Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

What food should I feed my 4-week-old puppy for proper development?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | unspayed | 25 days old | 2 lbs

I need some suggestions for the food to be provided for my pup!

This question includes photos that may contain sensitive content. Click to view.

View more to consider that the photos may include sensitive content.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on April 10th, 2020

If she is only 4 weeks old she needs to be drinking milk replacer formula. https://www.petsworld.in/royal-canin-baby-dog-milk-400-grams.html You can also start offering some wet food: https://www.petsworld.in/royal-canin-starter-mousse-mother-baby-dog-195-gm.html

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Image profile

    Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on May 12th, 2018

    At this age they still need to be fed puppy milk replacer only, in about a week from now you can start introducing wet puppy food that you can get from any pet shop, about 2 weeks later they will be able to start eating dry puppy food. quantities depends on their size, breed and food company, it will be written on the food label you purchase.

    Vote icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Image profile

    Answered By Dr. Davis

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 4th, 2018

    She’s adorable! Yes you can give puppy wet food and soak puppy dry food so it’s soft and feed that. She doesn’t need milk any longer. I recommend feeding small meals frequently, about 6-8 times a day and let her eat as much as she wants. Be sure to stimulate her to pee and poop by using a warm wet cloth and wipe around under her tail. As she grows you can reduce the feeding gradually when she’s not interested in eating each time. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Jubilee.

    Vote icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

See More Answers

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
What should I feed a 4 week year old lab/pit mix?
Milo should have teeth by now so either a starter puppy food from a high quality brand like Royal Canin, Eukanuba or Hills Science diet . Make sure it's a puppy Large Breed food as well. Natural Balance is also a relatively good brand of food as well. You may have to do canned food for a few weeks if puppy has a hard time with the dry kibble. Or moistening he dry kibble with a little bit of water is a good alternative to canned food. Best of luck with your new puppy! Here is more info on puppy nutrition. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=3501
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
New Pet
Can i give my 4 weeks old Pomeranian puppy pedigree?
At four weeks you can start introducing solid foods, but Blue should still either be supplemented with mild replacement formula or be nursing from his mother. I usually recommend mixing food with some milk replacer in a shallow pan and letting it sit until it is relatively soft, and then letting the puppy explore. Be advised - it will probably be a messy experience at first!
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
Health & Wellbeing
I recently got a puppy. It's just 5 weeks old. I'd like to know how to feed her. I mean if she still needs milk or it's ok if I just give her puppy food. I wonder about it because I know that puppies should be with the mother for at least 8 weeks. I'
Great question! You are correct that it would be better for Irati to be with her mother until she is at least eight weeks old, but if she can't be returned to her mother, it's fine to start on her on puppy food. I recommend using a high quality puppy food such as Royal Canin, Hill's Science diet, Purina ProPlan, or Iams. I will give you a method to get her used to puppy food. To help er 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 Irati is eating the dry puppy food only. Good luck, I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I have puppy's I got from a friend I just found out they are 4 weeks old it is safe for them to be away from mother they can eat soft dog food and canned dog food.
Ideally, they should stay with the mother and litter until at least 8 weeks of age. This can prevent behavioral issues as they get older. They can start weaning to solid foods beginning at about 4 weeks of age. If they can stay with the mother and litter while weaning, this would be best for them in the long run.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Food & Nutrition
My pet puppy is 1 month old..he couldn't digest milk so i give him cerelac with water can you help me that what kind of foods i should give him at his age give some suggestions...and when should i take him for vaccination?and is it necessary for me o
At four weeks old your puppy would start to be weaned by his mother so I recommend to introduce canned puppy food and puppy kibble that is soaked in formula. Ideally this is puppy formula and not cows or goats milk. Royal Canin makes a food for puppies this age called baby dog or starter puppy. Take a look at the package and it will tell you the age at which to use the food. Most puppies are weaned by the time they are 6 to 7 weeks of age. Vaccines start between 6 to 8 weeks of age. You will need to ask your human physician if any vaccines are recommended. I hope this is helpful and thank you for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Food & Nutrition
Hello. Our puppies are going to be 4 weeks this Thursday Dec. 6. Can we already start giving them solid food in a mush? Momma doesn't really want to feed them anymore and they do not accept the bottle. Can I already start getting them used to eating
Yes, it's fine to start weaning them onto solid 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 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.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My 28 day labradore puppy is to week and his mother is died... So what did i do to increase his weight and body structure..??
At 4 weeks they are still fully nursing so you will have to supplement for forumla. 4 weeks is s good time to start introducing puppy food. You can start with canned food with some water added to make it thinner and softer and place a small amount in his mouth to get him interested in it. Once he starts doing well with that you can decrease the amount of water and start soaking dry food to add to the canned until he is fully weaned. They do make a supplement called Nutrical that is helpful for young puppies that are weaned but not eating great
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Food & Nutrition
I just got a puppy. She’s only 4 and a half to 5 weeks old, and I’m told the mother has been rejecting them for the last week or two, and they have been given wet food. I’ve been feeding her wet food, and water. Also been soaking a few chunks here an
She’s adorable! Yes you can give puppy wet food and soak puppy dry food so it’s soft and feed that. She doesn’t need milk any longer. I recommend feeding small meals frequently, about 6-8 times a day and let her eat as much as she wants. Be sure to stimulate her to pee and poop by using a warm wet cloth and wipe around under her tail. As she grows you can reduce the feeding gradually when she’s not interested in eating each time. Thanks for using Boop by Petco to help you care for Jubilee.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Can you give puppies regular milk at 4 weeks old
Around 4 weeks of age, you can begin to introduce soft puppy food (canned or moistened kibble) into the their diets in addition to their puppy milk replacer, such as Esbilac. Dogs of any age should not be given cow's milk, as most are lactose intolerant and can develop vomiting and diarrhea.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
image
Have A Vet Question?

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

Book Now

Sponsored