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If you’re facing the daunting task of caring for a newborn puppy (or a whole litter), it can feel overwhelming. If your puppy’s mom isn’t around, or if they’re too small and weak to nurse, bottle feeding is the best way to get them the essential nutrients they need for survival, growth, and development.
With the guidance of our expert Joanne Cava, a dedicated Golden Retriever breeder for over 40 years, we’ll walk you through the essentials of bottle feeding, including:
- how to choose the right formula
- how to bottle feed a puppy for the first time
- how much to feed a newborn puppy
- product recommendations to make the process easier
How To Bottle Feed a Newborn
Bottle feeding a newborn puppy typically includes selecting the right puppy formula, warming the milk to the appropriate temperature, using a syringe or nursing bottle, and feeding the puppy in a way that mimics natural nursing.
It can be intimidating—we know! But don’t worry. We’ve laid out how to bottle feed a puppy for the first time in a step-by-step guide below.
1. Prep the formula. You can purchase puppy formula online or in a store. First, make sure you carefully follow the directions on how to prep the formula. Typically, you will mix the ratio of powder to water, shake it, put it in a bottle, and warm it before feeding, but every formula is different.
“Try to make the formula a bit warmer than room temperature,” recommends Cava. “You can warm it in the microwave or over the stove. Cold formula can be very dangerous, as it can shut down a puppy’s digestive system and drop their core temperature.”
2. Make sure the puppy is warm. Newborn puppies are extremely vulnerable and aren’t able to self-regulate their body temperature. If their body temperature seems low, you can wrap them up in a warm towel before bottle feeding them.
3. Put a towel or pillow on your lap. To prevent getting formula on your clothes and to keep the puppy comfortable, you can place a towel or small washable pillow on your lap.
Bottle feed a puppy at a 45-degree angle to prevent the risk of aspiration, ensuring the milk flows naturally into their stomach and not into their lungs. miljko via iStock
4. Place the puppy at a 45 degree angle. Try not to bottle feed the puppy while they’re laying down completely flat. Instead, keep them at a slightly elevated angle to prevent choking. “If you think about it, when they’re nursing on mom, they’re not totally flat,” Cava says.
5. Slowly bottle feed the puppy. Start by slowly putting a little bit of milk on the end of the bottle’s nipple. Then slightly open the mouth of the puppy if they’re not reaching for it, insert the nipple into their mouth, and let them suck.
6. Stimulate the puppy to potty. If you have a newborn puppy without its mother, it needs to be stimulated to urinate and defecate. Wipe around the genital area with a warm, wet washcloth after every feeding to achieve this.
7. Clean all of the products you used. Remember, newborn puppies are fragile and more susceptible to infections and diseases. Make sure to thoroughly clean all of the products you used (the bottle, the nipple, and the towel/pillow) before using them again.
When Does a Puppy Need To Be Bottle Fed?
Typically, puppies need to be bottle fed because they are either compromised (failing to learn how to nurse from their mother, as often happens with runts) or they need supplements (e.g., there’s a large litter and the mother needs support because she can’t produce enough milk).
A puppy that’s compromised needs to get colostrum into its system in order to build a strong immune system. Colostrum is the first milk produced by the mother immediately after giving birth. It is rich in antibodies, nutrients, and immune-boosting properties, and it is crucial for puppies in their first few hours of life.
“You’ll need to get the colostrum by expressing it from the mom and getting it in a jar,” says Cava. “Then, you can use some form of a dropper to slowly give that colostrum to the puppy. Once they start to have a sucking reflex, you can transition to a bottle.”
Puppies that need supplements are usually bottle fed because the mother isn’t producing enough milk. You can use puppy formulas and milk replacers to make sure they’re receiving enough nutrition.
How often to bottle feed a newborn puppy
Regular feedings are essential to ensure the puppy receives the necessary nutrients for healthy growth and development.
According to Cava, if the puppy is an orphan or is compromised, it will need to be bottle fed every one and a half to two hours initially. If you’re bottle feeding to help supplement the puppy in addition to their mother’s milk, then you should bottle feed them four separate times throughout the day.
If the puppy needs bottle feeding as a supplement, their feeding schedule might look something like the following.
| First Feeding | Second Feeding | Third Feeding | Fourth Feeding |
| 7 a.m. | 11 a.m. | 3 p.m. | 7 p.m. |
How Much Should You Bottle Feed a Puppy?
Puppies come in all shapes and sizes, but a general rule of thumb is to initially bottle feed a newborn puppy one milliliter per ounce of the puppy, Cava suggests. So, if the puppy weighs seven ounces, you would bottle feed them seven milliliters of formula during each feeding.
