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My 5-6 week old chihuahua puppy has no mom. How do I feed him?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Chihuahua | Male | unneutered | 1 month and 9 days old

I have a 5 week almosy 6 week old chihuahua puppy how do i feed him? Mommy isnt around anymore

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident

Published on November 21st, 2018

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! At this stage you can try to feed him puppy food. You can water it down to make it softer or just feed him the wet kind. If he is not wanting to eat that yet, you may have to start him on a milk replacer until he is a bit older (perhaps a few more weeks) and try solid food again at that stage. Have a good night!

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24Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on November 14th, 2018

    Yes, you can wean him into solid foods! To help him 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 he is eating the dry puppy food only. I hope this helps!

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    2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on January 16th, 2018

    Prince is adorable! At four weeks of age, he is really not old enough to be away from this mother. Puppies should be taken from their mother until they are at least six to eight weeks of age. If you can, I would return him to his mother until he is older. If you can't do this, a teaspoon of food every four hours is not enough food at all. You can start weaning him onto puppy food, and you do this by making a puppy mush. To help him 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 he is eating the dry puppy food only. Do not limit the amount of food you give him, once he is fully weaned onto puppy food, then you can start feeding him the recommended amount on the bag. Good luck, I hope this helps!

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