At 3 weeks old, a puppy should still get most of its nutrition from its mother’s milk, or from a puppy milk replacer if it is an orphan. Many breeders begin offering a soft gruel of puppy food and milk replacer at around 3 to 4 weeks, as part of gradual weaning.
If the mother is nursing
The mother’s milk is the best food. Check that every puppy nurses, has a round belly and gains weight steadily. A scale that measures grams helps. If a puppy does not gain weight, seems weak or cold, or cries a lot, call your vet the same day.
If the puppy is an orphan
- Use a commercial puppy milk replacer, not cow’s milk, which can cause diarrhea.
- Follow the label for amounts and number of feedings per day, and ask your vet to confirm for your puppy’s weight and breed.
- Warm the formula to about body temperature and test it on your wrist.
- Feed with the puppy on its belly, never on its back. Let it suck at its own pace to avoid milk entering the lungs.
- Keep the puppy warm. Young puppies cannot control their body temperature well.
- Wash bottles and nipples after every feeding.
Starting solids: the gruel stage
- Pick a good puppy food made for the puppy’s expected adult size.
- Mix a little puppy food with warm water or milk replacer until it is a thin gruel.
- Offer it in a shallow dish a few times a day. Expect a mess.
- Gradually thicken the mix over the next two to three weeks.
- Always leave fresh water available once the puppies are eating gruel.
Puppies are usually fully weaned by about 6 to 8 weeks. See what to feed at 4 weeks and at 6 weeks.
Mistakes to avoid
- Do not feed adult dog food, table scraps or cow’s milk.
- Do not force-feed a puppy that is cold or weak. Warm it up and call a vet.
- Do not overfeed. A swollen belly or milk coming out of the nose is a warning sign.
- Never give medicine or supplements without your vet’s guidance.
When to call the vet
Call right away if a puppy is not nursing, has diarrhea, vomits, cries constantly, feels cold, has trouble breathing or is losing weight. Young puppies can get sick quickly. This is general information, not veterinary advice. For a sick puppy, see what to feed a puppy with parvo, and later, what to feed a teething puppy.
Bottom Line
At 3 weeks, keep puppies on mother’s milk or puppy milk replacer, start a thin gruel of puppy food if weaning has begun, and call your vet at the first sign of trouble.
