Breeders/anyone who has hand reared a pup?

[Greyhorses]

Hi,
I'm asking this on behalf of a friend (not my pup!)

She has taken in a 4 week old orphan puppy who's mother died. It has no siblings. It seems strong and healthy however it whines constantly (ie, whines when it's playing/eating/sitting!) is this normal?

How often should she be feeding it and should it need feeding throughout the night?

Thanks!

What has she fed so far?

I would be feeding a mix of raw minced chicken and soaked puppy kibble at the moment, with a follow up of nutrolac www.berriewoodwholesale.co.uk/det/1085/Animal-Health-Nutrolac-Goats-Milk-Powder-2-5Kg/ after each meal.

How heavy is the pup and what breed?

She has been feeding it puppy food mixed with whelpi on vets reccomendation and from what she said it feeds well but still cries. I watched it feed until she was full but she still cried. I'm unsure if she is just unsettled without mum?

It's a cross of GSD type but I dont know what with, I will ask her if she has weighed it.

Thanks!

Could she contact local rescues see if it is possible to get the puppy fostered by a canine mum? Does she have other adult dogs?

A puppy being reared from that age with no canine contact is likely to have developmental problems.

Things which spring to mind are quantity of food, whether the pup is passing faeces etc. Puppies do make an incredible noise - especially when they need a poo. Mum usually helps and at that age, although help is a lot less necessary, the pup should be pooing by itself but it could be constipated which will need a vet trip for a beginner.

Has the pup been wormed? They should be at 3 weeks, 5 weeks and 7 weeks. A heavy worm burden will not be helping.

The best long term solution is to get the pup matched with a lactating bitch, ideally with a litter. There is a breeders network for exactly this problem. Even if your friend has the pup back at 8 weeks, a fostering situation is by far the best solution. As Gobblers said, the pup will really suffer by not being with a Mum and pups.

Has Mum only recently died?