Puppy Feeding Guide: How Much to Feed a Puppy

The best food for your puppy’s first month of life is their mother’s milk, which has the best balance of nutrients for a growing puppy.

If you are raising puppies yourself without the mother, or you need to supplement puppies for another reason, a formula specifically made for puppies is the best option. (Don’t substitute a kitten or human formula.) 

Puppies should be weighed daily. While a pup may not gain weight the first day (a healthy starting weight is different for each breed and can be determined by your veterinarian), there should be steady weight gain after that.

If a puppy loses weight or fails to gain weight, contact your veterinarian. 

How To Bottle-Feed Puppies 

Whenever possible, puppies should be nursed and raised by their mothers. There are times, however, when bottle-feeding puppies becomes necessary.  

“A large litter born to a mother with poor milk flow may require intervention,” says Richard Patton, a PhD animal nutritionist in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Bottle-feeding may also be required for puppies who are orphaned or rejected by their mothers.  

Bottle-feeding the wrong product, the wrong way, in the wrong amount, or on the wrong schedule can lead to illness or even death. To start, you’ll need a puppy milk replacer, several pet nurser bottles, and a variety of nipples.  

Here’s how to bottle-feed puppies:  

• Reconstitute powdered milk replacer per label instructions or use a premixed variety. 
• Warm the bottle by placing it in a cup of hot water until the milk reaches body temperature (around 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). 
• Test the nipple before every feeding; it should only release a single drop of formula at a time. 
• Place the pup belly-down on your lap or on a towel on a table, and insert the nipple into their mouth.  
• Tilt the bottle so that any air inside stays away from the nipple. 
• Gently squeeze the bottle to release a drop of formula if the puppy is resistant at first. 
• Continue feeding until the puppy’s suckling stops or slows dramatically. Gently put a finger against the puppy’s throat to feel if they are still swallowing. 
• After feeding, use a warm, wet washcloth to gently wipe the area around the puppy’s anus or vulva. This is necessary to stimulate them to urinate and defecate. 

Newborn puppies need to eat every two to three hours, but as long as they get four to five full meals throughout the day, nighttime feedings are generally not necessary. A two- to four-week-old puppy feeding schedule should consist of feedings every six to eight hours.  

It usually isn’t necessary to determine exactly how much puppies are eating, as long as they gain weight daily and don’t cry for food between scheduled feedings. If you have questions or concerns, talk to your veterinarian. 

When Can Puppies Eat Wet Food?  

“Puppies can start to nibble food as early as three weeks,” says Dr. Patton, “but most tend to ignore it if their mother’s milk is sufficient.”  

If you want to start weaning your puppies, wet food is ideal because it’s soft enough that it doesn’t require much chewing. Once puppies begin to develop teeth, you can introduce kibble—but it should still be softened with water or milk replacer.  

Weaning puppies should only be offered commercial dog food formulated specifically for puppies. These products contain the ideal balance of nutrients puppies need while they’re still growing and developing.  

How To Wean Puppies  

According to Dr. Patton, puppies are generally weaned at around six weeks of age. Some puppies may show an interest in solid food as early as three to four weeks, but you should wait to introduce it until the puppy begins to develop teeth.  

Weaning should be a gradual process that takes place over several weeks. For example, at three to four weeks, puppies might only sniff at or lightly sample solid food. A five-week-old puppy feeding schedule should include increasing amounts of solid food as you gradually taper off the milk replacer.  

Here are some tips for what to feed weaning puppies and how to do it:  

• Use a nutritionally complete commercially made puppy food. Kibble should be softened with water or broth to a soupy texture, or you can add a little extra water to wet puppy food. 
• To get the puppies interested, dip your finger into the mush and then let them lick it. Puppies quickly learn to lap up the food. 
• With multiple puppies, make sure each pup is getting their fair share. Supervised feedings with separate bowls for each puppy are recommended.  
• Weigh puppies daily as a guideline for how much to feed; they should be growing at a steady but not excessive rate. 

When it comes to weaning, your puppy feeding schedule may differ depending on the puppy’s breed size and rate of development.  

Dr. Patton says a mother’s milk will continue to flow during weaning but in a diminishing amount. Three to four daily meals are sufficient for many puppies who are almost weaned but still nursing a little bit. However, toy- and small-breed pups may need extra snacks, as they are susceptible to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).  

Nutritional weaning is complete when the puppies are eating only puppy food and no longer nursing. When litters and moms are kept together, this usually occurs around seven to eight weeks of age. 

How much food you serve your puppy depends on their age, weight, and body condition score. Your dog's body condition score measures their body fat, similar to body mass index (BMI) in humans, and is best determined by your vet. 

