Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

My puppy is under 1 month old. How do I feed, bathe, and house her?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Female | unspayed | 22 days old

My dog is less than a month old. I don’t know what to feed her or what to shower her with. Where should she sleep ? What do I give her to drink.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on April 23rd, 2018

Bella is still too young to be away from her mother, but if she can't return to her mother, you will have to start weaning her onto dry puppy food and well as bottle feeding her with a puppy formula. Go out to a grocery store or pet store now to get a bottle and puppy formula. I recommend KMR. I will put a link below on how to bottle feed a puppy. To help her 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 she is eating the dry puppy food only. She can sleep in a crate at night, but you will have to get up a couple times a night to let her outside to potty. She is too young to have a shower yet, she shouldn't be bathed until she is at least eight weeks of age, so you don't need to worry about that now. Best of luck, I hope this helps. https://www.2ndchance.info/orphanpuppy.htm

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
she is just one month old please advice what are the best food items i can give her also the timings of food and her milk
At one month of age, Bella can start being weaned onto a puppy food. To help her 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 she is eating the dry puppy food only. Brands of puppy food I recommend include Royal Canin, Hill's Science Diet, Purina ProPlan, and Iams.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
New Pet
I just had a black puppy yesterday and she is about like less than a month old so we don't know really know how to take care of her. What am I going to do about her? Also she had bruise on her body because the recent owner's dogs abused her. Please h
Tail Out quite young, so you are going to have to bottle feed with her a puppy formula as well as starting to transition her to a dry puppy food. I will put a link below on how to bottle feed a puppy. To help her 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 she is eating the dry puppy food only. As for the bruise, I would be concerned she may have internal injuries from the abuse, and she needs to be checked out by a vet immediately. Please take her into one right away. Best of luck. https://www.2ndchance.info/orphanpuppy.htm
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
New Pet
Hi there.. When can I give water to my 1 month old puppy and when is good to bathe him? Thank you
You can bathe him in baby shampoo now. You can try water when he starts to eat puppy food and gets weaned from formula. Often times they drink last since their puppy food is soft and watered down to help them chew it at that age. They get the water in that mixture instead of drinking. Once they transition more to dry food you will notice the water consumption increase
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
What should i feed her
She is really too young to be separated from her mother. Puppies should stay with mom until 8 weeks of age. If there is anyway for her to stay with her mother that is the best option. At one month old she still needs milk so if she can't be with her mom you will need to bottle fee her milk replacer like Royal Canin Babymilk. ( https://www.amazon.in/Royal-Canin-Baby-Dog-Milk/dp/B00197UQ3O/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=royal+canin+milk+baby+dog&qid=1570815374&sr=8-1 ) Once she is at least 2 months old you can switch to this. ( https://www.amazon.in/Royal-Canin-Mini-Starter-Food/dp/B071JP63SQ/ref=sr_1_11?keywords=royal+canin+mother+and+baby&qid=1570815305&sr=8-11 )
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
New Pet
Hello, My name is Myriam and just recently my family brought a pet home. It's a puppy and I was wondering what kind a breed he was. Also, what do I need to take care of a puppy since this is the first time we are going to have a pet. The only thing
Duke is very young and should really be with his mommy still. Make sure you feed him canned puppy food of the best quality, he is not able to eat adequate amounts of kibble at this age. Unfortunately at this age most puppies look alike so it is not possible yet to guess or determine the breed. By the time he is a little older, around 6 months, it will be obvious what breed or mix he could be. Unless he pees on himself or gets messed up with poop, I would not bathe him yet as water could get into his ears and eyes, and might cause irritation. Between the age of 6 and 8 weeks he should get his first parvo vaccine from the vet. There are three rounds of vaccinations until the age of 12 to 16 weeks. Do not let him play with unvaccinated dogs until at least after the third round. Good luck with your puppy, he looks really sweet
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I bought a puppy but i think she was taken from her mom to early how to i care for her
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! If you think Mula should still be nursing you can purchase bottles and nipples and puppy milk replacer. I will attach links to find them online or you can find them at Veterinary hospitals or Pet stores. Around 6 weeks start offering puppy food, either canned or moisten dry food. By 8 weeks the puppy should be exclusively eating puppy food. You can bring Mula to the Vet to help confirm age and have him dewormed. Vaccine are started around 7-8 weeks of age. I hope this helps and good luck! http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=665 http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=28141
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
New Pet
My one month old puppy is only drinking formula milk and isn’t eating
At 4 weeks of age it is normal for a puppy to only be drinking milk. Ideally your puppy should still be nursing from his mother at this age. If he is already away from his mother then you will need to continue feeding him puppy milk replacer until about 6 weeks of age. You can try to leave some moistened kibble with him to get him interested in it but at this age he should be still getting most of his nutrition from milk. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Boop by Petco. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Food & Nutrition
My male schihtzu aged 1 month 15days. Is not not with his mother. Can it survive? And what type of food should I give her?
Puppies are usually weaned off of Mom around this age so yes he can survive just fine. He should be eating puppy food since he likely has all his puppy teeth, just double check since some pets are late bloomers. I would suggest a high quality dog food such as Hill’s Science Diet, Royal Canin, or Natural Balance. You should feed him three times a day and the amount of food fed should be based off of the guidelines right on the bag of the brand you choose. You can go with a canned food for now then switch to dry (if desired) when she is around 7-8 weeks of age. Best of luck with your cute puppy. Take care!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My puppy is 4 weeks old and was taken from her mother and littermates at 30 days old exactly. Her mother got sick and was unable to keep caring for them so they were given away. I heard this can cause major problems (behavior and health) down the lin
Expose her as much as possible to the different sights and sounds of the home and yard. This will help acclimate her to different environments. You can "puppy proof" and area, but try not to make it too sterile for her. When feeding her, take the bottle away early every now and then and hold her in an uncomfortable position for brief periods of time. This will impart various coping skills and teach her how to deal with frustrations. Ideally, she should be enrolled in puppy socialization classes very soon. The best way for her to learn how to be a dog is to play and tumble around with other dogs. A vaccinated and healthy adult female dog can also be used to teach manners
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
If I adopted out a puppy 2 weeks going on three weeks of age from my friend that couldn't keep them all, how would i take care of it
The puppy at this stage is best being close to the mother. Because you don't have access to her, you'll want to create the environment. You'll need to visit your local Pet store and pick up a puppy feeding kit. This should include a breastmilk substitute/formula, a bottle, and nipples. He'll need to be fed often until he's a little older. Keep him warm with a warm water bottle and be sure to stay close. If he seems weak or unresponsive you'll need to take him to the Veterinarian immediately. The best solution would be to find his mother (if you can) and let him stay with her until 6-8 weeks of age.
Updated on September 24th, 2025

Related Searches

Dog Food Dog Health & Wellness Wet Dog Food Puppy Food Puppy Milk Replacers Dry Dog Food Kitten Formula & Milk Replacer Dog Bowls & Feeding Supplies Small Animal Supplies Premium Dog Food Purina Puppy Chow Baby Blue Puppy Food PetAg Puppy Milk Replacers PetAg Puppy Food Purina ONE Puppy Food Puppy Zesty Paws Puppy Milk Replacers Puppy Go Potty Puppy Dog Food ProActive Health Puppy Food
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored