. attached are the pics of our Mercedes at 8 weeks and her litter mate taken on the same day. She was considerably less developed, but in good health.
That said, Snap Gardia , or liver shunts can cause lack of development and maybe should be tested for.
And did you vet do a fecal antigen test or just a fecal float test? The float test can miss a lot.
