why does my 6 week old dog walk weird

my dog is 6 weeks old it is a mutt and it walks odd


Hi
I'm afraid there's absolutely no way that I can tell you what is causing your puppy to walk strangely. It could be anything from puppy clumsiness, to bone/joint problems, accident, injury and more.

I'd strongly recommend that you take your puppy to see your veterinarian right away. That way you can get an accurate diagnosis and your puppy can get any necessary treatment.

Best of luck.

2 week old puppy crying with full belly

i have a 2 week old shih tzu and it is crying like it can't get comfortable it hasn't fed in a day and a half but is not skinny.

i fed it from a bottle 3 times tonight and it's belly is really full and hard and is now crying more so i stimulated the puppy myself and she only peed. i just put a heating pad under her she seems to be doing better but she seems weak. what can i do.

ps. i have had two other puppies die in the litter already one at 4 days and another at 5 with the same symptoms.


Hi
I'm so sorry to hear about what is happening with your puppies. Hand-rearing newborn pups can be quite tricky, especially if they're really tiny, and it's heartbreaking to lose them.

I'm afraid I'm not a veterinarian and I can't say what is causing these problems, but I strongly recommend that you get veterinary attention for this puppy.

Very young pups can't survive without eating, they get dehydrated very quickly, then they will get weak, and eventually die. Keeping them warm is important too, as a pup that is too cold just seems to 'give up'.

Healthy puppies don't cry like this, and there is definitely something wrong. Please get this pup to a vet right away and hopefully he/she will be able to figure out what's wrong.

I'm really sorry that I can't help more, but this is definitely one for the professionals. Best of luck, I hope and pray that your little pups will make it.

puppy not eating

by yvonne
(nevada)

why is my 3 month old boxer not eating? he's lethargic and won't eat anything?


Hi Yvonne
If you've only just got your puppy (within the last few days), then he could be going through the fairly normal 'adjustment period' that most pups experience during the first week in a new home.

During this time they often seem to lose their appetite, sleep more than usual, and may have an upset tummy. You can find out more about this on my Bringing Home A New Puppy page.

However, if you've had your pup for some time, then these are signs that he's not feeling well. At 3 months he should have had all his puppy shots so hopefully he is safe from the most serious, contagious dog illnesses.

I would still advise that he be seen by your veterinarian if this behavior lasts for more than 12 hours. Sometimes puppies get an upset tummy from eating something they shouldn't and look and feel a bit 'sorry for themselves' for a little while. But, this doesn't last long. If he continues to refuse to eat, has puppy diarrhea or vomiting etc., then he needs to be seen by a vet right away.

Best of luck, hope he makes a full recovery!

I just noticed my 7 wk old Shorkie puppy has a small lump behind his left ear on his neck. What could this be?

by Sarah
(MI)

Chewy and I

I was petting my almost potty trained 7 wk old Shorkie pup Chewy when i felt a lump on his neck. It's a little bit smaller than a marble but still very concerning. I will call the vet tomorrow but, i'm anxious and want to hear any helpful information as possible.

This is one scary problem that many people have. You want to give your love to someone else not knowing what lingers behind door #1. Anything bad can happen to any of us or our precious pets. I got him 1 week ago after the breeder took him to the vet for vaccinations and health check. Maybe its nothing or maybe it's cancer. Either way i will be here as the puppy mom i chose to be. Thanks much, Sarah and Chewy



Hi Sarah
Don't panic about this, the chances of it being cancer or anything serious like that in such a young pup are slim.

It could be an insect bite or a cyst of some kind. Sebaceous cysts are fairly common and may disappear by themselves, or sometimes need to be removed by your vet in a very simple procedure.

Obviously you need a professional to actually see and examine the lump to make an accurate diagnosis, and your vet will be able to do this for you.

Have Chewy seen by your vet and then you'll know whether anything needs to be done, but try not to worry too much, I'm pretty sure it will allturn out just fine.

Best of luck.

why does my 9 week old female yorkie keep yawning and trembling?

brought her home a few days ago.
licks and scratches herself frequently.
first 2 days knew she had to go on the wee wee pad and now seems to go wherever she wants.
also growled one or times while not being provoked.



Hi
Coming into a new home (and leaving her momma and siblings) is a huge change for a young puppy, and there is often an 'adjustment period' that a pup experiences. You can read more about this on my Bringing Home A New Puppy page.

You need to be very patient, loving and consistent with your little girl, and remember that she is just a tiny baby. Potty Training A Puppy is a long-term process and at 9 weeks you can't expect too much from her. Small breed pups in particular have tiny bladders and need to eliminate often, they may also take longer to gain control of their bladders than some of the larger breeds. I'd definitely recommend crate training a puppy whenever possible. It's the fastest and simplest method of housebreaking.

The licking and scratching could be due to dog allergies of some sort, or fleas. The yawning and shaking could be due to anxiety or fear. Tiny breeds can also have difficulty regulating their blood sugar levels, sometimes resulting in hypoglycemia which can cause lethargy, shaking, vomiting, disorientation and more. Check out my Chihuahua Puppy Care for more on this.

As for the growling, she is probably just anxious and scared, but don't allow her to growl or snap at you, or anyone else. A firm verbal correction (but no shouting or physical correction) should be given if she does this, and never 'back off' from whatever it is you are doing that caused her to growl. She must not learn that growling means that she gets her own way. Small dogs can be very stubborn and have 'big' personalities, so don't spoil her or let her get away with things that a bigger pup wouldn't.

Raising puppies is like raising children and it takes a lot of time, effort, patience, consistency and of course LOVE. For more info and advice to help you during the early weeks, check out my New Puppy Checklist and New Puppy Care pages.

I wish you the best of luck with your new pup.

Pit bull breathing issues

why is my puppy breathing very heavily every now and then, like her throat is swollen shut or she has something in her throat or stomach that shouldn't be there.

It's a rough, raspy, repeating cough that just happened at five a.m. It sounds a bit like when my cat coughs up a hair ball.



Hi
I'm afraid I can't say what is causing this, as it's impossible without an examination and even then, I'm not a vet I'm afraid.

However, it's possible that she actually DOES have something caught in her throat (puppies tend to try to eat everything in sight), or it could be a bacterial or viral infection such as Kennel Cough.

I'd recommend that you take your pup to your own veterinarian for an examination if this coughing continues. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

Best of luck, hope your girl is doing much better soon.

Complacent Puppy

by victoria
(phoenix)

I just got a new puppy two days ago. I know it hasn't been long enough to see her true personality come out with us, but I'm still a little worried about her. She is a red healer mix, and I was told that she is about 11 weeks old.

What I am worried about is that she is very complacent. She is not interested in playing. She is very shy and skittish. I think this is just b/c she isn't use to anything yet, but I'm worried b/c all she wants to do is lay down and sleep. Even when I try to get her to play outside she just looks very unhappy. And she has had some white stuff coming out of her eyes.

She is eating ok, and drinking a good amount of water. Does it sound like she is sick?




Hi Victoria
In general I think what you're seeing is a reaction to the stress of leaving the only home she's ever known, and her momma and siblings. This can be pretty difficult for most pups. You can read all about what to expect during the first week or so on my Bringing Home A New Puppy page.

However, the white discharge from her eyes isn't normal in my opinion, a pups eyes should be bright and clear without any mucus/discharge. She may have an infection of some sort that is causing this symptom.

I would recommend that you have your veterinarian examine her as soon as you can , so that if there is anything going on you can get it taken care of quickly. It's always a good idea to give a new pup a check up by your own vet within a couple of days of bringing them home. That way you can be sure they're up to date on puppy shots and other routine care.

Hope this helps. Best of luck with your pup.

what is going on with my pup?

what can i do when a boxer puppy is feeling warm and shivering won't eat and tired?



Hi
It's impossible to tell what is going on with your pup I'm afraid, and I would strongly suggest that if you're worried about your pup that you have your veterinarian examine him asap.

A lot depends on how old he is, how long you've had him and if he has other symptoms.

When a puppy is first brought into a new home he often goes through an adjustment period which can last from a day or two, to a week or so. During this time he may lose his appetite, sleep a lot, and appear scared, depressed or afraid. This is pretty normal and you can read more about what to expect at this time on my Bringing Home A New Puppy page.

This could be what your pup is experiencing if you've only just added him to your family. However, if he's been with you for a while and this is a new and different behavior for him, the chances are that he is sick. There are many dog illnesses that puppies are vulnerable to and he could have caught one of those. If this is the case, you may also notice that he has some diarrhea or vomiting, or has discharge from his nose or eyes etc. If any of these are present get him to a vet immediately.

Overall, I'd repeat that if you're in doubt - see a vet. It's always better to be safe than sorry. Best of luck with your pup.

puppy won't eat and has bumps on its skin

by brandon
(covington georgia)

my puppy is about 8 weeks old it won't eat and has bumps on its skin.

can you please tell me what is wrong with it?



Hi Brandon
I wish I was able to give you a definitive answer to your question, but I'm afraid I'm not a veterinarian and only an examination by a vet can tell for sure what is going on.

It could be that the loss of appetite and the bumps on his skin are related, but they could be totally separate conditions. If you've just brought your puppy home, he may simply be going through the normal adjustment period (read more about this on my Bringing Home A New Puppy page). Many pups lose their appetite and seem sad or depressed for the first few days as they miss their momma and siblings and are reacting to the stresses they've experienced.

BUT, loss of appetite and lethargy are also two of the first signs of many, contagious dog illnesses that puppies are vulnerable to. It can be difficult to know whether your puppy is sick or not when you are not familiar with puppy care, or with this particular pup. If his energy level is good, and he's drinking normally and doesn't have diarrhea and/or vomiting, then you can probably afford to 'wait and see' for 24 hours. If he's showing any signs of illness though, or any of the symptoms mentioned above, you need to get him to a veterinarian right away!

The bumps on his skin could be dog allergies of some sort, or they could be signs of skin condition such as Mange. Only your vet can diagnose that.

It's always best to have a new puppy thoroughly examined by a veterinarian within 24 - 48 hours of bringing him home. That way you can make sure all his puppy shots and deworming is up to date and rule out any health issues.

Being safe rather than sorry is always better, and if you're at all concerned about your pup I'd recommend having a vet examine him asap. Best of luck with him.

I just got my four month old Maltese puppy but he shakes is he just scared?

by Angie

I just got my 4 month old Maltese puppy today he seems to be healthy but he occasionally shakes but you can only feel them sort of, well anyway is he just scared about being with a new family or is it something to worry about? also he breathes kinda fast sometimes...



Hi Angie
It sounds to me as though your pup is just scared and anxious because he's in a new environment with new people. This is a big change for a puppy and most of them are anxious, homesick or scared for the first few days.

I'd recommend that you read my Bringing Home A New Puppy page as it explains all about this and what to expect during the first week or so.

My New Puppy Care page may also be helpful to you.

Best of luck with your little guy.

dog illness

by nitin samireddy
(hyderabad)

my dog is 10 yr old....he is not eating anything since a week...he is just drinking water and eating piece of egg. vet has told that he is suffering from fever of 105....he is unable to stand and walk properly...


Hi Nitin
I'm so sorry to hear that your dog is so unwell. Unfortunately there's no way for me to tell what is wrong with him, and if he has a fever and isn't eating, and is weak, there is definitely something seriously wrong.

I'd recommend taking him back to your veterinarian and asking to be told what the diagnosis is and what treatment can be given. Your dog may need IV fluids or nourishment, and obviously whatever illness he is suffering from needs to be treated.

I really wish that I could help you more, but I'm not a vet and he needs professional help. Please take him back to your vet and make sure that he gets the help he needs.

I wish you the best of luck and hope he is doing much better soon.

