7 week old puppy overfeeding

by Ann
(Las Vegas, Nv)

7 week old puppy was overfed.

Yesterday, three family members fed the puppy not knowing that any of the others had fed him.

This morning he woke up with severe diarrhea. Now he still has diarrhea and is very weak.



Hi Ann
The poor baby! Puppies aren't very good at 'pacing themselves' and some will eat just about anything (and as much of it) as they're given.

Simply overfeeding him a familiar food wouldn't be very likely to result in severe puppy diarrhea, so I'm guessing either it was a new/different food for him, or that the diarrhea could be a symptom of something else.

Many times puppies get diarrhea when first coming into their new home, and it's usually due to a sudden change in diet (new puppy food), plus the stress of the move. You can read more about the signs a pup may show while in this adjustment period on my Bringing Home A New Puppy page.

However, severe diarrhea can cause dehydration in a small puppy, and this could cause the weakness you're noticing. Or again, that could simply be another sign of one of the dog illnesses puppies are vulnerable to.

I would strongly recommend that you have your pup examined by a veterinarian just as soon as possible if these symptoms persist. Young puppies can get very sick, very fast, and it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Best of luck, I hope this little guy is feeling much better soon.