How to Make Mushy Puppy Food

Weaning puppies is a gradual process.
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Whether you have a litter of puppies, a sick dog or a pooch needing a bland diet on your hands, puppy mash provides an easily chewable, highly digestible, nutritious diet for weaning, upping calorie content or easing a dog back onto "real" food. While there are several recipes for mushy puppy food, breeders and veterinarians alike agree that the mash should include a quality puppy food, ideally the same food the puppy or dog will continue eating once off the mash.

Measure out the puppy food and place it in the puppy feeding pan. A puppy feeding pan is a big, low-lipped, flat pan specifically made for an entire litter of short-legged puppies to be able to circle around, reach inside and eat at once. The amount of food necessary varies depending on the number of puppies in the litter, the size of the puppies and how experienced they are at eating puppy mush.

Place a scoop of puppy milk replacer in a mixing bowl. Add 2 cups hot water and briskly whisk the mixture until it forms the consistency of milk. For younger or orphaned puppies, continue whisking until lumps disappear. Older puppies or adult dogs won't struggle with lumps and might enjoy the consistency.

Crack the egg into the mixing bowl and add 1/4 cup pumpkin. The egg provides vital nutrients and omega acids and the pumpkin helps regulate and soothe the digestive system. Mix until the yolk breaks and distributes evenly throughout the liquid base.

Pour the liquid mixture over the food already in the pan. Allow the kibble to soak for 15 to 20 minutes or until soft. Once soft, use a spatula to mash the kibble into the liquid and break it apart. Once the mixture resembles the texture of gruel, it's ready to be fed.

Tips

  • Place leftover or extra puppy mush in the fridge. It can be safely stored for 72 hours and can be frozen in a freezer-safe container for future use. Make sure the mush is fully thawed before feeding it to puppies or sick dogs. Simply dropping the frozen container or bag into hot water is an easy way to thaw and heat up puppy mash prior to feeding it.

Tips

  • Place leftover or extra puppy mush in the fridge. It can be safely stored for 72 hours and can be frozen in a freezer-safe container for future use. Make sure the mush is fully thawed before feeding it to puppies or sick dogs. Simply dropping the frozen container or bag into hot water is an easy way to thaw and heat up puppy mash prior to feeding it.

Items You Will Need

  • 1 cup high-quality puppy food
  • 1 scoop puppy milk replacer
  • Mixing bowl
  • Whisk
  • Spatula
  • 2 cups hot water
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup pumpkin
  • Puppy feeding pan