Feeding a Young Puppy

[AyG]

Adopted a street dog yesterday, well puppy really, aged between 3 and 4 weeks. (Ridiculously young, I know, but she would have been run over by a truck if she had stayed where she was.)

Anyway, the vet said to feed her every 3 hours. I forgot to ask whether that meant at night, too. Is it OK for the last feed to be at 9 p.m. and the first at 6 a.m. the following day? Or do I really need to wake up at midnight and 3 a.m. (which is what I did last night)?

Yours, sleeplessly

AyG

[Billy The Kid]

Milk first up to 8 weeks then go to milk and bread mixed for couple weeks then get puppy foods down the market or give hm the leftovers of what you have for dinner . Fair play to you for saving that puppy.

[Killian30]

Good on you for taking care of the puppy but I think getting up at night to feed the dog is going too far....... its not a baby

[krisb]

Good on you for taking care of the puppy but I think getting up at night to feed the dog is going too far....... its not a baby

Yes it is a baby.

It probably should be getting some milk during the night. Warm it up for the little fella.

[Nienke]

From: http://rehabbersden.org/Neonate%20care%20-%20Hand-rearing%20new%20born%20puppies%20-%20page%202.html

Feeding frequency:

At 3 weeks of age, the pups can be given 6 feeds a day with an 8 hour gap at night.

Each feed should be 3 hours apart. At four weeks of age, the puppies may be given 5 feeds a day with an 8 hour gap at night.

Wishing you a good night sleep.

[TobiasML]

Yes. You should feed him as well during night time. I did it, when I had two little puppies. Otherwise they start whining, just like real babies.

[AyG]

Yes. You should feed him as well during night time. I did it, when I had two little puppies. Otherwise they start whining, just like real babies.

At the moment she's barking pretty much every minute she's awake. Of course, it's been tough on her being taken away from her mother at such a young age.

[Nienke]

Yes. You should feed him as well during night time. I did it, when I had two little puppies. Otherwise they start whining, just like real babies.

At the moment she's barking pretty much every minute she's awake. Of course, it's been tough on her being taken away from her mother at such a young age.

Often when you put a (large) teddy bear or other soft toy with the puppy, the puppy will snuggle up against it and falls asleep. You may give it a try.

[Gonsalviz]

Don't feed it people food.

[ignis]

Don't feed it people food.

Why on earth not ?

All my life since a small kid, dogs have always had people food... Rice is very good for the hair and gives there coat a shine.

Now have 9 dogs and yes they all always eat what I eat and have done since 30 days old.. [oldest is 15 years old people years, youngest is 11 weeks] they also have a big bowl of dry food on the floor 24/7. water in 2 feeders on wall and a big bowl of water.

[wayned]

If they are 4 weeks old you can start trying to feed them dog food. Buy some puppy chow and mix a little bit with milk and let it stand until it gets mushy and soupy. Take a little on your finger and hold it up to its mouth, he will lick it and eventually eat out of a bowl. Continue to give him milk, but at 4 weeks old there's no reason to feed every three hours at night. As the puppy begins to eat the puppy food put less milk in it. The best puppy food is Ukanuba or Science Diet but it is expensive and sometimes hard to find, usually only from a vet. I use pedigree.

Once they start eating on their own I supplement the dry food that is always available with a mixture of rice, chopped veggies and boiled chicken innards once a day. My oldest, an 11 year old Golden still enjoys his daily meal of chicken, but I never give them/him chicken bones.

[AyG]

Continue to give him milk, but at 4 weeks old there's no reason to feed every three hours at night.

Thanks for the advice and reassurance. After feeding her at midnight, 3 a.m. and again at 5 a.m. (her squeaking woke me up) I don't think I could keep that up for too long.

I'll try giving her a final feed at 11 p.m. and next at 5 a.m., at least for the next few days.