At 4 weeks old, puppies should still nurse, but they can start eating a soft gruel made from puppy food and water or puppy milk replacer. Most puppies are fully weaned by about 6 to 8 weeks.
What to Feed a 4-Week-Old Puppy
- Mom’s milk remains the main food. Keep letting the puppies nurse.
- Gruel: soak a high-quality puppy food (labeled “complete and balanced” for growth) in warm water or puppy milk replacer until it turns into a soft, oatmeal-like mush.
- Puppy milk replacer if the mother has little milk or the puppies are orphaned. Never use cow’s milk, which often causes diarrhea.
- Water: a shallow dish of fresh water, starting around this age.
How to Start Weaning
- Mix the gruel and offer it in a shallow dish or flat saucer.
- Dip a finger in the gruel and let the puppy lick it off. Most puppies figure it out in a few tries.
- Offer the dish two to three times a day at first, for about 20 to 30 minutes.
- Each week, use a little less liquid so the food gets thicker, until the puppies eat moistened kibble.
How Often to Feed
Offer gruel three to four times a day alongside nursing. Weigh puppies daily or every few days. Healthy puppies gain weight steadily and have rounded, full bellies and soft, formed stools.
Foods to Avoid
- Cow’s milk, goat’s milk and adult dog food
- Raw or undercooked meat and bones, which can carry harmful bacteria
- Grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, chocolate and xylitol, all toxic to dogs
- Table scraps and anything spoiled
When to Call the Vet
Call your vet if a puppy refuses to eat, isn’t gaining weight, has diarrhea or looks weak or cold. Also ask your vet about deworming and the first vaccines. This article is general information, not veterinary advice.
Bottom Line
A 4-week-old puppy still needs its mother’s milk. Add a soft gruel of puppy food and milk replacer a few times a day, keep water available, and thicken the food gradually until the puppies are fully weaned.
Related reading: what to feed a 6-week-old puppy and Royal Canin large breed puppy food.
