Can newborn puppies eat puppy food?
Newborn puppies cannot usually eat puppy food, as their digestive systems are not fully developed. Newborn puppies should nurse from their mother or be bottle-fed a milk replacer formulated specifically to meet their nutritional needs. See your vet for an exam and detailed instructions on care before attempting to feed very young or orphaned puppies.
How long do puppies need to stay on milk replacer?
Puppies usually need to stay on milk replacer until at least 3 to 4 weeks of age to ensure adequate nutrition and easy digestion, but only if mother's milk is not available. The best food for the youngest puppies is always natural mother's milk, although puppy milk replacer is a nutritious substitute in its absence. After 4 to 6 weeks, you can start introducing them to wet puppy food and decrease the amount of milk replacer you're feeding gradually. Always talk to your vet for the best guidance on feeding and caring for nursing puppies.
What can you substitute for puppy milk?
You can substitute specially formulated puppy milk replacers for puppy milk if the mother is not around or able to feed the puppies. If you are caring for nursing puppies, be sure to seek detailed feeding advice from your vet to ensure you are providing adequate nutrition. You can find a wide variety of puppy milk replacers at Chewy to help your furry friends grow up healthy and thrive!