How to Wean Dogs & Puppies Early

Most dogs begin weaning their puppies at around 4 weeks of age. However, occasionally it is necessary to wean them earlier, either because the mother is not healthy or not producing enough milk. If the puppies are younger than 4 weeks, you will need to provide a milk replacement formula for at least part of their diet; but you can start weaning early by alternating the formula with soft food at 3 weeks.

Things You'll Need

Puppy milk replacement formula
Canned puppy food
Dry puppy kibble

Instructions

- 1
  Begin the early weaning process as soon as the puppies' eyes are open, optimally, at 15 days. Offer a pan of warm puppy milk replacement formula twice a day, so that you gradually accustom their stomachs to the new food. Take the mother out of the box when you do this, to insure that she doesn't drink the formula and that the puppies do.
- 2
  Persuade the puppies to drink the formula by dipping your finger in the formula and wetting their noses with it. Do this when they wake up and are hungry, until they begin to take the formula on their own. Give them this formula for 4 days.
- 3
  Mix canned puppy food into the formula, so the puppies begin to transition to the new food. Increase the frequency from 2 to 3 times daily for 3 days; then every 2 hours for the next 3 days. By this stage the puppies should be around 4 weeks of age.
- 4
  Decrease the quantity of formula added to the canned puppy food over the following 4 days. The puppies will be fully weaned and eating the canned food without formula at 5 weeks.
- 5
  Introduce dry puppy food at alternate meals. Soften the kibble with a few drops of warm water and mix it with the canned puppy food. Feed this mixture for a week.
- 6
  Reduce the amount of canned food until the puppies are eating softened kibble by the age of 6 weeks. At this point, the puppies will no longer need their mother's milk, and they should have a full set of puppy teeth with which to eat dry puppy kibble.