At What Age Do Puppies Eat Solid Food?

A puppy can be fed a limited amount of solid food when it is three to four weeks old. Up until this point it receives the nutrients and antibodies it requires for healthy growth from its mother's milk. Puppies who start to eat solid foods before being weaned from the mother will find it easier to adjust to solid food feeding patterns when homed.

  1. Solid food

    • In most circumstances, puppies are ready to be weaned from their mothers at the age of six weeks old. By this time they may already have started to eat solid food from their mother's dish. Once introduced to the appropriate solid food for their age group, puppies should be fed three times a day at regular intervals. Mix three parts food with one part water in order to moisten dry food to make it easier for the puppy to digest. Alternatively try puppy milk, but be careful not to use too much milk as this can work as a laxative. Time the scheduled feeds and remove and discard any uneaten food after one hour.

    Nursing puppies

    • Do not attempt to feed a nursing puppy solid food before it is three to four weeks old. A healthy puppy should put on the equivalent of its birth weight each week during the nursing period. If a puppy appears to be struggling to feed, place the pup close to the mother's nipples when it is time to feed. If the puppy continues to show poor growth seek advice from a veterinarian.

    Older puppies

    • Around the age of four to five months, reduce the pup's feeding schedule to twice a day and then to once a day when it reaches the age of eight months. It is vital that the dog has access to fresh, clean water at all times to avoid complications arising from dehydration. A well-bred dog will be used to consistent eating habits and feeding a puppy at established times in the same place every day is a recommended housetraining tool. The amount of food a puppy requires on a daily basis is determined by its size, breed and level of activity.

    Considerations

    • Never feed a puppy with scraps of food from the table. Its digestive system is not built to cope with human food and it may encourage fussy eating habits. A puppy does not require additional meats, vitamins or minerals on top of a balanced and nutritious brand-name dog food diet. At age three to six months, a teething puppy may experience a temporary loss of appetite. Do not allow it to refuse food for longer than three days without consulting a veterinarian.