i can't get my 6 week old puppy to eat puppy food

my dog had 3 puppies the first one lived the other 2 did not.

he's a little over 6 weeks and almost 3lbs, everything is good but i can't seem to get him to eat puppy food - maybe once a day and its has to be out of my hand.

how many times a day should he eat and what food and how much?




Hi
Obviously it's easier for puppies to drink milk than it is for them to chew up puppy food, so sometimes they can be a bit reluctant.

However, at 6 weeks old you puppy NEEDS to be eating a good quality dry puppy food and lapping water, he shouldn't be drinking milk anymore, especially from a bottle.

To begin with it helps if you soak the dry puppy kibble in warm water for about 10 minutes. That softens it and makes it easier for him to eat. It also smells better that way and he gets some extra fluids in him.

If you're still giving him milk, stop now. Don't bottle feed him, but instead encourage him to eat his 'puppy-food-mash'. Once he gets used to it he'll be fine, and unless he has any physical problems with his teeth or his palate, he will eat it if he's hungry.

Puppies of this age need to be fed 3 times a day, morning, lunch-time and evening. Small breed puppies and dogs need to eat more often than larger breeds, so a tiny or toy breed pup may need to eat 4 times a day, then reducing that to 3 times when he reaches 12 - 16 weeks, and down to twice a day at 1 year (adulthood).

For larger breeds, 3 times a day as young puppies is enough and once a day as adults. You can find lots more information on raising young puppies on my New Born Puppies page.

Hope this helps, best of luck with your puppy. I hope he grows up strong and healthy.