“When I’m first starting out and just making sure the puppy is nursing, I give them a little bit less so I don’t overwhelm them initially,” she says. “As they get used to being bottle fed, I slowly up it to the point where their weight is equal in milliliters of formula.”
The feeding chart below provides a general guideline on how much to bottle feed your newborn puppy based on their weight, assuming the puppy needs supplemental feeding only.
| Weight of Puppy | Amount of Formula to Feed Daily (Supplemental) |
| 2 oz | 6 ml |
| 4 oz | 16 ml |
| 8 oz | 32 ml |
| 12 oz | 48 ml |
| 16 oz (1lb) | 64 ml |
| 20 oz | 80 ml |
| 24 oz | 96 ml |
| 28 oz | 112 ml |
| 32 oz (2 lb) | 128 ml |
Remember, the daily amounts listed above need to be divided into four separate feedings per day. Each puppy is unique, though, and some puppies may want to eat slightly more or slightly less.
“It’s not an exact science because it also depends on the formula,” adds Cava. “Read the formula’s instructions carefully when determining how much to feed the puppy. You can also add yogurt or mayonnaise to the formula to add more fat if you feel like the puppy needs it (if they’re not gaining weight, etc.).”
Product Recommendations
If your newborn puppy is struggling to latch onto the bottle’s nipple, you can try feeding them with a small syringe instead. OLGA RYAZANTSEVA via iStock
To make bottle feeding a breeze, you’ll want to have the right supplies ready to go. Cava recommends the following tools.
Bottles and nipples
First things first—you’ll want to have plenty of bottles and nipples on hand, and in different sizes to prepare for the puppy’s growth. Cava highly recommends Dr. Brown’s bottles, which you can purchase on Amazon or even your local Walmart or CVS.
“They’re the best because they allow good airflow but prevent gas bubbles from forming in the puppy’s stomach,” she says. “They have different size nipples depending on how much flow you want. Most people start out with sizes preemie or zero.”
There’s also the Miracle Nipple, which is a great choice if your puppy seems to be struggling to navigate other nipples. Its soft texture helps the formula flow smoothly without making the puppy have to suck too hard.
“It usually comes with a syringe as well, which you can use to slowly syringe the milk into the puppy’s mouth while they’re sucking with the nipple,” Cava says. “Make sure you do this very slowly so the puppy doesn’t aspirate.”
Formula
Puppy formula is easy to find online. Cava specifically recommends Nature’s Farmacy Puppy-Bac Milk Replacer for its nutritional balance, digestibility, and quality ingredients.
Blankets, towels, and pillows
If you want to prevent milk from getting on your clothes or floor, you might want to lay down a small towel, blanket, or washable pillow before bottle feeding.
Puppy scale
It’s a good idea to get a puppy weighing scale, since you’ll want to weigh your puppy daily to make sure they’re growing at a healthy rate.
Signs of Overfeeding
Puppies are usually great at letting you know when they’re full by turning away from the bottle, but just in case they don’t, it’s important to be aware of signs of overfeeding.
One of the most noticeable signs of overfeeding is rapid weight gain. A newborn puppy’s weight should increase by at least 10% per day.
For example, a pup weighing 100 grams (around 3 to 3.5 ounces) on day one should gain 10 grams and weigh 110 grams by day two, then gain 11 grams and weigh 121 grams the following day.
To make sure you’re not overfeeding your newborn puppy, make note of their daily weight in a logbook and adjust their feeding amount as needed.
Digestive distress is another sign of overfeeding. “Their stool will tell you,” says Cava. “Their stool should initially be a mustard color, but if it turns green or has a cottage cheese consistency, it’s a sign that they’re not digesting the food properly.”
Transition to Solid Food
Puppies are usually ready to wean to solid food when they start showing interest in their mother’s food. 5second via iStock
Introducing your puppy to solid food is a big milestone, but how do you know when they’re ready to stop bottle feeding? According to Cava, you can stop bottle feeding as early as three to four weeks old, but every puppy and litter is different.
“I normally don’t start solids until four and a half or five weeks old,” she adds. “But if I see that a puppy isn’t keeping up or is struggling, I’ll start transitioning to solids a little sooner.”
If the puppy starts eyeing their mother’s dinner and trying to grab a few bites of its own, that’s a good sign they’re ready to be weaned onto solid food.
To safely transition a puppy to solid food, start by introducing them to a soft, easy-to-digest mixture of milk replacer and puppy kibble (Cava recommends Royal Canin Maxi Starter) to create a soupy consistency.
Then gradually increase the amount of solid food while reducing the liquid over the next couple of weeks. By eight weeks old, puppies are usually ready for fully solid food.
