If you’re raising a young puppy, there will come a time when you’ll need to help wean him off mom’s milk and onto a solid food diet. That can be a little nerve wracking! The last thing we want is upset puppy tummies! Weaning puppies that are just starting out on solid food need a special mixture when solid food is introduced. This mixture allows weaning puppies to transition to solid food with minimal discomfort on their little bellies.
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When to Feed Weaning Puppies
Weaning puppies need to be transitioned to solid food carefully. Their little systems have only ever had to deal with a liquid diet. Never just throw dry food at weaning puppies. Their tender systems won’t be able to handle it. Instead, you’ll need to make their food the consistency of gruel, which is sort of like a very, very thick milkshake.
Around four weeks of age, puppies should begin weaning. This is when you begin transitioning to solid food. Feed weaning puppies the puppy milkshake about four times a day. In the beginning, feed them small amounts so their bodies can get used to the new addition to their diets. Just be sure to adjust the amount according to how much nursing they’re still doing. Over time, you can begin upping the solid food as they move away from nursing and their bodies get used to their new nom noms.
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What to Feed Weaning Puppies
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As I said earlier, you have to be careful when transitioning weaning puppies over to solid food. Their bodies aren’t used to processing anything other than milk, so jumping straight to dry food – or even wet food – can be a major shock to their system, causing stomach upset, diarrhea, and even vomiting.
Instead, you need to use the puppy milkshake I talked about earlier. Using this mixture to make the move from milk to solid food gives weaning puppies time to adjust. It’s the perfect consistency for getting their young GI tract used to something more substantial without giving their system a jolt.
The ingredients in the puppy milkshake are designed to be both easy on the systems of weaning puppies as well as make sure they have all the nutrition they need. You’ll need a high quality dry puppy food and milk replacer. Soak the dry puppy food in a half and half mixture of warm water and milk replacer. After the food has gotten nice and squishy, blend it all up into the puppy shake, adding enough extra water and milk replacer to make it the proper consistency.
Take It Slow and You’re Good to Go
Weaning puppies need to be introduced to solid foods slowly, so be careful when feeding them. Always take it slow and introduce the solids slowly. Feed weaning puppies multiple times a day in small amounts while they’re still nursing and slowly increase the amount as they take less and less milk from the mom. If you take it slow, you’re good to go. Remember, when introducing solid food to weaning puppies, slow and steady wins the race.
Do you have any other questions about weaning puppies? Ask in the comments section below!
