An important step in raising a litter of puppies is transitioning them from their mother’s milk to solid food. The natural weaning process enables pups to eat independently and reduces the energy demand on the mother dog. Generally, puppies should start the weaning process¹ between 3 and 4 weeks of age. However, the process is a little more complicated than just giving your puppies solid food.
Read on for everything that you need to know about weaning puppies.
When Should Puppies Be Weaned?
Puppies develop teeth between 3 and 4 weeks of age. This is when you should start transitioning them to puppy food. Teething puppies can make nursing uncomfortable for the mother, so she may start to pull away from her pups before they get enough to eat. When puppies get hungry, they naturally look for other food sources.
Step-by-Step Guide for Weaning Puppies off Milk
When transitioning puppies to solid food, you will have to separate them from their mother for short periods, two to three times a day.
1. Make Gruel
You must make a gruel of wet or dry puppy food with a puppy milk replacer or water when introducing puppy food. Ideally, the same brand of puppy food should be used that the mother dog has been eating through her pregnancy and nursing period. It will smell familiar to the pups, making them more likely to eat it.
2. Offer the Gruel Mixture to the Pups
Do this while they are separated from their mother. Ensure the gruel is in a shallow pan or dish where small pups can easily access it. You may have to wipe a tiny amount on their mouth to give them a taste.
Be aware that this step in the process can be messy. Puppies do not instinctively know how to eat solid food, so they may roll in it and play in it first. The point is to get them to realize that it tastes good and satisfies their hunger.
3. Reunite Puppies With their Mother
When you place the pups back with their mother, let her lick up any remaining food and clean her puppies.
4. Gradually Increase Separation Times and Amounts of Solid Food
When you start the weaning process, a puppy’s diet will only consist of about 10% solid food. Gradually transition the gruel to a more solid form until pups can eat the food without dilution. Increase the amount of food each week until the puppies reach 7 to 8 weeks of age. At this point, their diet should be 100% puppy food.
What If a Puppy Isn’t Eating Solid Food?
Not every puppy will successfully wean on the same schedule. Some pups take to it immediately, while others take longer. If possible, continue offering meals to the pup along with their siblings. Watching their littermates partake in eating will often encourage them to eat, too.
How Often to Feed Puppies
Puppies have tiny tummies. While they are seemingly hungry all the time, they can’t eat much, so it is best to offer them food in three to four small meals each day. The amount to feed can vary based on their size and breed, so follow the feeding guidelines on your puppy’s food of choice.
Make sure you are feeding your dog the right amount; you can check out our dog food calculator here.
The exact amount of calories an individual animal needs to maintain a healthy weight is variable and influenced by many factors including genetics, age, breed, and activity level. This tool is meant to be used only as a guideline for healthy individuals and does not substitute veterinary advice
Conclusion
Puppies can start eating solid food at 3-4 weeks of age, at the same time that they start to get their teeth. The weaning process is best completed by separating the pups from the mother a few times a day and gradually increasing the amount of solid food they eat. By 7–8 weeks, puppies should get 100% of their nutrition from canned or dry puppy food.
Featured Image Credit: Berkay Gumustekin, Unsplash
Contents
- When Should Puppies Be Weaned?
- Step-by-Step Guide for Weaning Puppies off Milk
- 1. Make Gruel
- 2. Offer the Gruel Mixture to the Pups
- 3. Reunite Puppies With their Mother
- 4. Gradually Increase Separation Times and Amounts of Solid Food
- What If a Puppy Isn’t Eating Solid Food?
- How Often to Feed Puppies
- Conclusion
