Disclosure: At Cuteness, we’re dedicated to being the go-to source for animal lovers and pet owners. We only recommend products we think our audience will love. We might get a small cut of the sale if you buy something after clicking on one of these links, and the retailer might get some information for accounting purposes. â.
Congratulations, your dog is either expecting a litter of cute puppies or is about to do so. Before you reach that crucial point in your newborn puppies’ lives, it is time to read up on the development of 3-week-old puppies.
You only need to do a little research if you have questions about things like feeding the puppies, weaning them at three weeks, socializing them, or determining the right age for puppy baths.
Puppies should be fed by their mother every three to four hours when they are two weeks old or younger. You might need to bottle-feed them if they can’t latch on to the nipple in order to make sure they get those essential nutrients. Puppies can start eating every six to eight hours once they are two to four weeks old. You can start weaning your puppies around 3 weeks of age during this time.
To successfully wean the pups, combine dry food with a milk substitute and water so they can easily consume it. Make sure the food is formulated specifically for puppies so that it contains the nutrients their rapidly expanding bodies require. You can gradually reduce the amount of moisture in the food over the coming weeks as the puppies learn to chew it.
At 3 weeks of age, your puppies are likely smelly. However, you shouldn’t put them in a bath until they are at least 8 weeks old, which is the appropriate puppy bath age. This is because it might be dangerous before then because your puppies can’t control their body temperatures.
Simply use a damp cloth to wipe your puppies down if they are making a mess or peeing on each other. Thats safe to do at 3 weeks old. Install a heat lamp in the den where your puppies are staying with their mother to ensure they are not too cold. They might require that heat after you wipe them off so they don’t begin to shiver.
You’ll notice that your puppies are growing stronger at three weeks old when it comes to development. They might begin to sway, but manage to stand and sit down without falling. They can also start eating solid food mixed with milk substitute and water when they first begin teething.
At this time, the puppies should also start interacting with one another. until they receive their shots, which should happen at around 6 to 8 weeks of age, keep them away from other dogs. Additionally, keep an eye on any visits from children, and make sure you and your kids are always gently cuddling the puppies. Give the puppy back to the mother if she becomes overly protective and begins to growl instead of immediately starting to interact with them frequently.
Also, if you notice any illness, such as diarrhea or vomiting, take your puppy to the doctor. Your puppy will continue to develop normally and lead a happy and healthy life for many years with lots of love and care.
Your puppy’s size and breed will determine how much food you give, but a general rule is to feed them a little less than they want. Their tummies should be full, but not bloated or distended. Stop feeding a puppy if you see formula coming out of his nose; he’s had too much. The formula can enter their lungs once their bellies are full. They might develop potentially fatal pneumonia if this occurs too frequently.
Puppies that are three weeks old are almost ready for regular food, but not quite. Although you can teach them to learn to lick their food by placing it in a shallow dish, not all puppies this age are quite adept at it. Bottle-feeding is still best for another couple of weeks. Put the puppy on a stable, level surface, such as a table, and feed him. This is a comfortable position for him because if he were nursing from his mother, he would typically have all four feet on the ground. Put the bottle’s nipple in his mouth, pulling back just a bit in case he becomes preoccupied with eating. Any air that ends up in the nipple also ends up in the puppy’s belly, so the bottle should be tilted slightly upward at an angle. Hold him up against your chest after he finishes eating to burp him, just as you would a human infant.
When the puppies are 3 weeks old, you get a little bit more time between feedings. Newborn puppies need to eat roughly every two hours. They require food at that age roughly every four hours. Even though it only takes a few minutes to feed each puppy, plan at least an hour to prepare the formula, heat it, and feed each puppy individually when dealing with litters of eight or more. Having an assistant can help the feedings go more quickly with large litters.
You shouldn’t give puppies milk or combine milk and a powdered formula because puppies can’t handle cows’ milk like humans can. Their stomachs may become upset by cow’s milk, and they may experience severe diarrhea. Use a canine milk substitute instead, which is accessible at pet supply stores or some veterinary offices. The milk substitute can be purchased in cans of ready-to-eat liquids or as a powder that must be dissolved in water. It is more natural for the puppies and helps them control their body temperatures to heat the formula slightly above room temperature.
You must provide the puppies with the nutrition they require to thrive if they are orphaned due to a mother’s illness or refusal to nurse her young. Puppies eat frequently, but after three weeks the frequency decreases a little. But be ready to get up in the middle of the night to feed everyone.
How to tell if nursing puppies aren’t getting enough to eat
Veterinary experts say that newborn puppies should gain 5% to 10% of their body weight daily — doubling their body weight in a week. Jerry Klein, the chief veterinary officer at the American Kennel Club (AKC), recommends using a baby scale to monitor the weight gain of each puppy. Puppies should be weighed at birth, and again at 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, 3 days, 5 days, and 7 days. If everything is going well, all puppies should show a gradual weight gain.
When newborns cry during or after nursing, it generally means that they aren’t getting enough milk. Alternatively, mom’s milk could be infected, or it might indicate that they are sick. Excessive crying requires an emergency vet visit for mom and baby.
How Do You Know If Nursing Puppies Are Getting Enough To Eat?
While we presume that nursing puppies will get enough nutrition from their mother and that nature will take its course, this does not always occur.
The mother may not be able to produce enough milk, larger puppies in a litter may not have access to them, or the mother may have rejected a puppy for some reason. How do you know?.
Size and weight are the most obvious indicators that a puppy isn’t eating enough. It will be clearly smaller than the others if there is only one puppy in the litter.
If you don’t have a point of comparison, newborn puppies should gain between 5-10% of their body weight each day. This means that they should have doubled in size within the first week.
Another indication that the puppies aren’t getting enough is when they cry during or after nursing because they are in distress. Of course, crying doesn’t always sound all that different from a bunch of happy puppies sucking, so pay attention.
PRO TIP: If your newborn puppy is showing any signs of distress it’s important to talk to your veterinarian as soon as possible.
FAQ
How much should I feed a 3 week old puppy?
In general, newborn puppies and kittens need to have 2 tablespoons of formula for every 4 ounces of body weight every 3 to 4 hours. Over a 24-hour period, this should be divided into equal feedings.
Can 3 week old puppies go all night without eating?
Compared to older dogs, younger puppies have fewer body reserves, such as fat. A young puppy shouldn’t go more than 12 hours without food. If this occurs, you must take your dog to the veterinarian for a checkup. In some very severe cases, it could be parvo.
How often do 3-4 week old puppies eat?
While nursing puppies need to eat every two to three hours, night feedings are typically not necessary as long as they receive four to five full meals during the day. The recommended feeding schedule for puppies between two and four weeks old is every six to eight hours.
Can you overfeed a 3 week old puppy?
Be mindful that overfeeding can put your puppy at risk for aspiration, vomiting, diarrhea, and gas buildup in the stomach and intestines as you feed your newborn.