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My puppy is under 1 month old. How do I feed, bathe, and house her?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Female | unspayed | 22 days old

My dog is less than a month old. I don’t know what to feed her or what to shower her with. Where should she sleep ? What do I give her to drink.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on April 23rd, 2018

Bella is still too young to be away from her mother, but if she can't return to her mother, you will have to start weaning her onto dry puppy food and well as bottle feeding her with a puppy formula. Go out to a grocery store or pet store now to get a bottle and puppy formula. I recommend KMR. I will put a link below on how to bottle feed a puppy. To help her wean and to get used to dry food, I would soak a high quality puppy formulated dry food in warm 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.

She can sleep in a crate at night, but you will have to get up a couple times a night to let her outside to potty. She is too young to have a shower yet, she shouldn't be bathed until she is at least eight weeks of age, so you don't need to worry about that now. Best of luck, I hope this helps.

https://www.2ndchance.info/orphanpuppy.htm

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on April 29th, 2017
Great question! You are correct that it would be better for Irati to be with her mother until she is at least eight weeks old, but if she can't be returned to her mother, it's fine to start on her on puppy food. I recommend using a high quality puppy food such as Royal Canin, Hill's Science diet, Purina ProPlan, or Iams. I will give you a method to get her used to puppy food. To help er wean and to get used to dry food, I would soak a high quality puppy formulated dry food in warm 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 Irati is eating the dry puppy food only. Good luck, I hope this helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Tail Out quite young, so you are going to have to bottle feed with her a puppy formula as well as starting to transition her to a dry puppy food. I will put a link below on how to bottle feed a puppy. To help her wean and to get used to dry food, I would soak a high quality puppy formulated dry food in warm 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. As for the bruise, I would be concerned she may have internal injuries from the abuse, and she needs to be checked out by a vet immediately. Please take her into one right away. Best of luck. https://www.2ndchance.info/orphanpuppy.htm

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How to raise a happy, healthy puppy separated from mom at 4 weeks?

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