My 11 week old Shar pei pup has a few raised spots

by Julie
(Glasgow, Scotland, UK)

My 11 week old Shar pei pup has a few red infected spots on his face lips and chin, they are pussey and I noticed one burst when I was wiping his mouth after a drink of water.

Can you please advise if this sounds serious or could it be acne?? I will call vet after bank holidays but I did only buy him new plastic bowls the other day and I read on a google page this can caused a reaction so I will get new bowls tomorrow but until then can someone help please??

Thanks

Julie




Hi Julie
I'm not a veterinarian and I definitely recommend that you have your own vet take a look at these spots on your pups' face, but personally I don't think you need to panic about this.

These little lumps and bumps could be puppy acne, puppy warts, a reaction to the plastic bowls, or a bacterial or fungal infection. All of these are fairly common in pups, and Shar Pei are one of the breeds more susceptible to yeast infections and skin irritations than others.

Your vet will be able to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe any treatment necessary, so have your pup examined just as soon as you can. Meantime, try to keep the area with these spots as clean and dry as possible (difficult on a puppys' face!). An antibacterial soap/cleanser and a clean, soft cloth to dry him with may help.

Hope this helps and puts your mind at rest somewhat. Best of luck with your puppy.

one week old pup with very large lump on his back

by Kenny
(cleveland ohio)

i had a litter of puppies a week ago, most of them died from what i found out later to be dehydration, vet advised me on what to do, so i did what was suggested, fluids, feed mother puppy food only, and bottle feed puppies in addition to their nursing, and creating a warmer environment.

the two puppy's that were doing the worst then seemed to get much better for about four days, then suddenly, the smaller of the two appeared to be just as dehydrated as the pups that died previously and died himself, being bottle fed and feeding vigorously on the mother, and the next weaker pup has two, under the skin lumps one on the lip, and one, very large lump on the back, it is soft, but it seems like it hurts the pup, and now it is crying and laying on it's side like the others did before they died.




Hi Kenny
I'm so very sorry for what has happened with these pups, it must be very difficult for you and heartbreaking to watch. It seems that you've done everything that the vet suggested and I'm afraid I don't know why these puppies have died.

It's very difficult for a healthy pup to become dehydrated while being fed and nursed, fluid in = hydration, so I can only imagine that they have some underlying health issue that is causing their problems.

All I can really suggest is that you take this little one back to your vet for a full examination. The lumps are not normal, and your pup is obviously unwell and I would think he may well die too if you can't find out what is wrong. your vet is the only one who can make an accurate diagnosis.

I don't know what breed these pups are, or anything about the health history of the momma dog, but sometimes there are congenital or hereditary issues that can show up, or it could be something that the momma passed onto her pups without her showing any signs of being sick. It can happen.

I hope very much that your vet can help you with this pup and that the little guy makes it through. If however, the worst happens and he does die, it may be worthwhile asking your vet if he can do an autopsy on him, he may be able to find some underlying issue that would explain the difficulties you've had. Hopefully you would then know if this was a congenital or contagious condition, and whether or not it is safe to breed this dog again.

I wish you the very best of luck, and really hope your story has a happy ending.

what is 'SEAL CHEST" IN A PUPPY

9 WEEK OLD LABRADOR PUP, FIRST VET EXAM AND VACCINATIONS, NOTED TO BE A SEAL PUP???



Hi
I'm afraid this is one that I've not heard of! I'm assuming that it refers to the shape of your pups's chest.. and my only thought is that it could be in some way related to so-called 'swimmer puppy syndrome'.

This occurs in some pups and causes them to have difficulty in walking at first. Their front legs move in a a swimming motion (hence the name) and they don't support the chest. In many cases the chest is somewhat flattened due to this condition, and even once the pup has overcome it, I believe the shape may be detectable later on.

However, I'm not a vet and this is just my best guess at what is going on here. I would recommend that you ask your vet what is meant by this observation. You may also want to try an online veterinarian. It's a quick and cost effective way of getting a professional opinion. Use this link to find out more....Your Dog Veterinary Questions

Sorry I couldn't be more help, but I wish you the best of luck with your pup and hope you get the answer you're looking for.

2 week old puppies two looks weak and not eating right

by Brenda
(Colorado)

my dog just had puppies and two of them are very weak and seem like they're getting cold and not eating right, what do you think I should do or what's wrong?


Hi Brenda
I'm afraid it's impossible for me to say what's wrong with your pups, but at such a young age getting cold and not eating properly are very serious.

2 week old puppies can't control their body temperatures themselves. If they get chilled and their body temperatures drop, they become weak and can't nurse properly. If you can't get them warmed up and drinking/nursing properly within an hour or so, then they need veterinary help.

It could be that these puppies are sick in some way, or they could just be smaller/weaker than the others. Supplemental feedings (with puppy milk replacement) can often help small/weak puppies, but unless they're strong enough to suck properly, they are at risk of inhaling the milk rather than swallowing it.

I'd strongly recommend that you have these little guys examined by your veterinarian asap, they may need some IV fluids, or medications. If your vet can get them stabilized, then hopefully you will be able to take care of them at home after that. My New Born Puppies page has lots of tips and advice on caring for orphaned or rejected puppies and you will probably find it helpful.

I wish you the best of luck with your puppies, and I hope that these little ones' condition improves.

my 3 week old puppy is wheezing and not growing

my 3 weeks old puppy is wheezing and not growing...


Hi
Your puppy needs to see a veterinarian right away. He could have an infection, viral or bacterial. There are many dog illnesses that puppies can catch.

Young puppies can get very sick, very fast and it's important to get an accurate diagnosis right away so that you can get him any treatment that he needs.

Best of luck, hope he's doing much better soon.

11 week old puppy, attacked by cats

I got my puppy from my dad's dog's litter. He was born on Sept. 25/09. I let him spend the weekend there. During the weekend he began to develop a swollen face, to his left side only. He has no troubles with anything, eating, pooping, drinking, or peeing properly, but he has a swollen face.

The cat at my dad's had recently had kittens, she was very protective of them, whenever my puppy had gone near them, and was attacked a couple of times. He may have been bitten or scratched on his face, is this the cause of swelling?



Hi
It's certainly possible that your pup has some scratches that have become infected and that could produce swelling in the way that you describe. However, if this is the case, you should be able to find the scratches if you look closely and if they are red/hot or inflamed that would likely confirm this theory.

Of course there are other possibilities, one of them is a condition called 'puppy strangles' (or Juvenile Pyoderma) which is caused by enlarged lymph nodes under the jaw. The swelling can be pretty dramatic.

Alternatively your pup could possibly be suffering from an allergy to something. Facial swelling is often a sign of an allergic reaction. Dog allergies can be a result of something like an insect sting or bite, or something he's eaten or come in contact with.

Whatever the reason for his symptoms, I'd strongly recommend that you have him examined by a vet as soon as possible. Although he seems fine otherwise, this isn't normal and you need to find out what is causing the problem.

If he has infected scratches he will likely need antibiotics to avoid serious trouble, if he has Puppy Strangles, antibiotics and corticosteroids will probably be needed to treat it. Dog allergies that include swelling can be severe, especially if he's exposed to the same thing again so it's important to know if this is the issue, and what he is reacting to.

Hope this helps some, and that you get your pup to the vet for a correct diagnosis soon. Best of luck.

red bump on my puppy`s bum

My dog a litter of pups, one of them I noticed now has a red bump which looks sort of like a hemoroid.

It is above her anus and is protruding out, it doesn`t seem to show her any discomfort as she still plays with her litter mates no problem.

Just want to know what it may be, before I take her to see a vet.


Hi
It sounds like this may be a small haemorrhoid, maybe caused by straining to poop. Only your vet can make an accurate diagnosis though.

Haemorrhoids aren't generally any serious problem although they're uncomfortable. Your vet will decide if this is what is going on and how to treat it.

Of course, there are other possibilities, and it's important to make sure that your pup sees the vet so that you can be sure of what is causing this lump.

Best of luck with your pups.

Bow legs and flatulence in my boxer puppy

I just got my puppy from reputable breeder and she has terrible gas and her front legs are bowed.

She has been fed Diamond brand puppy food since she was weened and I would like to know what I can do about these two problems. Any ideas?



Hi
If the breeder you purchased this puppy from is reputable and responsible, you need to talk to them about your concerns. Good breeders know their dogs and their puppies very well, and if there is a physical problem they should be able to help you.

Whenever you bring a new puppy home it's important to have him/her evaluated by your own veterinarian within 24 - 48 hours. That way you can make sure that there are no underlying health issues and that preventative care (such as puppy shots are current)

Your vet should be able to tell you whether your pups legs are bowed due to a physical defect (whether environmental, dietary or hereditary), and also make sure there are no digestive/intestinal problems.

Some dogs are more prone to flatulence than others, and it is often related to diet. If your vet finds no physical problems, then you may find changing the brand of puppy food (but do this slowly by adding a little of the new food mixed in with the old, and then gradually increasing the new and decreasing the old) to avoid any further tummy upsets.

Large breed puppies grow and develop very quickly and diet can play a part in bone/joint deformities or problems, but at such a young age if your pup does indeed have a problem I would think it's more likely to be genetic, or congenital, in nature. In that case if you have a health contract with the breeder you may want to talk to them.

I'd personally recommend both talking to the breeder about your concerns, and having your pup seen by your veterinarian. After that you will be in a better position to decide what (if anything) needs to be done.

I wish you the best of luck with your new puppy.

puppy shaking during sleep

Why does my 5 month old pitbull shake during sleep, eyes roll back?


Hi
Most likely your pup is just in a deep sleep and is dreaming. Many dogs whine, twitch, shake, 'run' or even bark in their sleep and it's usually nothing to worry about.

As long as their behavior is perfectly normal when they're awake I personally wouldn't be too concerned about this.

Of course, if your pup seems to be sick in any way, shakes/twitches or has balance/motor problems when awake, then a visit to the veterinarian is a must.

Even if you're not seeing any other symptoms during the day but you're concerned, talk to your vet. It's always best to get a professional opinion if you're worried about your pets' health in any way.

Best of luck with your pup.

my 11 month old pup won't eat

by Amanda
(tennessee)

My 11 month old german shepherd won't eat and is losing a lot of weight. I think it might have something to do with us getting another puppy.

I don't know what to do. the last time i weighed him he weight 75 lbs. and that was months ago. he weighs 69 now when he should weigh like 80 or more.



Hi Amanda
Although it's possible that your pup has felt stressed by the addition of the new puppy, it's not normal for him to lose a significant amount of weight because of it.

At this age your pup should still be gaining weight, as he's got at least another 6 months before he's fully grown.

I would recommend having him examined by your veterinarian as there could well be some sort of underlying health issues causing the weight loss. Try to think if there are any other symptoms, possibly subtle ones, and let your vet know about anything that you think could be relevant (eg. he seems more tired/lazy than normal, is eating more/less, has loose stools/constipation, seems extra thirsty and so on)

Meanwhile make sure that he's eating a high quality food specifically designed for large breed dogs. That way you can be sure that he's getting maximum nutrition. Check out my 10 Best Dog Food Choices page for a selection of these.

I wish you the best of luck with this and hope your pup is doing much better soon.

Puppies Shaking, Barely Walking, No Appetite

by Kirk
(Fairfield, California, USA)

My 8 week old puppy is shaking it won't eat dog food and it can barely walk... Out of a 7 puppies 3 have already died from this, could you please tell me what's gone wrong?



Hi Kirk
I'm afraid I'm not a vet and it's impossible to say exactly is going on with your puppies but they are clearly sick. If 3 puppies have already died then whatever it is is a fatal condition.

