Puppies two to four weeks of age feed well every 6-8 hours. Weaning, as described below, should begin at three to four weeks of age. After birth and for the first few days, puppies should generally be fed every two hours, even at night. After a couple of weeks, the interval between each feeding will naturally increase and puppies will be able to go four to six full hours between each breastfeeding session.
Newborn puppies need to breastfeed approximately every two hours. Their mother stays with them most of the time, allowing them to eat when they need it. As they mature, the time between feedings increases, until around four to five weeks the pups are old enough to begin weaning and transition to solid foods. Puppies under two weeks of age should be fed every 3-4 hours.
In a first litter, the mother's delivery will be longer and there may be more interruption in breastfeeding of puppies that are born. It is very helpful if more than one person helps bottle feed puppies in the first two weeks. Newborn orphaned puppies under 2 weeks of age should be fed every three to four hours, while puppies 2 to 4 weeks old should be fed well every six to eight hours. Colostrum contains potent antibodies that give puppies passive immunity for the first few weeks of life.
Puppies should gain ten to fifteen percent of their weight each day for the first few days. According to the AKC, some orphaned puppies take a while to learn the sucking part of feeding. This whey protein formula is formulated to support the healthy growth and development of newborn puppies with plenty of calcium, magnesium, vitamins, antioxidants and omegas. Along with some other rare situations, these are cases where the dog breeder must step in and take care of the entire litter of puppies.
If you don't have a point of comparison, newborn puppies should gain between 5 and 10% of their body weight each day. More than one person may need to help feed puppies, especially if there is a particularly large litter. Newborn puppies in the first two weeks of life can go about two hours without breastfeeding their mother. It can also show signs of stress and, in some cases, can physically lift puppies away from it.
It is vital that puppies are able to breastfeed their mother for at least the first 24 hours of their lives.
