4 week old puppy

Question
QUESTION: My beagle had puppies on January 7th. Unfortunately, most of the litter did not make it after an emergency c-section and spay. Mother has no milk and we've been bottle-feeding the 1 remaining puppy. When can I begin to wean her/start feeding her puppy food? Should I still feed her formula while she's beginning to eat puppy food? About how much should she eat and how often during the day should she be fed the solid food (we are currently bottle-feeding her every 4 hours)? Thank you!

ANSWER: She is now almost 4 weeks old, which is old enough to be feeding puppy food and start weaning her.
You need to start with dry soaked in her puppy formula or in water. Do not feed her very much at one time. Soak and put out no more than about a 1/8 of a cup-She should want just a bit more but don't give it to her.
You are bottle feeding her every 4 hours because she isn't getting any solids. She needs these now to grow properly and start building strong bones and muscles.
I would get her Science Diet puppy growth in the small bites 5 lb bag to start her off.
read the bag for recommendations but for a 2 lb puppy she should get 1/2 cup spread out over three feedings. So measure it out and divide it then soak the one third portion and let her have it once its slightly soft.
If you don't wait then all she will do is try to lick it. Conversely you can give her canned with the formula mixed into it. I would give her about four tablespoons mixed with formula to start and watch her eat. When her tummy gets round take it away and check to see how much she has eaten. Science Diet is the only food on the market with the correct nutrient levels to give your puppy a great start with a nutrient dense food that will provide every thing she needs for a long and healthy life.
I am sorry to hear about you losing so many in the litter. We performed these kinds of c-sections quite often but our mortality rate was almost zero. So many things can happen though and it's sad to see a whole litter lost. You are fortunate to have the one puppy.
I hope I didn't confuse you with these amounts but I don't want you to overfeed her by accident.
So start small and you can increase the amounts as she grows but definitely get her started.
Let me know how she does.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for the speedy, informative response! I will try soaking her food as you recommended. As long as I'm soaking her food in formula there is no need to bottle-feed her any longer, correct?
Again, thank you very much for your help and very kind words!

Answer
Hi Janna,
Well our names are close! If she starts to really gobble up the food and seems full enough and you can feed her three-four times a day, then you can stop the milk feedings. But if she seems to not be full or is crying then you can give her a little. Most people do stop the bottle totally once the puppies are eating full time.
You just need to watch her and gage the withdrawal of the bottle. Chances are good that she won't need it and you can get more sleep!
Good luck and have fun with her. :-)