I strongly advise you to get these pups to your veterinarian immediately. There are several contagious dog illnesses that puppies are vulnerable to, including Canine Parvovirus.

Any of these need urgent veterinary attention if the pups are to have a chance of survival so please get them the help they need right away.

I wish you the best of luck and hope the remaining puppies recover.

Hernia PROBLEMS!

by Alexander
(CA)

Hi i bought a a chihuahua for my sis b-day but i saw this little ball in its' stomach so i took it to the vet it turned out to be a Hernia it was soft and everything so the doctor did the surgery and everything but a year later it grew back.

it was soft and everything but weeks later it turned very hard so what should i do and should i pay for the operation again or should my vet do the operation free of charge because i paid for my dogs hernia to be removed but it grew back and the operation was not a success as a result. thank you



Hi Alexander
Normally, these small hernias don't cause any serious problems, and they are pretty common. However, it is up to each individual veterinarian to decide whether the hernia needs repair, depending on how severe it is and how big.

Unfortunately hernias do tend to recur from time to time as there is a weakness of the abdominal wall. I'm afraid I can't say whether or not your pup needs surgery again. However, as the hernia is no longer soft, it needs to be evaluated to make sure that it is only fat tissue that is trapped, and not bowel or intestine, which is a serious problem.

I also can't say whether or not your veterinarian has any obligation to reduce the costs of another surgery, as chances are he repaired it correctly, it's simply that this puppy has weak abdomen muscles. All I can say is talk this over with your vet and follow his advice - if you're not happy with his advice, seek a second opinion.

Best of luck.

My 8 week old female shih-tzu is vomiting a small amount of a mucus like substance quite frequently. What does this mean?

by Bailey Anne
(Georgia)

My 8 week old female shih-tzu is vomiting a small amount of a mucus like substance quite frequently. What does this mean? We just got her today and we are planning on giving her to a family member for christmas and we want to get her well before then.

She hasn't even tried to eat or drink anything. She has 2 spots of ringworm that aren't active or showing any sign of still being there. We are almost positive they are gone. Could this be a result from them? Thanks for your time(:



Hi Bailey Anne
The vomiting could be due to stress or anxiety, coupled with an empty tummy. Many pups get very stressed when they first leave their momma and siblings, and may not want to eat or drink much for a day or two. They may also sleep a lot. You can find out more about this adjustment period on my Bringing Home A New Puppy page which tells you what to expect during the first week or so.

Hopefully the Ringworm was treated by a veterinarian, and that this pup has also had the necessary puppy shots and deworming.

I would strongly suggest having her examined by a veterinarian yourselves to make sure that she is healthy, up to date on vaccinations and deworming, and that there are no underlying health conditions. This is always advisable when you get a new pup, and as you're giving this little girl as a Christmas gift you do want to be sure that she's healthy.

Hopefully this will help and get you on the right track. Best of luck with this puppy, hope her new owner is very happy with her.

discharge from my puppys' butt

My 8 week old pitbull puppy has clear, mucus like fluid coming from his butt.

The first time it has a red tinge to it but other than that he seems to be acting fine.


Hi
As long as your puppy seems happy and healthy apart from this symptom, then hopefully there's nothing major to worry about.

It's possible that this discharge is simply being excreted along with his stools, and could possibly be a sign of some mile intestinal irritation - possibly due to a dietary change or puppy worms.

Or it could be that this discharge is coming from his anal sacs, which are located either side of his anus. If he seems to 'scoot' across the floor on his butt a lot, then it could be that his anal sacs are full.

It's always advisable to have a new puppy checked out by your own veterinarian within a day or two of bringing him home. That way you can deal with any health issues and make sure he's up to date with his puppy shots and deworming etc.

If your pup does go on to show any signs of illness though, make sure to get him to a veterinarian right away. Pitbulls are one of the breeds that are especially susceptible to Parvo so you don't want to be taking any chances.

Hope this helps, best of luck with your puppy.

my dog's left side of his face is swollen and he won't eat

he's a black dog
he is a pitbull
he won't eat
he is puking up white clear stuff
his left eye is all puffy and pink
he won't drink anything
he is 9 months old



Hi
It sounds to me as though your pup has an infection of some sort. The symptoms indicate that he's pretty sick, and you need to get him to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Your vet will be able to make a diagnosis and treat him properly. These sorts of things don't get better on their own, and infections can spread fairly quickly, causing serious illness if not treated.

Please get your dog veterinary attention asap. Best of luck, hope he makes a full recovery

my pup does not want to eat pedigree pup food

by brandyn
(dominican rep)

my dog does not like pup food he ate a little chicken, now he is hooked help plz



Hi Bradyn
Puppies are like children, and they often go through stages and phases where they either eat everything in sight, or don't want to eat anything at all!

They are also pretty smart, so if your pup knows there is a choice between chicken and puppy kibble, then he's going to hold out for the chicken.

It can be difficult to make sure that your pup is getting a completely nutritious and balanced diet without using a commercially prepared puppy food. Of course it is possible, and if done properly is better than some prepared foods, but it takes a lot of research, time and effort.

I would recommend that you choose a good, premium puppy food (see my 10 Best Dog Food Choices and Dog Food Comparisons pages for more on choosing good quality foods), and offer her that twice a day. If you don't try to tempt her with chicken or other tid-bits, and don't allow her lots of treats in between meals, she will soon start to eat her food.

This can be difficult at first, for the owner, as you may feel that she's 'starving' etc., but she won't starve herself, nature won't let her. Once she realizes that THIS is her food, she will eat it. If you'd like to find out more about home made dog food and how to provide your dog with a good, balanced diet prepared yourself, check out my Home Made Dog Food page.

Hope this helps, best of luck with your pup.

my boxers poop is really dark

by sam
(muskogee, oklahoma)

my puppy is 7 weeks old and is eating fine but she is losing weight and has dark thin stringing like poop and she acts like she can really use her back legs and she is always tired what could be the problem?


Hi Sam
There are all sorts of things that could be causing your pups symptoms, and there may be more than one problem going.

If she hasn't been dewormed by your veterinarian, I would recommend getting that done right away. The dark, loose stools and weight loss could be due to puppy worms.

Even if she's had her first set of puppy shots, there are many contagious dog illnesses that she is vulnerable to. Also, parasitic illnesses such as Giardia can cause diarrhea, weight loss, dehydration and so on.

I would strongly advise you to take your pup to your veterinarian for a full exam, that way you will be able to get an accurate diagnosis and any treatment necessary.

The weakness in her hind legs needs to be evaluated by your vet also. There are several possible causes, ranging from minor to quite serious, but only your vet can figure out what is causing her problems.

Hopefully, once she's been examined your vet will be able to put your mind at rest and give she'll be on the road to being 100% healthy.

Best of luck, hope she's doing much better soon.

My Dog

by Summer
(Katy, Texas)

My dog had his poop stuck today.We washed him and got it all out but now he won't eat...we'll be bringing him to the vet soon.

we've had him for about a year and we don't have any records of shots or anything because he was about to get hit by a car in the street without a collar, we took him in.

I don't know if I should be worried or not because I don't want this to be serious.


Hi Summer
Being constipated isn't that unusual for puppies or dogs, especially the smaller breeds. It sounds as though you took care of the immediate problem, but there are some things you can do to help prevent this happening again.

Check out my A Constipated Puppy page for lots of information and advice on this.

However, sometimes this sort of problem can be caused by the dog eating something she shouldn't and occasionally it can cause an obstruction in the colon or bowel. If this happens the dog will strain to 'poop' but be unable to go, and will often cry out or whine in pain. They may show other signs of pain or distress such as constant pacing, panting, whining, drooling etc. and may vomit or retch and be unable to eat. If you notice any of these symptoms it could be an emergency situation and you need to get your dog to a vet or 24 hour animal hospital immediately.

As your pup was a rescue and you don't know about her medical history or shot records and so on, I'd recommend you have your own vet examine her anyway and get her canine vaccinations taken care of. She's at risk of all sorts of dog illnesses if she's not vaccinated.

Best of luck, hope she's doing much better soon.

My 8 Year old chihuahua mix is losing weight, drinking a lot, and has fleas. HELP!

by Susan
(Pennsylvania)

I don't know what is wrong with our doggie. He is 8 years old. He got fleas and it has been a hard time getting rid of them. We give him a flea bath every other day. Now he is lethargic, and drinks a lot, then pees all over himself and the house. he has lost weight, and is just not himself.

Does anyone know what might be wrong? I would love to take him to a vet, but I am on unemployment, and have 3 kids that need to be fed. I took him in when the neighbor said she was taking him to the SPCA, where they would just put him to sleep. He was fine when I took him a few months ago.

I really need some help. He is a great little guy.
Thanks, Susan



Hi Susan
I'm sorry to hear about the problems your little dog is experiencing. I do understand that finances can be tough, but I'm afraid only a veterinarian can determine what is causing your dogs symptoms.

It's possible that he has a urinary tract infection, or it could be diabetes or another health issue that is causing the thirst, frequent urination and weight loss.

Fleas can be eliminated by using a products such as Frontline plus on your dog, and treating his bedding and living environment with a flea spray/powder.

I strongly recommend that you have your dog examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. It may be that his problems are fairly minor and can be cleared up without too much expense. Generally, the sooner you get a diagnosis and treatment for a health issue the less expensive it is in the long run.

Some vets offices may allow you to have him treated on a payment plan type option, but you'd probably need to call around and talk to several practices to find out if this in an option. Your local SPCA may be able to tell you if there are any low-cost clinics or similar near you.

I really wish I could help more, but your dog needs to be seen by a qualified veterinarian so that you can find out what is wrong and get him back on the road to health. I wish you the very best of luck with him.

Puppy Lab Ate Foam

My 2 months old labrador puppy ate our mop w/c is made of foam. The foam it ate was about the size of a half bar chocolate.

Any suggestions to make my dog vomit the foam it ate? please help!


Hi
It's best not to try to get your pup to vomit, that can cause more problems than it solves.

Foam, especially if it was torn up into small pieces will most likely pass through your pups' digestive system without too much trouble. However, you will need to watch out for it reappearing in his stools!

If it doesn't appear within 2 days, even if your pup isn't showing any signs of upset, you need talk to your vet about it.

Meanwhile, watch him for signs of distress which include straining to poop but being unable to (he may cry or whine while doing this), vomiting or retching, a hard, swollen belly, symptoms of pain such as constant pacing, panting, whining, drooling and so on. If you notice any of these, or if your pup doesn't seem quite 'himself' (maybe won't eat, or lies around a lot), take him to your vet right away. The foam could have caused an obstruction which needs emergency treatment.

Hopefully all will be well, and this incident won't cause any damage. Labradors are very fond of chewing and they have strong jaws. You'll need to 'puppy proof' your home carefully and supervise him well.

Best of luck!

Chesapeake retriever puppy dislocated/broken front leg?

by HG Tapply
(Pond Fork, WV)

I have a 9 week old Chesapeake/Lab mix puppy. This morning I noticed as she was walking across my driveway that her left front leg was pointed outward and bowed like a basset hound and she was limping slightly. She still seemed to be able to move well, quickly and without complaint, but I had never noticed the leg shape before.

I checked the elbow joint which seems larger or swollen as compared to the right front leg. But, the pup does not complain when I handle the leg. Could the leg be broken? Or, dislocated? Or is there an inherent possibility of deformation that I have not noticed prior to her growing some? What is your advice and should I seek the consult of a vet?



Hi HG
I'm not a veterinarian and can only offer personal observations or opinions, and in this case I would definitely recommend visiting a veterinarian so that your pup can be checked out thoroughly.

