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How do I wean 4-week-old puppies if mom stopped nursing them?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Female | unspayed

Hello! Have a mother dog refusing to nurse further - puppies at 4 weeks old and healthy. She is caring for them otherwise, but refuses to feed at all. We live in a remote area of Panama with no access to replacement puppy milk, but can find quality dry puppy food. Can you suggest a protocol for feeding, with sudden withdrawal of mothers milk? Very many thanks for your time.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on August 16th, 2017

Puppies get weaned between 4 and 6 weeks, so it is probably just time! I recommend mixing water with canned puppy food (or dry puppy food) to make it really wet and mushy. The puppies will often play in it and then lick it off their paws. Here is a helpful article: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2108&aid=887

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on December 15th, 2016

    Yes, it is normal that as the puppies grow up, Kona will be feeding them less. At almost four weeks of age, they can start a transition to puppy food. To help them wean and to get used to dry food, I would soak a high quality puppy formulated dry food in water 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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