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What should I feed my 3-week-old Shih Tzu puppy and how often?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Female | unspayed | 1 year and 6 months old

How often and what should I feed my 3 week old Shih Tzus

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on November 4th, 2016

Barbi is too young to be separated from her mother at three weeks of age, and if she is and orphan or was rejected by her mother, she should still be feed with puppy formula. I recommend feeding her KMR via a bottle four times a days. Each day, she will need at least 25-35 milliliters of formula for every 100 grams (about 3.5 ounces) of body weight. Divide this number by four to get the amount she should be eating at each feeding. When she is four weeks old, she can start to be weaned onto a puppy mush. I would soak a high quality puppy formulated dry food in water water until soft. Then mix that with puppy formula such as KMR to make a mush the consistency of oatmeal. Over the next two weeks, gradually increase the amount of dry puppy food and decrease the amount of water and KMR you use until she is eating the dry puppy food only.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on February 16th, 2017
I'm sorry that Sam's mother passed away! At four weeks of age, she will need to be bottle fed with puppy formula. I recommend feeding her with KMR, which you can get from the grocery store or pet store. She should be getting bottle fed at least three to four times a day, and you can leave the puppy mush out. You will also need to start weaning her onto dry food. To help her wean and to get used to dry food, I would soak a high quality puppy formulated dry food in water water until soft. Then mix that with puppy formula such as KMR to make a mush the consistency of oatmeal. Over the next two weeks, gradually increase the amount of dry puppy food and decrease the amount of water and KMR you use until she is eating the dry puppy food only. At two months of age, she will be just eating the puppy dry food.
3Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on December 23rd, 2016
At this age, the puppy will not be fully weaned off their mother's milk, and will not be weaned until at least 6-7 weeks of age. The puppy should still be nursing from his mother, and can get a puppy mush to help get it ready for weaning. To help him wean and to get used to dry food, I would soak a high quality puppy formulated dry food in water water until soft. Then mix that with puppy formula such as KMR to make a mush the consistency of oatmeal. Over the next two weeks, gradually increase the amount of dry puppy food and decrease the amount of water and KMR you use until he is eating the dry puppy food only.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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