I doubt that something as noticeable as this would have escaped your attention before, so we have to assume it's a new development.

There are all sorts of bone/joint problems that can afflict large breed puppies, some of the serious, some not. Also, whether this is a congenital problem, or due to an injury/infection/inflammation is impossible to tell without a vet visit.

However, it almost sounds as though your puppy could be showing signs of 'knuckling over' which can happen due to too-rapid growth of the muscles/bones/ligaments. I'd strongly recommend that you visit this webpage The Great Dane Lady as she has tons of excellent information on all sorts of bone/joint problems in large breed dogs.

I have an interview with her posted on my site in which she discusses the nutritional needs of large and giant breed dogs. You can find it on my Interview with the Great Dane Lady page.

Hope this helps some. Best of luck with your pup.

everytime my 8 day old puppy breathes it sounds like it has fluid in his nose!

by amber
(missouri)

my dog tini who is a full blooded chihuahua had her puppies about a week ago, the last puppy born is a male and she had a hard time getting him out and cleaning him off. so i had to help her, she had 4 puppies in her litter but one passed away. but the male puppy has been spitting up and it comes out his nose mainly, though there are times it comes out his mouth, he's still eating, but he is the runt. when he was born she pushed him away from her but after a little bit she stopped that.

now everytime he breathes it sounds as if he has A LOT of fluid in his nose. and it's making it hard for him to breath, what should i do and why does it sound like that? fluid does come out of his nose when he breathes out real hard. but its kinda cloudy.



Hi Amber
It sounds as though this puppy may have a cleft palate (a malformation in the roof of his mouth) that is letting milk get into his nasal passages rather than just down his throat.

As he has managed to nurse so far it may not be too severe, but there is a definite risk of him getting fluid in his lungs which could lead to pneumonia and death. I would strongly advise you to have this little guy checked out by your vet so that you can find out exactly what is going on and if there is any treatment needed (or even possible).

That way you will give this puppy the best shot at growing up healthy and strong. The momma dog probably sensed that he was not 100% healthy and that's why she tried to reject him at first, but the fact that she took him back and is caring for him has probably saved his life.

You may also find my New Born Puppies page helpful as it has lots of tips and advice on raising litters.

Best of luck, hope this little guy makes it through.

eye color change

by Linda
(Plymouth, IN)

4 wks old Susi

I have one Parti Cockapoo puppy that still has a tiny dot of blue on each of her eyes. will that change?



Hi Linda
At 4 weeks old your pups' eyes still have plenty of time to change color, but it's usually more of a subtle change than a total switch from blue to brown and so on.

If either of the parents have blue eyes, or it's in her genes, then it's possible that she will have blue in her eyes permanently, otherwise they will likely darken and turn to their adult color soon.

I'm afraid I'm not a vet or personally experienced with Cocker Spaniels or Poodles, so I can't say anything else with certainty, but whatever color her eyes she's a cutie :o)

Best of luck with her.

why does My 5 month chihuahua have bumps?

My 5 month puppy has bumps on his head, face, and are spreading to his body. They are red and scabby.

I don't know if it's a allergic reaction. There is no swelling, and he is losing his hair. what can I do?



Hi
You need to have a veterinarian examine your pup, that's the only way to make an accurate diagnosis I'm afraid.

I'm not a vet and can't give you a definitive answer here, but there are several possibilities. Dog allergies is one of them, as hives or irritated skin and hair loss are classic signs of an allergic reaction. In these situations your pup would most likely be pretty itchy or uncomfortable.

There are many triggers for canine allergies, and flea saliva is one of them. It almost sounds as though these lumps could be bites, so unless your pup is treated regularly with a good flea and tick preventative such as Frontline Plus, I would guess that this could be your problem.

It's also possible that your pup has a skin condition called Mange. Mange in dogs is caused by tiny skin mites which cause irritation, a rash and patchy hair loss - often beginning on the muzzle/face/head and front legs or chest.

Your vet can diagnose Mange by taking a small skin scraping and looking at it under a microscope. Treatment is usually with special shampoos or dips and is effective in eradicating these mites.

There are other possibilities too, but you need your vet to evaluate the symptoms and make an accurate diagnosis.

Best of luck, hope your pup is fully recovered soon.

my puppy eating problems

by Jhunnie Moleta
(Cebu, Philippines)

I've been giving my puppy various types of food but it seems that she doesn't like it, she eats lesser than her activities and playing time, does she has a problem or suffering from sickness?

What's the best food for my puppy so that she can eat lots of food?


Hi Jhunnie
Some pups lose their appetite for a few days after coming to their new home. It's just due to the stress of leaving their momma and so on. You can read more about this on my Bringing Home A New Puppy page.

However, loss of appetite if it's accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, or any other signs of illness can indicate a sick puppy. If you think your pup may be ill, or have contracted any of the contagious dog illnesses, please take her to your veterinarian right away.

But, if she seems happy, healthy and active and is eating, drinking and eliminating normally, then she could just be a 'picky eater'. Some pups, and dogs, are this way.

The best thing to do in that situation is to choose a high quality, nutritious puppy food and then stick with that. Don't keep changing foods or trying to tempt her to eat with treats and so on, that just encourages poor eating habits.

A healthy puppy won't starve herself, even if she doesn't eat as much as you would like her to. If you don't spoil her and pander to her whims she will soon start to eat what you offer her.

I'm not sure what breed of dog you have, but if you have a large breed pup, check out this page for a selection of the best large breed puppy foods - Best Puppy Food

Hope this helps, best of luck with your pup.

3 Month old dachshund has swollen anus and walks funny

by Kathy Blan
(Canada)

My 3 month old dachshund has a swollen anus and seems to not want to walk. When he does walk, he drags his back legs and they do not seem sturdy.

He has been this way for a few days. Also, when I pick him up, he sometime will whine but not all the time.



Hi Kathy
This sounds like new behavior for him, and so an injury of some sort is a possibility. Also, I'm wondering if he could be constipated?

Constipation in puppies can cause the anus to swell as unpassed feces put pressure on it. I'm not a vet, but I would imagine that if the constipation is severe it could also cause pain/discomfort in certain areas and may even cause him to have difficulty walking.

I strongly recommend that you have your veterinarian examine this pup as soon as possible, so that you can get to the root of the problem and get any necessary treatment started.

Best of luck with your pup.

Eleven day old black lab puppies (2) sound very congested.

by Lisa Strange
(Plant City, Fl)

Two of them sound very congested this morning. One of the bigger one and a small one.



Hi Lisa
I would definitely recommend that you have these two little ones examined by your veterinarian as soon as possible. Such young puppies can get very sick, very fast.

The congestion could be due to an viral or bacterial infection that they've picked up, or it could be that they've managed to inhale some of their milk (more likely if they're bottle fed than if they're nursing from their momma). Either way they may need antibiotics and do need to be seen by a vet to be evaluated.

You can find lots of general tips and advice on raising newborn pups on my New Born Puppies. Best of luck with your pups, hope these little guys make a full recovery.

why does my puppy have a little blood in stool?

by yvette
(tucson,az)

I took her to the vet. They tested for worms,it was negative. He didn't think it was parvo. she was having diarrhea , he thought it was her diet told me to feed her more through the day, leave dry food down for her.

her poop is better. But she scoots on her butt a lot. and bites the fur near her butt so bad that she has some fur missing. And now I noticed a couple times she looks like she's straining and then she whimpers,and there's a small amount of clear mucus with a small tinge of blood. I don't have money for a vet.please help.



Hi Yvette
I'm afraid it's impossible for me to say for sure what is causing your puppys' problems, but the symptoms you describe could be caused by worms, dog allergies (including dog food allergies or sensitivities).

If he's straining when he poops then he could be a little bit constipated. A trace of blood and/or mucus in his poop indicates that there is some inflammation or irritation in his colon, but this could be minor and due to food intolerances, or a bout of diarrhea/constipation... or it could be more serious and be a sign of one of several dog illnesses.

You could try changing his food, if you check out the blue links in the above paragraphs you will find lots of info. on dog allergies, and dog food allergies and sensitivities. Also on dealing with constipation.

However, if your pup doesn't improve fairly quickly, you will need to have a vet examine him so that you can find the root of his problems. Things are usually easier (and less expensive) to treat when diagnosed early on rather than left to develop into something more serious.

If you'd like a professional veterinary opinion, my Ask A Vet page gives you the opportunity to ask an online vet a question, for a cost of around $9 - $15. It's not a service to be used for emergencies, but for this sort of situation you can get professional veterinary advice for a lot less than a clinic visit.

Hope this helps, best of luck with your pup.

Bloating in a puppy?

by courtney
(Australia)

After my puppy eats his tummy gets huge and he starts panting.

Is this bloating and should i take him to a vet immediately?


Hi Courtney
I'm not sure how old your pup is, or of what breed, but it definitely sounds as though he's having a problem of some sort.

Bloating doesn't usually occur on a regular basis as once it's happened, it is often fatal if not treated. You can find out more about bloat on my Interview with The Great Dane Lady It can happen in any breed, but is much more common in large, deep-chested breeds such as Great Danes.

I would definitely recommend that you take your pup to your veterinarian for an examination as soon as possible, so that you can find out what is causing these symptoms.

If your puppy is gobbling down his food very, very fast, and/or is eating too much, it's possible that this is what is causing the problem. For him to do this regularly though, and to be so distressed by it, it's also possible that your pup has a blockage of some sort, possibly a severe worm infestation, or a defect in his digestive system. Of course, I'm not a vet and there could be all sorts of other reasons for this too, so get a professional opinion right away.

The panting is a sign of stress, so whatever is causing this needs to be diagnosed and treated. I wish you the best of luck and hope your little guy is doing much better soon.

Missing hair

by Elle
(AR)

We had a stray dog, deliver a set of 4 boys in our old well house.

I have befriended her and she now lets me check on them. Yesterday, I noticed that on 2 of the boys that the hair on the tips of their tails was missing. In its place, skin that looked extremely rough.

What could this be? The mother is a lab and 2 of the boys look like rotts.


Hi Elle
There are lots of different reasons that puppies and dogs can experience hair loss, and it's impossible for me to say what is at the root of these puppys' problem I'm afraid.

However, if the hair loss is limited to the tips of their tails and isn't spreading, and they seem perfectly happy and healthy otherwise, then you may not need to worry about it.

Patchy hair loss can be caused by dog allergies, parasitic infestation such as with mange, bacterial infections, congenital defects and more. In this case it could even be something as simple as one puppy habitually chewing on another puppys' tail!

Only a vet can make a correct diagnosis and determine whether treatment is needed. I would recommend that you have these puppies seen by a vet (they will need deworming and puppy shots at 7 weeks of age anyway, and if they're close to that now you could combine the visits.

I hope this helps some, and I wish you the best of luck with these little guys.

9 weeks pup won't let me approach him

by Tracy
(Virginia)

I am a new dog owner. I just brought home the most precious Maltese puppy about a week ago. He is now 9 weeks old. The first two days, he was rather timid and quite inactive. Each time I approach him, he'd run and hide under the bed or the table.

After day two, he began to warm up and became more active. He loves playing tug of war with his toy and would jump on and off my lap when we play. He also follows me around to each room (and tries to catch my pant legs as if he wants to play). All these are good signs. However, he would only approach me, but would not let me approach him. He still runs away and tries to hide under the bed or the table each time I approach him. He is also resistant when I try to pick him up. Though, after I have picked him up, he calms down and rests his head on my shoulder.

I'm confused as to whether he's afraid of me, or not afraid of me. I know he's still young and is still adjusting to his new home. I'm just worried he will continue to be this way in the future. I look forward to just having him on my lap and have some downtime at the end of an evening (after some playtime, of course!).

