How Long Do New Puppies Need to Nurse?

Newborn puppies need to eat every three hours, day and night for the first six weeks of their lives. The mother will begin to wean when they are six to eight weeks old. She does this by getting up and walking away when they try to nurse. Most puppies are fully weaned when they are eight weeks old.

Time Frame

Until they are about a month old, newborn puppies can take as long as 30 minutes for each feeding session with either their mother's nipple or a bottle. Then, as they get bigger, they take less time to eat.

Significance

According to "Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook," newborn puppies need to eat so often because they aren't born with very much fat and can become dangerously dehydrated very quickly.

Formula

Best Friends Animal Rescue suggests a newborn puppy formula of one cup of whole milk, one pinch of salt, one tablespoon of corn oil and three egg yolks per puppy per feeding.

Weaning

Puppies can start to eat soft foods from a bowl or spoon when they are three weeks old. However, they still need to nurse.

Body Weight

"Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook" recommends weighing the puppies as soon as they are born and every twelve hours afterward to be sure the puppies are putting on weight. If they aren't, then you need to bottle feed them to help them grow.

References

• Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook (4th edition)
• Neonatal Care for Orphaned Puppies
• Orphan Puppy and Kitten Care

Resources

• Orphaned Puppies: How to Raise Them