What to feed weaning puppies
Weaning puppies move gradually from their mother's milk onto solid food, usually starting from around three to four weeks old and finishing by around seven to eight weeks. The food itself should be a proper puppy food, softened with warm water or puppy milk replacer into a sloppy consistency at first, gradually thickened as the puppies get better at eating solids.
How the transition generally works
Weaning starts gradually, not as a sudden switch. Most breeders begin introducing a thin, milky gruel made from a good-quality puppy food softened with warm water or a proper puppy milk replacer at around three to four weeks old, offered alongside continued access to their mother wherever possible, since her milk is still valuable during this stage.
Over the following few weeks the mixture is thickened gradually as the puppies get more confident chewing and swallowing solid food, until by around seven to eight weeks most puppies are eating a properly moistened but no longer sloppy puppy food several times a day, with milk feeding naturally tailing off as solid food intake increases.
What to actually feed
A complete puppy food, formulated for growth rather than a general adult recipe, should be the base of what is offered, whether that is a soaked dry kibble or a wet puppy food. Puppy foods are built with the higher energy, protein and specific nutrient levels a growing puppy needs, which an adult formula is not designed to provide.
Warm water or a proper puppy milk replacer, never cow's milk, is the right thing to soften food with. Cow's milk is poorly tolerated by many puppies and can cause an upset stomach, which is unhelpful at a stage when digestion is already adjusting to a completely new kind of food.
Feeding practicalities during weaning
Offer food in a shallow, easy-to-reach bowl and expect a fair amount of mess in the early stages — puppies at this age are as likely to walk through their food as eat it, and that is entirely normal rather than a sign anything is wrong. Small, frequent meals through the day suit a weaning puppy's stomach better than fewer large ones.
Watch that every puppy in a litter is actually getting access to food, since more assertive puppies can crowd out quieter littermates at a shared bowl. If one puppy consistently seems to be eating less or losing condition compared with its littermates, that is worth a vet's attention rather than assuming it will sort itself out.
When to get advice
If a puppy is not gaining weight as expected, seems unusually lethargic, or has ongoing diarrhoea through the weaning process, speak to a vet rather than trying to work through it alone — the weaning period is a vulnerable stage and problems are easier to manage caught early. This applies whether you are weaning a litter yourself or have recently taken on a puppy still finishing the process.
A newly homed puppy that has only just finished weaning may still need food kept slightly softer than a fully weaned puppy's, and a gradual introduction to whatever food you plan to feed long-term rather than an abrupt switch, to avoid unsettling a digestive system still adjusting to solid food generally.
Foods for this stage
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
LickiMat OH Bowl for Dogs — Slow Feeder with Tongue-Cleaning Tips
A vet-developed dog feeding bowl with raised rubber tips that clean the tongue as your dog licks — calming, dishwasher safe, and available in three sizes.
From£12.99
Tarhong Paw Ikat Teal Pet Placemat – BPA-Free PVC & EVA
A vibrant teal ikat placemat with paw print accents — BPA-free, wipe-clean, and 29 × 48 cm for protecting floors under pet bowls.
£8.49
Tarhong Country Orchard Melamine Pet Saucer
A pretty fruit and floral orchard-print melamine saucer for pets — BPA-free, non-slip, shatterproof, and dishwasher safe at 13.2 cm.
£9.49
Beaphar Lactol Milk Replacer for Puppies
A milk replacer for newborn and orphaned puppies, and for nursing or recovering dogs
From£20.23
Common questions
- At what age should puppies start weaning?
- Most breeders begin introducing solid food at around three to four weeks old, with the process usually complete by seven to eight weeks. This can vary slightly between litters and breeds, and a vet or experienced breeder can advise if you are unsure about timing for a specific litter.
- Can I give puppies cow's milk during weaning?
- No, cow's milk is best avoided. Many puppies do not tolerate it well and it can cause diarrhoea, which is unhelpful during a stage when their digestion is already adjusting. Warm water or a proper puppy milk replacer is the right choice for softening food instead.
- How often should weaning puppies be fed?
- Small, frequent meals through the day suit a weaning puppy better than one or two large ones, since their stomachs are small and still adjusting to solid food. As they get older and eat more confidently, meals are gradually reduced in frequency and increased in size.
- My newly homed puppy seems to only just be weaned — what should I feed it?
- Keep food slightly softer than you would for a fully weaned puppy at first, using the same puppy food you plan to feed long-term rather than switching brands repeatedly. Introduce any change gradually, and speak to your vet if the puppy seems unsettled, is not gaining weight, or has ongoing loose stools.
Related
Sources
Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.