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How do I transition my puppy from milk to solid puppy food?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Can puppy food alone be a substitute for milk or do I have to put milk with the puppy food?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Published on March 20th, 2017

A puppy should get milk or an appropriate replacement until 3-4 weeks of age at which point you can begin to mix in some solid food. The milk can be used to make a slurry or gruel. The milk is gradually decreased until the pup is eating solid, dry food around 8 weeks of age.

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6Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Other Answers

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on March 10th, 2017

    Great question! Puppies can start being weaned at around six weeks of age, and I can give you a method to help them wean. To help them wean and to get used to dry food, I would soak a high quality puppy formulated dry food in warm water until soft. Then mix that with puppy formula such as KMR to make a mush the consistency of oatmeal. Over the next two weeks, gradually increase the amount of dry puppy food and decrease the amount of water and KMR you use until they are eating the dry puppy food only.

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    Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

    Veterinary Technician

    Published on September 6th, 2019

    Most puppies will start to eat a bit of solid food at around 4 weeks of age. Some brands such as Royal Canin have a starter mousse that is a sort of transition between nursing and wet food, or you can buy a puppy formula and make a slurry with some puppy milk replacer. You can then start to provide it at short intervals in between nursing to give the puppies a chance to check it out and try some. As they get older, mom should naturally start to wean them and you can increase the amount of puppy food given at each session.

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    Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

    Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Published on November 12th, 2016

    You can begin offering solid food at 3-4 weeks of age. Soak puppy kibble in warm water or a puppy milk replacer until soft. Mix to make a slurry or gruel. Decrease the amount of liquid gradually until, by 7-8 weeks, they are eating dry puppy kibble.

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