How to Feed Four-Week-Old Puppies

Puppies make darling pets, but they are also vulnerable and dependent on your care for survival. This is especially true of puppies who have been abandoned by their mother. If you find yourself with an orphaned pup on your hands, you will need to take over the duties traditionally performed by the mother. Although a four-week-old puppy is almost ready to be weaned from the mother, it still requires the nutrients that come from her milk. This means you must bottle-feed the pup, which can be done easily by following a few steps.

Things You'll Need

  • Baby bottle
  • Puppy milk replacer powder
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Instructions

    • 1

      Clean out a baby bottle by washing it thoroughly. Sanitize the nipple of the bottle as well. Dry the bottle and nipple.

    • 2

      Mix puppy milk replacer with water inside the bottle. Follow the directions on the label to determine the correct amount of powder and water to use, based on the puppy's weight. Place the nipple and top on the bottle, and shake vigorously to mix the contents and dissolve the powder.

    • 3

      Heat the bottle until the replacement formula reaches room temperature.

    • 4

      Place the nipple in the puppy's mouth. At this point, the pup's natural instincts should take over so that it begins to feed. Keep the puppy on its stomach during this process.

    • 5

      Transfer the puppy to your shoulder, and lightly pat its back. This encourages the puppy to burp, relieving its stomach of any air bubbles. Repeat the feeding process every eight hours.

    • 6

      Take the puppy to a vet if it refuses the bottle. The vet should be able to feed your puppy through a tube. Tube feeding should be performed only by professionals.