In addition, he's also very timid when I take him to a new place. e.g. At the vet, he refused to come out of his crate. I'm concerned that he has been neglected (or maybe even treated badly??) before he became ours. He has a 1 cm scab on his shoulder (which doesn't seem to bother him) that is slowly healing. This worries me even more that he may have been treated badly.

My husband and I took over caring for him when a family member realized they they do not have time for him. They bought him from a "breeder" at 8 weeks old. We think he may have came from a puppymill =(

Any advice and feedback are much appreciated.

Thanks,
Tracy


Hi Tracy
From what you've said, it sounds to me as though your puppy is behaving pretty normally, and there's nothing to really indicate that he's been abused or neglected.

The little scab you mention is the only 'variable' and that could be the site of one of his puppy shots or could be the result of an innocent accident. Of course it's possible that he wasn't treated well, especially if he came from a 'puppy mill' type establishment, but that's impossible for me to say for sure.

As for his shy behavior, that is perfectly normal, especially since he is only 9 weeks old and has already had 3 different homes. I'd recommend that you read my Bringing Home A New Puppy page as it explains about the 'adjustment' period that most pups go through and what sort of behavior to expect during the first week or so.

Don't try to force your pup to allow you to approach him, he's obviously slowly gaining confidence and trust in you, and you need to allow that to develop at his own pace. As long as you are feeding and caring for him, and showing him love, he will soon bond with you (the fact that he follows you and will approach you are signs that he has already started on this process).

He's very young and it's best to just allow him to get comfortable with you, and with his new environment, in his own way, and in his own time. It sounds as though he's not had too much in the way of socialization, and that is why he's afraid or anxious in new places, or around new people. Again this is fairly normal, and he's also going through the first 'fear period' (see my Puppy Development page for more on this). Once he's fully vaccinated you can start to socialize him properly, and you can read all about how to do this on my Socialize Your Puppy page.

Raising puppies is like raising children, and it takes time, energy, patience and lots of love! But you'll be rewarded with a happy, healthy dog and a long, mutually rewarding relationship.

Hope this puts your mind at rest. Best of luck with your puppy.

8 week old english bulldog lethargic

by charity
(smithfield nc)

Hi,
so i just got an 8 week old English puppy and when i got him home i noticed that he wouldn't get up and walk and could barely stand up to drink water. And his stomach is really swollen and tight but i haven't seem him eat anything.

He has had his shots and has been de-wormed his next treatment isn't due for another week but i am really concerned because my kids are really loving this puppy and i wouldn't want anything to happen to him that would just break my heart.


Hi Charity
It's impossible for me to tell whether or not your pup is sick or whether he's just homesick and anxious.

Puppies often go through an adjustment period during the first few days in their new home, and they may lose their appetite, sleep a lot, and act 'sad/depressed/homesick'. This doesn't usually last more than a few days though, and once the pup regains his self-confidence, his real personality comes shining through. You can read more about this on my Bringing Home A New Puppy page.

HOWEVER, these same symptoms (lethargy, loss of appetite, a 'sad' look etc.) can also signal several of the most contagious and common dog illnesses that puppies are vulnerable to.

Often there are other, accompanying signs, of illness such as vomiting or diarrhea, and a sick puppy generally can't be encouraged to play for more than a minute or two (if that) and won't want treats, toys or anything else.

As your puppy has had his first set of shots and been dewormed, hopefully he will be protected, but it's always better to be safe than sorry. If you're in any doubt about whether or not this little guy is sick, take him to your veterinarian for an examination.

This is always recommended when you first bring home a new puppy, just to rule out any underlying health issues.

Best of luck, hope he's doing much better soon.

my puppy is sick

by MegAN
(Invercargill)

I have a puppy of 12. the rest are alright and the 1 sick was recently sold. the buyer brought it back said it was moaning not eating and shaking.

we've had it for a day and night now it is drinking little bits of milk here and there not moaning sleeping a lot and not shaking anymore. it is very thin from not eating because the buyer had not brought it back right away.

does it have a chance of living?



Hi Megan
I'm afraid it's impossible for me to say whether this puppy is going to be okay because I don't know whether he's sick, and if so what is wrong with him.

I also don't know how old he is. It does sound as though he was maybe too young to leave his mom and the stress of being taken to a new home was too much for him. If he's a small or tiny breed pup, not eating/drinking even for 12 hours could cause low blood sugar levels or dehydration (or both) which could explain his symptoms.

If you can get him to eat/drink properly, and he seems to 'perk up', then hopefully he will get back to normal. However, if he doesn't seem to improve, I would strongly recommend that you take him to your veterinarian so that he can be examined. He may have been exposed to viruses or bacteria after he left your home, and he may need treatment. If he caught anything contagious, he could also give it to your other pups so you will need to keep an eye on them too.

There is a nutrient-rich paste called Nutri Cal that is often used to help give very young puppies some extra vitamins and nutrition. It may help this pup regain its' strength.

I wish you the best of luck and hope that he recovers.

Maltipoo puppy eye looks bigger then the other

by joey
(halifax, pa USA)

We just got a Malitpoo puppy, and his inner area of his one eye...appears to have the white more noticeable....and that eye appears a little larger then the other.

Is that normal...or does that sound like its medical problem?



Hi Joey
It's difficult to say for sure and I'd definitely recommend that you have your veterinarian take a look at your puppy. It's always a good idea to have a new pup examined by your own vet within 48 hours of purchase. That way you can make sure your new family member is healthy.

It's possible that your pup has some inflammation of the membranes of the eye (conjunctivitis) and they are slightly swollen in one eye. Or it could simply be one of those small physical 'oddities' that many dogs (and people) have.

It's also possible that your pup has an infection elsewhere in the body that is also showing symptoms in the eye, or she could have a blocked tear duct, 'cherry eye' (enlarged and inflamed tear duct) an eyelid problem (such as entropion, fairly common in Maltese) and so on.

Only your veterinarian can diagnose the problem (if there is one) and recommend treatment. Although it's perfectly possible there is nothing wrong with your pups' eye, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Best of luck with your new pup.

Puppy acting always hungry

by Alicia
(Lancaster PA USA)

My 10 week old beagle is acting like she is starving and she gets a really fat belly after she eats and then after awhile she gets very skinny.

She acts like she is not getting enough food and we feed her twice a day. I don't see any worms in her stool what could it be?



Hi Alicia
You wouldn't necessarily see worms in your pups' stool even if she had them (unless the infestation was severe).

Just about all pups have worms in the early days, and if she hasn't been wormed I would definitely have this done by your vet. Most times a pup will be wormed by the breeder at around 3 - 5 weeks of age, and then again by the vet at the same time as being given her puppy shots (usually at 7, 10, and 13 weeks of age).

If your pup has been dewormed several times and your she tests negative for worms at the vets office, then it could simply be that she IS hungry. Puppies are all different, and some are chow-hounds whereas others may be very picky eaters.

I'd recommend feeding her 3 times a day and see if that helps. Also, be sure to give her a high quality puppy food (see 10 Best Dog Food Choices and Dog Food Ratings pages for more on this). You can also find more on the best puppy foods on the market in this article... Best Puppy Food.

The more nutritious the food, the less it takes for her to get the nutrition her growing body needs. Lower quality, generic foods contain lots of fillers, additives and chemicals and have less nutrition per cup. Because of that a pup needs to eat a lot more of it to be satisfied. Also, some dogs have difficulty digesting this type of food and end up being hungry a lot of the time.

Another (welcome) result of feeding a high quality food is that the dog digests more of it, and there are fewer, firmer and less smelly stools to come out the other end!

Hope this helps. Best of luck with your pup.

10 wk old westie is listless with sickness and diahorrea,

by Loraine
(Kent uk)

My daughter has just brought a 10 wk old Westie (sunday just gone) since she has had it it has eaten once and been constantly sick and has diahorrea. Today she took it to the vets who gave her Dioralyte liquid 10ml to be administered every hour. The pup can't keep this down and hasn't drunk or eaten at all since sunday.

Could this be stress related ie new environment or is it likely to be something more serious. The vet has told my daughter to take it back tomorrow if no better as they may need to put it on a drip.

The puppy was brought from a pet shop and they say all the other pups are fine.



Hi Loraine
It sounds to me as though your pups' symptoms are more severe than you would expect if the problem was related to stress/change of diet and so on. You can read more about what you normally see during that early 'adjustment period' on my < a href="http://www.the-puppy-dog-place.com/bringing-home-a-new-puppy.html">Bringing Home A New Puppy page.

Puppies who won't/can't keep down food or fluids and are experiencing diarrhea and/or vomiting are at serious risk of dehydration. This is a big problem in itself, even if the actual cause of the dehydration isn't serious illness. This is why your vet wants to see your pup again, and from what you say, I really think she does need IV fluids, and quickly.

Although the pet shop says all other puppies are fine, it certainly sounds to me as though your pup may have one of the common, contagious dog illnesses that puppies are vulnerable to. It may be that the other pups haven't shown symptoms yet, or the store is being less than honest.

Hopefully, it isn't something as serious as Canine Parvovirus (Parvo), but your pup really needs to be examined again by your vet so that any necessary treatment can get started.

I wish you the very best of luck and I hope this little girl makes a full recovery.

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.

My puppy hasn't poop all day

by Brianna
(San Jose,CA)

My puppy is 7 weeks old. Is it normal for puppy not to poop for the day? he started eating puppy mush 3 days ago. His poop on day 1 & 2 were normal.



Hi Brianna
Puppies generally poop at least once or twice a day at this age, but as he recently started on puppy food rather than just milk, that's probably caused the change in his bowel habits.

I'd recommend increasing the amount of water he is drinking and also check out my How To Help A Constipated Puppy page as it has tips and ideas on helping a pup who can't poop.

As this little guy is very young, be careful about what you do for him, but I expect that he will be back to normal in a day or two. Best of luck.

green discharge from momma dog

my dog had a green discharge before she had puppies. all the puppies died. 3 were still born. will she be ok?



Hi
I'd strongly recommend that you have your dog examined by a veterinarian right away. It sounds as though she had an internal infection which caused the pups to be stillborn or die.

This would not go away just because she has given birth. If she has a uterine infection that is left untreated it is likely to be very serious, possibly even fatal.

It's never a good idea to take chances or 'wait and see' in situations like this, so please have your vet check her out just as soon as possible.

Best of luck, I hope that she makes a full recovery.

Stinky butt on a puppy

by emily
(vegas)

My 4 month puppy has this nasty odor that is coming from her butt, it honestly smells like a a dead animal.

She tries to bite her butt as well as lick it, what could it be?



Hi Emily
It sounds as though your puppy may have impacted/infected anal sacs.

These are little glands that are located either side of her anus, and if they fill with fluid (not uncommon) and get blocked, they can become over-full or infected.

Your vet can empty them for you quite simply, and show you how to do it yourself if necessary in the future. If there's any infection he can also prescribe an antibiotic.

I'd recommend getting your pup examined by your vet right away so that you can get this problem taken care of.

Best of luck.

6 weeks old puppy sneezing

by shelle
(missouri)

I have a six week old pug puppy sneezing quite a lot & hes also got a runny nose. He started late last week & it's really starting to worry me, it's not constant tho.

We would of already had them at the vet anyways for their shots but a family death took it toll on funds...

So we've got a week till we can get them there.




Hi Shelle
It's impossible to say what's going on with your pup but it could be an upper respiratory tract infection, Kennel Cough, allergies or other issues.

If this has been going on for a week, he really needs to be seen by a vet asap to prevent the problem getting worse. It's always easier and cheaper to treat a health problem in its' early stages, rather than once it becomes more advanced.

