How many days does it take for a puppy to be weaned?

From the moment every puppy is born, what they care about most is filling their stomachs. Although the lactation period of puppies lasts for two months, it is very taxing for the mother dog. Especially for a litter of seven or eight puppies, the mother dog’s milk supply is far from enough, which usually leaves the puppies hungry.

Therefore, in order to ensure the rapid growth of the puppies and reduce the physical burden on the mother, it is very important to feed the puppies complementary food. But how and what to feed is a very particular matter. Let’s take a look at the precautions for weaning puppies~

If a puppy is born at home, or you bring home a newborn puppy, it is recommended that you learn about the following information about puppy weaning.

When are puppies usually weaned?

Weaning can be planned after the puppies are three weeks old. Because after the puppy is one month old, breast milk can no longer meet its nutritional needs. In order for it to grow healthily, the owner must wean it well and help it adapt to new food.

There are three methods of weaning:

1. Cut it off when it expires. The advantage of this method is that the weaning time is short, and the mother dog and puppies can be separated into litters early. The disadvantage is that it is too sudden, which can easily cause gastrointestinal discomfort, loss of appetite and other problems in puppies.
2. Carry out in batches. Puppies with good physique and good development can be weaned first, and then puppies with poor physique and poor adaptability can be weaned later. This method allows the puppies and bitch to slowly adapt to life without each other.
3. Step by step. The number of lactations is gradually reduced, so that the time between the mother dog and the puppies is gradually shortened, so that the dogs can slowly adapt. In addition to nursing time, keep puppies and bitches separated. Of course, the separation time should also be gradually increased.

Precautions after weaning:

1. Breast milk substitute: It is best to use goat milk powder as a substitute for weaning puppies. Be careful not to use cow’s milk, because it is difficult for dogs to absorb and digest milk. Many dogs are lactose intolerant. Drinking milk is prone to vomiting. diarrhea. Therefore, it is recommended to use goat milk or pet goat milk powder.
2. Choose the right dog food: After the puppies adapt, slowly start adding some dog food to the goat milk after a while. This is the transition period from goat milk to dog food. Basically, it can be fed dry food when it is about three months old. It is recommended that pet owners choose nutritious dog food to feed their dogs.
3. Feeding amount and feeding frequency: The dog’s daily feeding amount can be arranged according to 1.5% of its body weight. If the nutritional content is low, it needs to be 2% to 5%. Then adjust it based on its movement, digestion and absorption, and defecation conditions. Before three months, feed 4-5 times a day; before adulthood, feed 3 times a day; after adulthood, feed 1-2 times a day.
Don’t let your dog eat frequently to fill his stomach. This is not good for his stomach and health. In addition to paying attention to the staple food to be fed, the snacks prepared by the owner for the dog should also be rationed every day. Dogs may start to grind their teeth when they are about three months old, and some may even start grinding their teeth earlier. At this time, you can prepare some teething snacks such as chicken jerky for your dog, which can also effectively clean teeth and prevent dental calculus.
Make good food arrangements for your dog at different stages so that your dog can grow up healthily and stay with you for a longer time.
Conclusion: How old is your dog before weaning?