The Bernese Mountain Dog is a powerful and loyal large breed, but Bernese puppies are still very fragile. This is especially true right after weaning, when they no longer have the mother dog's protection and nursing. At that stage, accidents can happen easily. As an owner, you need to pay close attention to the puppy's diet, feed easily digestible foods, and provide calcium support when appropriate so the puppy can grow up healthily.
Bernese Puppies Need Calcium Support
No matter how large your home is, if you have time, take your Bernese puppy outside for sunshine more often. This helps the body absorb calcium and supports growth. It is also a good idea to keep a small container of dog-specific calcium tablets. A small container is often better because puppies consume them slowly, and opened supplements can spoil if left too long. Calcium tablets can be soaked together with dog food in goat milk powder.
What to Feed After Weaning
A newly weaned puppy should gradually transition from mother's milk to goat milk. If the puppy has just been weaned, let it adapt slowly. You can soak dog food in goat milk powder and make sure it becomes soft before feeding. Do not feed too much at once. If you do not want to spend money on milk powder, soaking the food in warm water can also work.
Bernese Puppies Should Not Eat Bones
Never feed bones to a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy that has just come home, especially hard bones such as chicken or duck bones. In mild cases they may cause diarrhea; in serious cases they can badly injure the digestive tract. You should also avoid feeding human meals. They are hard to digest and may easily trigger various health problems.
For many owners, puppyhood is the most difficult, tiring, and demanding period of raising a Bernese Mountain Dog. Besides paying attention to vaccination, hygiene, and general care, you also need to keep training the puppy to use the toilet, respond to its name, and more. Diet also requires special care, which takes both time and money.