Pugs are a brachycephalic (short nosed) breed, and are more at risk of health problems relating to their breathing 'apparatus' than breeds with a less compressed muzzle. The worry with this sort of thing is that it will get to his lungs and become pneumonia or a chest infection, which is very serious.

I understand the financial difficulty, but this little guy really does need to see his vet asap. I wish you the best of luck and hope he makes a full recovery soon.

my puppy is throwing up brown stuff, has diarrhea , lost weight and has no active movement

by Angel
(Katy, tx 77449)

My puppy has lost all appetite. He has been throwing up brown stuff that really stinks.He has not been eating.He been having diarrhea.

He also has been keeping to himself,not playing like he usually does and has lost a lot of weight.



Hi Angel
Your puppy is sick and needs to see a veterinarian RIGHT AWAY. This could be symptoms of one of the serious dog illnesses that puppies are susceptible to such as Parvo.

It sounds as though your pup is in serious trouble, and puppies can die quickly in this sort of situation. Dehydration is very likely a real threat at this point too.

Please get your pup emergency veterinary attention right away. Best of luck, hope the little one makes it.

when can boxer puppies get their first flea bath?

by henry g
(vally hi)

Hi Henry
You should never use a flea bath on puppies less than 8 - 12 weeks old, depending on the specific product. Check the labels on whatever you are planning to use for the correct instructions for that individual bath or item.

It's not a great idea to give puppies under 7 weeks a bath at all unless it's really necessary. Little puppies can get chilled easily and it's important to keep them nice and warm until they're completely dry. Check out my Bathing A Puppy page for more tips and advice on giving your puppies their first bath.


If puppies are still nursing from their momma, or spending a lot of time with her, treating the mom and their surroundings can often take care of the flea problem as long as it's not severe.

If in doubt, check with your vet for more on this, he/should be able to give you more advice. Best of luck with your pups.

3 week old puppy doesn't stop vomiting water

by nicole
(kissimmee fl)

What is wrong with my puppy? he is a jack russel/ chihuhua mix about 3 weeks old and he continues to spit up his water and then the formula we give him.

He whines like he is in pain and he does not have BM. What should i do? also to my knowledge he does not have any shots.



Hi Nicole
This little pup should still be with his momma and nursing from her, unless he was orphaned. It can be tricky to bottle feed young puppies, and you need to be careful that he swallows the milk rather than inhales it.

I'd recommend that you have your vet take a look at this little guy to make sure that there's no underlying health issue causing his difficulties. If the pup is healthy but having difficulty bottle feeding, your vet may show you how to tube feed him. This is efficient, but you need to do it exactly correctly to avoid serious problems.

You may also want to read my New Born Puppies page as it has lots of tips and advice on raising young puppies. If you continue to have problems though please see your vet with him right away.

Best of luck with this little one.

American Bulldog Trembling while sleeping

by Austin
(Kalamazoo)

My Puppy is shaking very hard when sleeping she is only 5 weeks and i don't know what it could be. i thought maybe a bad dream but her eyes roll into the back of her head and it scares me...


Hi Austin
At 5 weeks old your puppy is still a tiny baby, and should still be with her momma and siblings.

Puppies of this age really aren't ready for the stress (physical and emotional) that they experience when they leave their momma and come into a new home. It could be that your puppy is just very scared and anxious, or she could be cold (pups at this age aren't very good at regulating their body temperature), or she could be running a fever, having bad dreams (or just dreams of any sort), or be having other, more complex health issues.

If she's happy, healthy and active when she's awake, is eating, drinking and eliminating normally, and doesn't have breathing or balance issues or shake this way when she's not sleeping, then the chances are good that she is physically okay.

However, you will need to be extra careful and gentle with her being that she's so young. If she doesn't seem to be 100% healthy or happy when awake, or if you're concerned in any way about her, please take her to your vet for an examination. That way you will know for sure if everything is okay.

Best of luck with your pup.

puppy injured from falling

what should i do. if puppy injured from falling
and started to vommit and become weak?


Hi
In this sort of situation the only action should be to get the puppy to a veterinarian right away. If the regular vet is closed, go to a 24 hour animal hospital or emergency vet.

Getting professional help for an injured pup is vital, so don't waste any time. Get him to a vet asap.

Best of luck, I hope your puppy recovers.

what kinds of shots does a two month puppy need

by marilyn martin
(longbeach,ca)

i just got a two month puppy gave to my family and the owner said i have to go to the vet and get her 2month shots



Hi Marilyn
To learn all about the vaccinations your puppy needs, just visit my Puppy Shots page. It has all the info you need.

Best of luck with your new puppy.

Reddish poo in 2 week old puppy

by Jennifer
(Edinburg, Tx, Usa)

My puppy was born about two weeks ago and now she is pooping a slightly reddish and brown colored.

What could be the problem? Or is it even a problem?


Hi Jennifer
It's difficult to say what exactly is going on, and a lot depends on the general health of your pup and how she's being fed.

If she's nursing from her momma, her momma is healthy, and the pup herself seems content and healthy otherwise, chances are this is nothing much to worry about.

Newborn puppies feces are usually pretty dark colored and very soft, not formed. The momma dog will clean up after them so at first you may not even notice that they're pooping, and so this may be perfectly normal for her.

If the puppy cries a lot, doesn't nurse well, and doesn't seem to be gaining weight then she likely has a health issue of some sort, and I'd advise taking her to your veterinarian.

If you're having to bottle feed her due to the momma neglecting or rejecting her, then it's possible that she has an infection of some sort. But again, if she seems happy and content and is nursing well, there's probably no reason for concern.

However, young puppies can get sick very fast, so if you're at all concerned about her health, have your vet examine her asap.

You can find more information on taking care of newborn puppies on my New Born Puppies page.

Just brought home a 7 week old Shih Tzu yesterday.

by dcmcalpine
(Michigan)

We just brought home a & week old Shih Tzu yesterday. The mother had stopped nursing. This morning I gave him his first shot and then dewormed him.

He is very playful but won't eat or drink. He only has three teeth so I have been mixing Purina Puppy Chow with warm water and making mush out of it. He eats very little of it then refuses to eat any more.



Hi
The momma dog normally starts to wean the puppies at around 3 1/2 to 4 weeks of age, and at this point the owner will begin to introduce puppy food.

If this little one only has 3 teeth he definitely needs his food to be moistened, but not necessarily totally mushed up. You could experiment with varying amounts of water until you find what he prefers.

However, his lack of appetite is probably stress-induced, rather than directly related to the food he's eating. Most puppies get stressed and homesick during the first few days away from their momma. They may see to sleep a lot, lose their appetite and/or look sad or depressed. This is pretty normal and usually passes quite quickly. You can read more about this on my Bringing Home A New Puppy page.

BUT... these same symptoms can indicate one of the contagious dog illnesses that puppies are vulnerable to and if you're at all concerned, or your pup experiences repeated diarrhea or vomiting, then it's important to check with your vet. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

His puppy shots and the deworming may also have made him feel a little unwell as many puppies have a mild reaction to these procedures.

Hopefully this will help, if you're at all unsure, have your vet check out your puppy. Best of luck with him.

mouth not formed properly.

My dog is in labour and has had 4 healthy babies so far.

The fifth one that came out looks a little deformed and is not breathing properly. It looks like the roof hasn't fused together. Like a cleft palate.

Is there anything i can do for it?


Hi
Cleft palates are more common in some breeds than others, but they can occur in any litter.

Depending on how severe the defect is, the pup may be able to suckle normally, but if he looks like he's having difficulty breathing, he probably won't be able to drink properly. In this case he's at risk of inhaling the milk rather than swallowing it, which usually leads to pneumonia and death.

Personally I would recommend taking this little guy to your veterinarian for an examination. He will be able to tell you how severe the problem is, and whether this pup has a chance at surviving or leading a normal life.

As you have a new litter of pups you may find my New Born Puppies page helpful.

I'm sorry you're having to deal with this, it must be very worrying. I wish you the best of luck and hope that this works out well.

my puppy is vomiting, shivering and barely moving around

by Aldiana

why is my puppy shivering, vomiting and barely moving around what does that mean?



Hi Aldiana
I'm afraid it means that your puppy is sick.

You need to get him/her to a veterinarian right away as if he has a serious dog illness he could die without treatment.

Please get him to a vet right away. I hope this pup makes it through, best of luck.

Diarrhea

by Sharon
(Virginia)

What is wrong with my puppy if she has sores all over her and infection is coming out of her butt, and her butt is swollen?


Hi Sharon
I'm sorry, I can't tell you what is wrong with your puppy as I'm not a veterinarian. However, it sounds as though your puppy is really sick and you need to get her to a veterinarian right away.

There are any number of things that could be going on and only a veterinary examination can make a diagnosis.

my 10 week old pit puppy ate spoiled chicken, what should i do?

by arron
(puyallup wa usa)

what should i do, my 10 week old pit bull puppy ate spoiled chicken and is now having diarrhea and i need to know what to do to get her over the sickness ?


Hi Arron
A lot depends on how bad the chicken was and how much of it she ate.

In this situation sometimes a pup may just have a day of diarrhea and/or vomiting and then perk right back up.

Other times, the digestive upset can last for days and cause dehydration and other problems. If your pup experiences symptoms for more than 12 hours, or they are getting progressively worse and she is lethargic, then you need to take her to see your veterinarian.

He may want to prescribe anti-nausea medications, antibiotics or other drugs, depending on how severe the symptoms are and what her condition is.

With puppies it's always better to be safe than sorry. You could also visit my Ask A Vet page to get a professional opinion from an online veterinarian. However, if you are concerned about her or she seems to be really feeling unwell, it's better to get her to an 'in the flesh' vet asap.

Best of luck, hope she's doing better soon.

bloated stomach in puppy

by justin
(missouri)

can't use bathroom. when it does it's a mess around the buttocks areas.



Hi Justin
It sounds as though your pup is having some issues with elimination, could be that he's a constipated puppy or it could be that he's having some puppy diarrhea. It's difficult to tell from what you've said.

The bloated belly could be from gas, combined with stool issues that could mean that he's having problems with the puppy kibble he's eating. New pups will get a digestive upset if they're switched from one food to another quickly.

A bloated belly can also be caused by worms which most pups have to begin with. Routine and repeated deworming by a veterinarian (NOT with over the counter products) is vital and usually given at the same time as the routine puppy shots.

I'd strongly advise you to have your pup examined by a vet so that he can make an accurate diagnosis of the problem and take care of it for you.

Best of luck with your pup.

infection in pitbull puppy?

my puppy pit bull has bumps and yellowish green discharge color on the vagina area..


Hi
I'm not sure if the bumps are on the genital area as well, or on the rest of the body, so I'm going to give you some suggestions for what could be going on, but I strongly I advise you to take your pup to your veterinarian to get a professional diagnosis.

If the bumps are on the belly, or genital area and are small red bumps with a white center, it could well be a staph infection. This isn't terribly unusual especially if the pup has been lying or sleeping on damp ground or bedding. Keeping the area clean (using an antibacterial wash) and dry helps, and you will probably need some antibiotics from you vet.

The discharge could be related to the staph infection, it could be signs of a urinary tract infection, and there are other possibilities. Only your vet can make this diagnosis.

If the bumps on your puppy are on other parts of the body (in particular the face/muzzle/head and forelegs) it could be Mange which is a skin condition caused by tiny mites. Often there's patchy hair loss as well. Your vet can diagnose this and prescribe the appropriate treatment (usually special shampoos or dips)> Check out my Mange In Dogs page for more information on this condition.

