5 Week Old Pitbull Puppies

by

Are they growing at a steady rate? How much should they be eating? Are they reaching their developmental milestones?

If these are the questions that plague you, you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to cover everything you need to know about your Pitbull puppy’s growth and development below!

Mom May Want More Alone Time

  • Mom will still be willing to clean up well after the pups poop, and there will still be tiny puddles of urine.
  • She will want more time away from them beginning this week. She will enjoy some more time alone, and it is as early as the second week when some Dams begin to show signs that they may try to wean too early.
  • Try to make sure that mom feeds them every four hours or so. If you do not encourage her, later feeds will cause them to munch more furiously, which can cause scratching and pulling on already sensitive nipples. She will naturally want to avoid this, but unless you are prepared to bottle feed an entire litter, several times per day for another two weeks, make her feed them regularly.

    • Fun Fact

    The pit bull was so popular in the early 1900s that they were our mascot not only in World War I, but also in World War II.

    As the third week begins, there will be many more waking hours than sleeping hours, as opposed to the last two weeks. Most pups will have their eyes mostly open, although none can see too well, but they will start to recognize the smell of mom when shes close, and of people visiting their box or enclosure.

    When we retrieved a riding lawnmower box from a local store, the mom actually jumped for joy several times in the air as I began placing them in the new blanket-filled box. Seriously, do both of you a favor and get them enclosed ASAP if not done so already by this week.

    Get an Enclosure

    If you havent put them in an enclosure, you are likely half-mad and a bit crazy. Do this immediately! An old playpen is an excellent idea for the next couple of weeks. A huge box even better. Without those things, youll have mass chaos and a mother who may be a bit edgy that her pups arent gathered in a neat area for check-ups.

    By the end of the third week, there will be no doubt that living in a box with so many of your siblings can be really hard. Many mini growls and burks (not quite barks) are heard coming from the box at all hours. Closer observation reveals a painfully slow (at least from their point-of-view) process of growing, fighting, eating, and yes, pooping.

  • Mom may not be so happy about cleaning up after the pups, as big as they are getting. This week will likely find you washing and rewashing box blankets, pillows, and other paraphernalia. Often.
  • They have become the worlds most ferocious eaters. Watching them at this point makes me think that they closely resemble a pack of wolverines nursing. You may have to begin preparing a puppy cereal for them to eat soon.

    • Puppy Gruel

    Purchase a good quality puppy chow and run it through the blender, add puppy formula or goats milk, baby rice cereal and baby strained chicken. Mix until its fairly thick. After they have mastered that for a few days, start adding softened puppy kibble.

    You may need some tips on how to do this, and it does get nasty. Personally, I have what I consider a fairly strong stomach, but the results of nine pit bull pups moshing, rolling, and rooting around in a pile of gooey mess still required me to give it a good strong swallow or two while watching.

    How big should a 6-month-old Pit Bull be?

    There is a lot of variation within the Pit Bull breed regarding their size and weight. At 6-months-old, a female Pit Bull will likely be around 15 to 30 pounds. Comparatively, a male Pit Bull pup at the same age will be approximately 20 to 35 pounds.

    Please remember that these are estimates, and your puppy will grow at their own unique rate.

    What should you do if your Pitbull is growing too fast?

    If your Pitbull seems to be growing too fast for your comfort, you shouldn’t hesitate to raise this concern with your vet. You can try to decrease the amount of food you serve during meals.

    An indicator of overfeeding is consistently soft stools. In young puppies, overfeeding is more harmful than underfeeding.

    FAQ

    How much should a 5 week old pitbull puppy eat?

    Mix the puppy food with warm water or puppy formula to form a mush that your little pit bull can eat. Start out with a mix of 75-percent liquid to 25-percent wet or dry puppy food. Over the course of four-to-six weeks, slowly increase the amount of food by 25 percent and decrease the liquid by the same amount.

    How do you train a 4 week old pitbull?

    Puppies up to 12-weeks-old should eat four-to-six small meals a day. Each meal should be about a quarter-to-half cup of food. At six months, reduce their feeding frequency to three times a day. Never free-feed your puppy by leaving a bowl of food out all day.

    What do you feed a 4 week old pitbull puppy?

    Puppies up to 12-weeks-old should eat four-to-six small meals a day. Each meal should be about a quarter-to-half cup of food. At six months, reduce their feeding frequency to three times a day. Never free-feed your puppy by leaving a bowl of food out all day.