Dogs grow up so quickly that owners might lose sight of how fast they are developing. Owners need to keep up with their development and adjust to changes in diet.
When should puppies start eating wet food?
It is crucial to ensure your dog has the right nutrition. They can build muscles and strength as they grow.
The mother will decide that nursing is no longer necessary and the puppies need to be fed wet food.
Due to multiple reasons, she will not give her puppy milk. She may also be starting to feel hurt by the puppies when they feed with their milk teeth.
As an owner, it is important to keep tabs on your dog’s food intake so that you can decide when to start giving them puppy food.
Although most dogs can be brought up naturally, it is a good idea to give a hand if you are a dog parent.
When should I start giving wet food to my puppy?
What is the solution? Generally, puppies should be fed wet food by the time they turn 3-4 weeks. This is because this is when weaning begins.
Weaning refers to the time when a puppy changes from eating the milk of its mother to a solid food. Most experts recommend that it takes between 3-4 weeks for your dog to wean.
These are the first time that puppies develop milk teeth. This is when puppies start growing milk teeth.
But, this is just a guideline. There will be puppies who require longer to get milk teeth and ready to go without their mother’s milk.
These puppies can be orphaned or have behavioral problems.
If you are not sure, it is best to feed your puppy wet food when the mother runs out of milk and the puppy isn’t satisfied.
Another clue is when you notice milk teeth appearing on your puppy.
As this will reduce stress on the mother, it is a good idea to get your puppy started on solid food immediately.
You can help them get off of mother’s milk to start eating solid food sooner so they have energy and a healthier weight.
Hand-raised puppies are better if they get wet food as soon as possible.
Tips for Introducing Wet Food
Natural weaning is when the mother will regurgitate food for her children. This is something you might see in some mother dogs. It is not a problem as they are able to eat a lot of food at once. You should ensure that you give them small portions and not too many. You can try gently dipping your fingers in wet food and letting them taste it before they eat. You should have some doggy bibs in case they get upset by new foods. You should avoid changing the food too often. If you do decide to change the wet food, give your puppy enough time to adjust. Mix 25% of the new foods with 75% of the old to make it more interesting. Then, increase the amount of new food gradually until your pup is able to eat the whole bowl. You should refrigerate your puppy food at least once a day. If it’s not possible, microwave it for a few seconds before you serve it. Some breeders also give the mother wet puppy food to encourage her puppies to eat the wet food. Your puppy might eat a little bit of your mother’s food at first. This could be a sign that you are ready to feed them the same food or wean them. Each puppy will eventually become used to wet food and be able to eat it when they are ready. If you notice that one puppy isn’t ready for wet food yet, it is best to continue feeding them wet food. You should ensure that your puppy’s Calcium-phosphorus ratio is balanced. Otherwise, you could end up with puppies with orthopedic problems such as osteochondrosis and hip dysplasia.
How to wean puppies
Your vet will help you decide how to wean your puppy. These steps can be used as a guideline.
Making Gruel
A gruel should consist of puppy food, water or milk substitute. Make sure the puppy food is not grainy. If they still refuse to eat the gruel, you can make it up as follows: 2 cups of food, 12.5 ounces milk substitute, 2 cups water.
Gruel
After an hour of separation from your mother, you can offer the gruel to the puppies in a small and shallow dish. You can also use the finger-dipping technique if the puppies are not interested in the gruel.
Reuniting Mother and Pups
After reuniting the puppy with its mother, allow her to clean the dishes and then lick the puppies.
Gradually increase the amount of puppy food
Introduce wet food to your dog by starting with a diet that only contains 10% of solid food. The gruel should contain less liquid so the pup can eat it without being diluted.
Continue to increase the food until they are fully nourished. At this point, they should be approximately 7-8 weeks old.
Last Thoughts
We hope that you enjoyed our article about when to start giving puppies wet food. It also explains how patience, time and constant monitoring are necessary for this process.
It is best to introduce wet food to puppies between 3-4 weeks of age. However, each pup is unique so be sure to read the signs.
When should you start feeding your puppy wet food? Dog Food Smart.