Hope this helps. Best of luck with your pup.

sick chihuahua pupppy

by Angela
(alberta,canada)

my dog had pups 2 weeks ago one of them has diarrhea and it looks orangey it seems like he is cramping really bad then this watery orange stuff comes out ?

my vet was no help what so ever any ideas on what i should do?? besides get a new vet?



Hi Angela
It sounds as though your puppy may have an infection of some sort, but only a veterinarian could make that diagnosis.

Dehydration is going to be a worry with diarrhea in such a young pup.I'd recommend trying to supplement with warm, boiled water to make sure that this little one is going to get enough fluids.

If I were you, I would definitely consult another vet, and soon. If a puppy is in need of help, that's what the vet is there for!

Sorry that I can't help more, but only a trained professional can make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment. I wish you the best of luck and hope that this little guy gets better soon.

pug puppy panting and bloated

by Thomas Brokenshire
(Mount Carmel, PA)

My 4 month old pug puppy has just began panting for no reason and his stomach is bloated.

What could be the problem and how do i fix it?


Hi Thomas
Panting is a sign of distress or pain, and a suddenly bloated belly could be a sign of an intestinal obstruction or bloat.

I'd strongly recommend that you have your pup examined by a veterinarian right away. If your regular vet is closed, a 24 hour animal hospital/clinic would be worth a visit.

It's possible that his symptoms are due to something less serious than either of the scenarios above, but these sort of signs are best taken very seriously and it's always better to be safe than sorry.

I wish you the best of luck and hope that your pup is feeling much better soon.

contantly hungry puppy

by kim
(lancashire)

i have had my puppy for about 3 months and she is constantly hungry. i have wormed her every month as the vets advised me to but she constantly begs and waits for food to be dropped on the floor.

i feed her 3 times a day with tinned food and also food mixer biscuits. i have also for the last 2 days caught her eating her own poo, is this normal? please help


Hi Kim
I've no idea what breed your pup is, or what her health is like in general, but it does sound as though she's thinks she's not getting enough food!

If she's been dewormed several times then chances are good that it's not worms that are causing the problem.

I would suggest that you change her food to a high quality, dry puppy food specifically formulated for her size (ie either large breed puppy, regular 'puppy', or small breed puppy food). Large and small breed pups have very different nutritional needs, and a puppy food that's not formulated to meet these needs (or an adult food) won't give her enough nutrition.

It's also possible that she's sensitive to one or more ingredients in the food and isn't able to digest it properly or get enough nutrients from it.

However, if she is gaining weight and seems happy, healthy and active apart from her huge appetite, then it's unlikely that she's suffering from malnutrition.

Try feeding her a bit more at each mealtime, or adding an extra meal to her day and see if that helps. Generally if a puppy is acting as though she's hungry, she IS hungry.

If this doesn't help, I'd advise talking it over with your vet to see if it's possible that she has some health issue that's causing the problem.

As for eating poop - yes, it's a pretty common puppy problem and you can read more about it on my Why Does My Dog Eat Poop? page. However, if this is a fairly new habit for her, it may indicate that she is indeed not digesting her food properly, perhaps due to a health issue or Dog Food Allergies, as partly undigested food in the feces could be attracting her to them.

Hope this helps somewhat, best of luck with her.

Puppy shaking uncontrollably

My 1 month old pit puppy shakes a lot. He won't eat when his mother is trying to feed him, he doesn't play with the other pups, he just sits and shakes. When he sleeps he makes weird crying/panting sounds. What should I do?



Hi
You need to have your veterinarian examine this puppy as soon as possible. There is clearly something wrong with him, and you need to find out what it is so that it can be treated if necessary.

He is obviously eating enough to survive, but it sounds as though he is in pain and distress all the time. That is terrible for him. Please get him examined just as soon as you can so that he can get to feeling better quickly.

new born pit bulls, one with deformed nose/mouth

i have a little puppy that was born and his nose is deformed and the top part of his mouth inside it has crack inside....


Hi
I'm sorry to say that it sounds as though this puppy has a cleft-palate - that is the upper part of his mouth hasn't formed properly, it's also affecting his nasal passages.

Many times in this sort of situation the puppy can't nurse or drink properly and tends to inhale the milk which can get into his lungs and cause pneumonia.

I'd strongly suggest that you have your veterinarian examine this little guy right away. It may be that there is something that can be done for him, but it's possible that there may not I'm afraid. A lot depends on how severe the problem is and exactly where the cleft is.

I'm sorry this is happening to your pup and wish you the best of luck and that he makes it.

We just got a beagle puppy for free, it has ribs showing and is bony.

by MRS. C
(SANFORD)

We just got a beagle puppy for free. It was treated for worms. It has a big belly. It's ribs are showing through. It also has 2 raised bones on its back at the hips. We haven't ever seen this in a puppy before. It acts very timid.

It doesn't look like a hearty healthy puppy, but has good color and except for the ribs showing and the pointy bones on its back, it looks good. It has a good appetite. He walks fine.

Can you tell us why it would have the bones sticking up at the hips?



Hi Mrs C
It sounds to me as though you're seeing his hip bones sticking up like this because the pup is significantly underweight.

Puppies should be rounded and plump, not bony/skinny, and a distended belly on a thin puppy means that he likely has worms.

I would guess that this puppy hasn't been properly cared for, and he needs to be seen by a vet right away so that you can be sure that any problems are diagnosed and treated properly.

If he's eating and drinking okay, and seems active, chances are good that there's nothing major wrong - just neglect and probably lack of socialization which would explain his timidity. You may want to check out my New Puppy Care page, as it has tons of information and advice on taking care of a pup.

With lots of love, the proper veterinary care, and a nutritious diet, this little guy should be a happy, healthy, chubby puppy in no time. Do have him seen by your vet asap though. If you dewormed him yourself, let your vet know what you gave him. If the person you got the pup from said they dewormed him, let your vet know this too.

I wish you the best of luck with your pup, and I hope he's up to being 100% healthy very soon.

6 mo old Goldendoodle seems less energetic than usual

by Samantha
(Iowa)

Hello,

My male Goldendoodle puppy seems kind of tired, and not as excited as he normally is. You might not notice it if you didn't know the dog as well as I do, so I'm wondering if this is normal? He usually is super excited in the morning when I let him out of his cage and jumps up and talks and barks and wiggles.

This morning he still jumped up on the bed with me but wasn't talking or acting excited. He was very calm. I wouldn't say lethargic, just not as exuberant as usual. He also ate all his food, but he didn't shovel it in like he normally does, he actually stopped eating a few times to come see what I was doing, and I had to make him go back over to his food. I didn't need to force him to eat, just remind him it was there.

Should I be worried?



Hi Samantha
If your pup is fully vaccinated, then I wouldn't worry too much just yet. Pups go through 'phases and stages' (see my Puppy Development page for more on this) and at 6 months old he may just be settling down a bit.

However, as his change in behavior seems to have happened overnight, rather than more gradually, I would definitely keep an eye on him and if he seems unwell in any way (stops eating, has digestive upsets such as diarrhea or vomiting, loses interest in his toys/treats/outings etc., then I would definitely take him to your veterinarian for a check up.

Chances are there's nothing to worry about, but it's always better to be safe than sorry. Best of luck with him.

puppy shaking the head so much

Why is my puppy shaking her head so much?



Hi
I'm afraid there's no way for me to say for sure what is causing your pup to shake her head in this way, but there are a couple of likely possibilities.

One is that she has an ear infection or ear mites. The second is that she is suffering from dog allergies of some sort.

Repeated head shaking is a common sign of ear-related allergy symptoms.

I'd recommend that you have your pup examined by your vet so that you can figure out exactly what's causing the problem and get any treatment needed.

Best of luck.

my puppy keeps sneezing and sounds like she is congested

(sacramento ca )

my puppy keeps sneezing and sounds like she is congested. Can I do anything for her she is only 9 weeks old?


Hi
I'd recommend taking her to your veterinarian for a check up, as sneezing and congestion could indicate a number of different dog illnesses including Kennel Cough or an upper respiratory tract infection. Dog allergies are another possibility, but I think that is less likely than illness. Only your vet can make an accurate diagnosis though.

It's always better to be safe than sorry with puppies as they can get very sick very fast, so a quick trip to the vet is definitely in order.

Best of luck, hope she's doing much better soon.

9 week boxer puppy is sick

by Melissa
(NC)

I have a nine week old boxer, male, who has all of the sudden just laying around and his head shakes.

I have looked all around the house to see if there is something he could have gotten into but don't see anything. What could it be?

He is normally running around and playing but all he wants to do is lay around.




Hi Melissa
In this sort of situation the only answer really is to have a vet examine your pup, and as soon as possible.

If he's suddenly behaving in this way he could have ingested something toxic, or it could be a neurological problem such as epilepsy and so on. Only your vet can make an accurate diagnosis though so please have him examined asap.

10 week old Akita Pup has stomach hernia protruding along with vomiting

by Jane Nichols
(Bristol TN. USA)

My 10 week old Akita pup has a protruding stomach hernia. Her vet checked her and said he would re check her in 3 weeks for any change. ( A retired old man vet whom works from his home now )...

She was throwing up yellow in the mornings. My son didn't tell me until after her vet check. She seems to be doing it every morning now. Could it be related to the hernia ? Do I need to get her back to the vet sooner ?



Hi Jane
I'm not a veterinarian I'm afraid and can only give you my personal opinion, not a professional one... however, I tend to doubt the vomiting is related to the hernia.

Small umbilical 'hernias' (actually the correct term for these is an 'incomplete closure' as they aren't true hernias) are pretty common, and most times don't cause any serious or long term problems. Often they will close up on their own, and if they don't (and your vet thinks it necessary) they can be repaired surgically very quickly and easily.

As you describe the puppy vomiting as yellow, it is likely 'bile' or stomach acids, possibly due to the pups tummy being too empty in the morning. I would suggest giving her one or two plain dog biscuits an hour or so before bedtime, you may find this helps.

If the vomiting continues, then I'd recommend talking to your vet about it, he may have some other suggestions. As for the hernia, if you are going to have your pup neutered, I would ask your vet to fix it at the same time, it's a couple of extra minutes and a couple of extra stitches, no big deal.

99% of the time these don't cause any problems, even if left unrepaired, however if you ever notice that the 'lump' becomes hard, isn't 'mobile' (you can push in back through the gap in the muscle wall), or your pup seems to be in pain, or distress without any obvious cause, then consult your vet right away. It could be a complication.

I hope this helps put your mind at rest, but if you are still concerned in any way, or the problems persist or get worse, do consult your vet.

Best of luck with your new puppy.

why are my pit bull puppy's eyes swollen and red?

hi, i woke up this morning and my female pit bull puppy's eyes were very swollen, and now they're worse and are getting very red, i'm not sure what's going on! please help us!!




Hi
It sounds as though your pup may have conjunctivitis, which is an eye infection. It could be caused by an injury, but as it's both eyes it's more likely that she's either got something in her eyes that has irritated them severely, or has a bacterial infection, or even dog allergies or some sort.

Discharge from the eyes can also be a sign of some dog illnesses but you would expect to see some other symptoms too in this case. Perhaps a cough, sneezing, vomiting or diarrhea for example.

I would strongly suggest that you get your pup to a vet asap so that he can determine what is causing this irritation. It may well be that she needs antibiotics. Her eyes could be damaged if she doesn't get help, so please have her examined as soon as you can.

Best of luck, hope she's doing much better soon.

5 month puppy eyes shut

by jenne
( san pedro ca )

my puppy was fine until today when his eyes been shut. i don't know was wrong.

he's throwing up a little too. i made an appointment for him to be seen by his vet monday. he just wants to sleep.


Hi Jenne
If your pup can't/won't open his eyes, is vomiting and just wants to sleep, then I would be seriously concerned.

