Although the ideal would be, for many reasons, to welcome into the home a dog that is already capable of feeding itself, sometimes this is not possible, either because we find aorphaned puppy , good because we pick up a pregnant dog that gives birth in our house. In this article on our site we will explain at what age do dogs eat alone , how weaning occurs and, in general, the guidelines to follow for proper nutrition in this delicate stage.
Since when can puppies eat?
In the feeding of the smaller puppies there will be differences if they are with their mother or, on the contrary, we have picked them up as orphans. In the first case, the dog will control the duration of lactation but, in the second, we must be the ones to exercise that control. And it is that the first food of the puppies will always be the milk from their mother or, failing that, the prepared dairy formulated especially for puppies.
Breastfeeding must last a minimum of 3 to 4 weeks. So, if you're wondering when to feed a puppy, about one month of age is a good time to start. Of course, at what age do dogs eat alone, if we understand it as having a completely solid menu, it will be something later, as we will see.
At what age do dogs eat dry food?
Actually, puppies can start feeding on dry food from 3 or 4 weeks, but at that time they will not to be able to ingest it directly. At what age dogs eat on their own does not depend on the food, but on the texture. If we we soak the feed with a little warm water we will form a paste that the little ones will be able to swallow. Another option is to moisten it with dog milk, if that's what he's drinking, or directly offer canned food or chopped cooked chicken, for example.
Therefore, when to introduce dry food to a puppy can have several answers, depending on how we offer it. Now, At what age do dogs eat croquettes, that is, unmoistened hard food, will be after a month, once they get used to solids. The first feed must be special for puppies. In addition to meeting their nutritional needs, it has a small-sized croquette, ideal for starting a meal.
What does a 3 week old puppy eat?
Seeing at what age dogs eat alone, let's give an example of a menu for a three-week-old puppy. Right now, the basis of his diet is milk, regardless of whether he is with his mother or an orphan. But at 21-28 days we can start to offer him solids After drinking milk, we will put a small, almost flat trough with the food we have chosen.
It is normal that he sniffs, licks and stains more than he eats. Do not force him to eat in any case. It is only the moment of making contact with the solids. We insist that milk must remain the basis of food. We can repeat the process for each take.
What to feed a one month old puppy?
The food for 1-month-old puppies will follow the pattern indicated in the previous section. The difference will be that we will observe that the little ones eat more solid and less liquid In addition, we will be able to increase the consistency of the porridge. Ideally, the puppy will make the change of food itself, so we must continue to offer him milk until he rejects it for having replaced it with solids
If you are with her mother, she is the one who decides until when she allows them to breastfeed, that is, when definitive weaning takes place. If we understand at what age dogs feed themselves as the time when they give up milk, complete weaning can occur after eight weeks and even longer in the presence of Mother.
What to feed a weaned puppy?
At what age do dogs eat on their own is not an exact science and the only thing fixed is that up to 21 days they should only eat milk. From that moment on, as we have seen, they will combine this food with the solids that we offer until they completely replace milk. We then say that the weaning process has been completed
These puppies will now be able to eat dry food or canned food as long as they are specific for this stage of rapid growth. We can also make homemade food for puppies In this case, a veterinarian with knowledge in nutrition should advise us to ensure that the menu covers all the needs of the little one. The opposite could be the cause of stunted growth, rickets or other diseases.
Finally, at what age can dogs eat meat or fish, as well as at what age can dogs eatfruit or vegetables are other frequently asked questions among caregivers. The answer is that any solid, of course making sure that it is not a prohibited food for dogs , can be offered from 21-28 days of life. A different issue is the role that each of these foods plays in your diet, which is what tells us the proportion in which they should be consumed. At this point we can ask our veterinarian for advice.
When do puppies start drinking water?
It is important that we know at what age dogs eat alone, but we cannot forget another aspect as fundamental as water. Dogs must have at all times clean and fresh water While their diet consists exclusively of milk, their needs are covered, since water is the most important component this. At the moment in which we offer him his first plate of solid food, we can put a plate next to him, as flat as possible, with a small amount of water. At first he will stick his nose in, get water in his nose and sneeze or cough, but soon he will learn to drink on his own
At what age do dogs eat adult food?
If the age at which dogs eat on their own is established after three weeks of life, we can understand that from that moment they are ready to eat adult food, since it is possible to offer them feed, meat, etc., just like older dogs, yes, always adapting it to the puppy's needs
On the other hand, if we understand by adult food that which is exclusively intended for dogs that are no longer puppies, we can say that the change of diet occurs around twelve monthsIn smaller breeds it can be brought forward, as they finish before they grow, while in larger breeds it can be delayed even up to 18-24 months. We will always follow the instructions of the veterinarian.