Use these charts to find an average amount of calories your dog should consume—but remember that your pup may need up to 50% more or fewer calories, depending on their body condition score. Talk to your veterinarian for recommendations for your unique pup. 

Not great at math? Don't worry. The packaging for your pup’s dog food will have suggested feeding amounts.  

It is extremely important that you follow the puppy feeding chart on your brand of puppy food, as well as the advice of your veterinarian. Your vet will make specific recommendations based on whether your pup is over or underweight; has nutritional deficiencies; is spayed or neutered; and on their activity level and other factors—all of which will affect the recommended feeding amount for puppies. 

Additionally, different puppy foods all have different nutrient densities, so manufacturers’ recommendations will vary from formula to formula. For example, this is American Journey Active Life Formula Puppy Chicken, Brown Rice & Vegetables Recipe Dog Food’s feeding chart for puppies: 

Different brands’ pup feeding guidelines will look different, due to the varying amount of ingredients and nutrients in each formula. Again, it is extremely important that you follow the feeding chart for puppies that your specific puppy food provides. Otherwise, you may be overfeeding or underfeeding your pup. 

Another important note when it comes to how much do you feed puppies: Use something to accurately measure the food, like a scale for weighing out portions or a measuring cup. 

When you compare a puppy food to an adult dog food, you will notice differences. Guidelines established by the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) require more of almost every nutrient for puppy food versus adult food.

Puppy food will also contain a different balance of calcium and phosphorus when contrasted with adult dog food to allow a puppy’s bones to grow at an appropriate rate (not too fast, not too slow). 

As for the type of food to feed your puppy, you can feed solid food or wet food—or both! There are many benefits of mixing wet and dry pet food: It can increase palatability, increase water intake (and a hydrated dog is a happy dog!), and help with weight management. 

Try these vet-recommended dry and wet foods for puppies: 

• The 10 Best Dry Puppy Foods 
• The 10 Best Wet Puppy Foods 

Dog Food for Large- and Giant-Breed Puppies 

Some companies have developed formulas for different groups of puppies. For large- and giant-breed puppies, the calories, protein, calcium, and phosphorus have to be perfect to establish a slow but steady growth and avoid orthopedic problems. (You don’t want your Great Dane to grow too fast.) Many large- and giant-breed dogs don’t reach adult size until they are well over a year of age. 

Dog Food for Small- and Toy-Breed Puppies 

Small- and toy-breed pups need a nutrient-dense food, because they reach mature size more quickly and can’t physically eat large amounts of food. 

Treats for Puppies 

Treats are an inevitable part of pup feeding. Limit puppy treats to 10% or less of their diet, otherwise you may go beyond how much a puppy should eat. Stick to healthy dog treats made for puppies or training treats (and no table scraps!). 

How often should you feed your puppy? When it comes to daily feeding, don’t fall into the trap of always leaving food down; this can increase your puppy’s chances of overeating. (Your dog should always have access to fresh water up to an hour or two before bedtime, however.)  

Feed your puppy the specified quantities set by your vet and your puppy’s food label at mealtimes, so you know exactly when your puppy last ate and how much. 

Most puppies do best with three meals a day until six months of age, then switching over to two meals a day.  

For toy- and small-breed dogs, four meals a day until six months of age, then three meals a day may be best.  

Ask your vet about a specific feeding schedule to ensure you're meeting your dog's unique needs. 

How long you feed puppy food before switching to an adult diet depends largely on genetic factors such as breed size. Puppies are generally ready for adult food when they reach 80% of their adult size.  

• Small breeds (under 25 pounds at adulthood), usually reach this size around 10–12 months of age.  
• Medium breeds (25–50 pounds at adulthood), get there around 12–15 months of age. 
• Large breeds (50 pounds and up at adulthood) typically reach this size between 15–24 months of age. 

Monitoring your puppy’s weight throughout their development is key for determining how long to feed puppy food. If you’re not tracking your puppy’s weight at home, your vet will have a record of it from each checkup or vaccination appointment. They’ll also be able to assess your puppy’s body condition and determine if their skeleton has stopped growing. 

Human Foods for Puppies  

The best thing to feed your puppy is nutritionally complete commercial puppy food. Human food isn’t properly balanced to meet your puppy’s needs; some human foods may upset your puppy’s sensitive digestion or cause a toxic reaction.  

Once your puppy is fully weaned and their teeth have grown in, however, you may be able to introduce dog-safe human foods in small amounts. These are best reserved for occasional treats or used as high-value training rewards for puppies.