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What should I feed 3-week-old puppies and how to wean them safely?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Female | unspayed | 1 year and 3 months old | 59 lbs

Soska’s puppies are turning 21 daystomorrow what should i start feeding them and how i meed every detail please so they are healthy i have boughtdry food for bitches and new borns from 21 days how i can serve it to them and what are the quantities so ther stomach can take it safely and should i give them water??

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3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on April 7th, 2018

Good questions! You can start weaning Soska's puppies onto a puppy formulated food. It's important that their food is for puppies as they need higher amounts of calories, calcium, and protein to meet their growth needs. Feed them according to the package instructions on their bag of food. 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 three 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. You can leave water out for them, but they will still be nursing and getting both water and puppy formula from the puppy mush, so they likely won't drink it at first. As they start having more dry puppy food and less water and KMR added to the mush, encourage them to drink water. Fill a shallow pie pan with water, and add some ice cubes to it. Puppies are curious, and will lick the ice cubes, thus drinking water at the same time. I hope this helps!

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on November 14th, 2016

    Great question! 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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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on July 14th, 2019

    Great question! Yes, it's time to wean them. 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. Best of luck.

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