What Do Dogs Eat in the First Month?

A newborn puppy dog requires wholesome harmonized food for sufficient nourishment during the first 6 months. This is the most significant time in a puppy's life to grow and develop. In the first month after birth the puppy will need to change its diet from its mother's milk to solid foods. This transitional phase requires a little bit of extra attention from the dog owner or breeder.

  1. 1 to 2 Weeks: Mother's Milk

    • Newborn puppies drink mother's milk roughly 12 times a day.

      Newborn dogs normally drink milk from the mother and sleep in intervals of 2 hours. Adequate milk is available if the puppies are calm and sleep well. If they cry a lot and squirm around, they are likely hungry. You can help puppies that seem to lack nutrition by placing them under the nipples closer to the rear of the mother as they usually supply a greater amount of milk. A supplement can be provided, if needed. Body temperature goat's and sheep's milk most closely resemble the dog mother's milk and can be fed by bottle. The frequency of nursing decreases to about 8 times per day in the second week.

    Inadequate Milk Supply

    • During the first 12 hours of nursing, the mother's milk provides the puppies with antibodies to protect from illness later in life. Their body will not accept antibodies after this time frame. Only after that initial time period should you begin supplementing the mother's milk supply if it isn't sufficient. The next 24 hours are a critical period in a puppy's life. When using a supplement, feed the puppy up to 6 times per day in addition to any milk it is getting from its mother. Commercially sold milk replacement normally have all the balanced nutrition needed.

    2 to 3 Weeks: Weaning and Milk Replacement

    • You can start supplementing mother's milk when the puppies turn 2 weeks old, or sooner, if you have a large litter. Start by bottle feeding milk replacement until the puppies' eyes open. After they can see, they can be taught to drink from a shallow bowl. Gently dip their mouth into the supplement and they will quickly learn to lick up the food. Crush up puppy chow or add infant rice cereal and water to make a runny mush. Decrease the amount of water added as the puppies get used to their changed diet. Increase the servings of milk replacement and mush feedings, feeding them up to 4 times per day as the number of nursing sessions decreases.

    3 to 4 Weeks: Introducing Solid Food

    • Regular puppy chow can be introduced roughly 3 weeks after birth. At first it should be fed after having been soaked in water or milk replacement. Lessen the amount of moisture as the pups grow older. By the time they turn 4 to 6 weeks old, they should accept regular dry puppy chow.

      Some breeders also recommend feeding small amounts of chopped, tender, raw meat, as early as the second week of life. You should feed the puppies meat 3 or 4 times a day, along with mush, after the pups have had milk. Puppies will begin drinking water around the same time frame.