If he's fully vaccinated, then hopefully this isn't one of the more common (and very serious) dog illnesses. However, in my opinion he needs to be seen now, not wait until Monday.

If there is an emergency vet or 24 hour pet hospital I'd strongly advise you to take him there today. I'm afraid I'm not a vet and can't say what could be wrong - these symptoms could be so many things - but if a vet examines him he should be able to figure out what is going on.

I wish you the best of luck with him and hope that he's doing much better soon.

Concerned about new puppy litter

by Christopher
(Wilmington, NC, USA)

We are considering buying a female shih-tzu pup from a lady a few hours away. We went to her house to see the 4 week old pups last Sunday.

The puppy has a good-looking coat and was the only playful one of the litter. She approached me and began nipping at my fingers and when I picked her up she licked my face. I did notice fleas on one of the other pups in the litter.

The home these dogs are being bred in is rather dirty, and the pups mother acting exhausted and gunshy. These flags have me ready to call the whole thing off. What is your professional opinion after hearing all of this?

Thanks!



Hi Christopher
I can only give you a personal opinion based on my own experience... and that would be to not buy from this breeder I'm afraid.

A dirty environment, fleas on the puppies, and an exhausted/skittish momma dog are NOT good signs. It doesn't necessarily mean that the puppies are likely to have serious health issues, but it's much more likely that they could have temperament problems and not be as strong or healthy as they should be.

If I were you I would be looking for another breeder. It's tempting of course to want to 'rescue' a pup from a bad environment, or feel sorry for it and want to give it a better life - and that's natural. I've felt that way many times myself. BUT, unless you have the financial resources to care for a pup who may be sickly or have health issues from the get-go, and the patience and experience needed to raise a pup with a poor temperament, then it's best to look elsewhere.

Of course, the above examples are 'worst-case-scenarios' and the pup you picked could be a healthy and happy one, but the risk is definitely there.

I wish you the best of luck with whatever decide and the new pup you pick.

new puppy coughing and shaking

we have a new puppy, she has been cougning and shaking, what could be wrong?



Hi
Puppies can shake and tremble due to anxiety or nervousness, excitement, cold temperatures, fear, pain, a fever and more.

If you've only just brought your puppy home the shaking could be due to her being anxious and scared of these big changes in her life.

However, coughing is a sign of a health problem, maybe one of the common contagious dog illnesses that puppies are prone to.

She could have an upper respiratory tract infection (sort of like a cold in humans), or it could be Kennel Cough or an even more serious canine illness. Only your vet can make a diagnosis in this respect and I strongly advise you to have your little girl checked out by your own vet asap.

This is always a good thing to do when you add a new puppy to your family.

I'd also suggest that you check out my Bringing Home A New Puppy page and my New Puppy Care page as they have lots of tips and advice to help you in these early weeks.

Best of luck with your pup.

3 week old puppy spitting up and sick to stomach

by Ashley
(Virginia)

The baby :)

We take in stray animals that get dropped off at our house. One of the stray dogs was pregnant and we did not know. I came home three weeks ago to find that she had tossed the runt aside. We are now raising the runt.

He is spitting up and is very sick to his stomach. He hasn't had much of an appetite today and probably spit up all that he ate. We have several pure bred dogs, but never have had to deal with a 3 week old.


Hi Ashley
With a puppy this young, dehydration is going to be a problem pretty quickly if he's vomiting and not eating.

It's possible he's picked up an infection of some sort, or as the momma was a stray she may have had some condition or illness that she's passed down.

I'd recommend taking him to your veterinarian and having him examined. He looks like a well fed pup, so hopefully he will overcome this problem. However he may need antibiotics or some other medications depending on what is wrong.

With puppies it's always best to act quickly as they can go downhill very fast. Please have your vet take a look at this little guy.

For general information and tips on taking care of newborn pups, check out my New Born Puppies page.

Best of luck, hope he's doing much better soon.

Reverse sneezing

by KRG
(Waterbury, CT )

I read online that smaller dogs, like a 4 lb maltipoo, have “reverse sneezing” which sounds almost like a wheezing sound because they have shorter breathing passages.

Does this make sense?


Hi KRG
'Reverse sneezing' is a sort of bronchial spasm that some small breeds experience. It's often brought on by excitement or exercise, and sounds like a snorting sort of cough rather than wheezing.

It's not anything to worry about, and the best thing to do if your pup experiences this is to just make sure that she calms down and relaxes. Sometimes massaging the throat gently, or holding two fingers gently over her nose can 'short-circuit' the 'sneezing attack' and put a stop to it.

Hope this helps, best of luck with your dog

my yorkie poo scratches continuously

by Linda
(Wytheville, VA)

What is the cause? My heart breaks for him. I have changed food, shampoo and given him Benadryl. Nothing helps.



Hi Linda
I'm so sorry to hear that your pup is having so much trouble with this. It definitely sounds as though he's suffering from dog allergies of some sort.

When you change a food that you suspect may be causing allergies, it's important to choose a food that is specifically designed for dogs with this problem. Just choosing a different 'regular' food won't necessarily help. I'd recommend that you check out these pages for more information on this .... Dog Food Allergiexs and Hypoallergenic Dog Food

I'm also assuming that you're sure he doesn't have any fleas as many dogs are allergic to flea saliva. Even a couple of fleas can cause a lot of misery.

If you've tried everything and he's still itching, I'd recommend visiting your veterinarian. He can run some blood test to determine what exactly your pup is allergic to, or if that shows nothing, figure out what is causing the problem. I think this is your next move.

Meantime, if Benadryl alone isn't helping, check out my Canine Skin Allergies page for some other products that may help relieve some of his itchiness.

Canine Stimmune for Dog Allergies is a a natural, herbal supplement that seems to be very successful and many of my visitors are using it.


Best of luck with this, I hope he's doing better soon.

Why does my puppy keep throwing up?

by joe
(new jersey)

I have taken my puppy to the vet 3 times since she started throwing up, they gave me meds to give her which i have and there has been no change, also she is drinking huge amounts of water, when we got her she had worms which we took care of do you have any idea what could be wrong with her?

Also she is still very upbeat and playful the only real surface problem is her throwing up, any info is helpful.



Hi Joe
Unfortunately there are lots of possible causes for puppy vomiting and it's impossible for me to tell what's going on. Only your vet can make an accurate diagnosis.

As your puppy seems happy and active apart from the vomiting, hopefully it's not a sign of a serious, contagious dog illness or disease, which is usually my first concern.

Of course, I'm not sure exactly how long he's had this problem, what seems to 'trigger' the vomiting, whether it follows a pattern etc. etc., so it's possible that other symptoms such as diarrhea or lethargy could occur, making it more likely that he's caught something contagious.

Other than that there are many possibilities such as dietary 'indiscretions' (eating something he shouldn't or something toxic), a bacterial infection, a congenital problem, or a disease such as diabetes. The fact that he's drinking tons of water makes diabetes a possibility that I would check up on.

All I can really do is encourage you to take your pup back to your veterinarian and have them re-evaluate him. If the medications aren't helping, then your vet needs to find out what is going on, or refer you and your puppy to a specialist.

I wish you the very best of luck and hope that your pup makes a full recovery soon.

vomiting shih tzu puppy

My 6 weeks old baby shih tzu is vomiting a pasta-like white worms. what medicine can i give her? i cannot bring her to the vet now because i have no enough money now. i will be having my money on saturday please help!

thanks a lot.



Hi
Your puppy has a severe worm infestation if she's vomiting up worms, and needs to be seen by a vet right away.

Don't use over the counter de-worming products as they aren't very effective and can have unwanted, even dangerous, side effects. Your vet is the only person who can give you the medication that you need to help your pup. I understand money worries, but in order to take care of a pup properly you need to be able to get him/her the veterinary care they need.

Puppies need regular preventative health care, including puppy shots and deworming,during the first few weeks to help them grow and develop normally.

Best of luck with your pup.

reactions to puppy shots?

by Connie
(Akron CO)

My puppy just got his first series of shots, and is acting like he is sick, low energy, lack of appetite, and he has vomited about 4 times today, a yellowish/greenish liquid.

He still loves attention, and does not seem to be hurting, but I am worried. Is this normal? Is there anything I can give him to make is stomach feel better?



Hi Connie
Many puppies have a reaction of some sort to their puppy shots.

For the most part it sounds as though your pups' reaction is normal, and fairly mild, although the vomiting isn't always part of it.

I'd recommend that you read my Puppy Shots Page (link in first paragraph of this answer), to learn more about puppy vaccinations and the reactions that can occur.

More serious reactions such as swelling, hives, difficulty breathing and so on, require veterinary attention, but it sounds as though your pup will be just fine. Normally these mild reactions only last a day or so.

However, if he doesn't seem to 'bounce back' within 48 hours, or you notice any other signs that he's not feeling well, talk to your vet.

Hope this puts your mind at rest, best of luck with your puppy.

BLOOD IN PUPPY'S URINE

by Christina
(Modesto, CA)

My 6 wk old female blue nose pitbull puppy has blood in her urine. At first, it appeared as an orange colored tint then it looked like it was tinged with blood. She also seemed to be constipated; like she was trying to pass bowel movement but couldn't.

She eventually did have a bowel movement on her own & the discolored urine seemed to be stopping. Unfortunately, she began urinating with blood in it again, only this time the blood color has deepened/worsened. She also appears to be weak or tired & just not acting like her usual self.

PLEASE CAN SOMEONE GIVE ME SOME ADVICE ON WHAT THEY THINK IS WRONG WITH MY PUPPY! I AM DESPERATELY SEEKING ANY & ALL ADVICE THAT ANYONE HAS TO OFFER ME AS I CANNOT AFFORD TO INCUR A VET BILL IF IT'S NOT ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.




Hi Christina
It sounds to me as though your puppy may have a urinary tract infection, that is the most common cause of blood in the urine. Puppies, especially female pups, are quite prone to this.

Unfortunately only a vet can make an accurate diagnosis, and antibiotics are usually required to combat the infection. Left untreated UTI's can cause kidney problems and have serious consequences.

I doubt that the signs of slight constipation that you noticed are related to the bloody urine. The fact that she also seems to be lethargic and not feeling well is worrying. Although I understand your concerns about the cost of a vet visit, I strongly recommend that you have her examined asap.

Any condition worsens with time, it doesn't get better by itself, and getting a prompt diagnosis and treatment early is much less expensive than letting a small problem become a big one.

Best of luck, I hope she makes a full recovery soon.

all of a sudden my 1 week old pup won't eat

I have a breeding program and the mother didn't have any milk so I have to bottle feed. one pup stopped eating this morning.

She used to drink 20- 30 cc's every 2-3 hours and now she is going on 6 hours. What do I do?


Hi
In such a young puppy, not drinking for any significant length of time is likely to have serious consequences.

If this situation doesn't improve very quickly, I strongly suggest that you have this pup examined by a veterinarian to find out what's causing the problem.

For lots of general tips and advice on taking care of orphaned or abandoned puppies, check out my New Born Puppies page.

I wish you the best of luck with your puppies and hope this little one makes a full recovery.

puppy allergy

by anne
(australia)

my 3/12 old groodle puppy has been itchy for weeks and over the last week has had diarrhoea (loose but not bloody or watery) & 1 or 2 vomits since we've had him.

this afternoon 1 ear swelled & then the second & his face also. we took him to the vet who gave him steroids & cortisone, but i'm wondering what he's allergic to. the vet just said "well that's the question".

i gave him tuna with his Eukanuba this morning. he's had it previously & loved it. i notice eukanuba has chicken, corn, brewers yeast, fish & sorghum in it. should i try an elimination diet or get him tested for environmental allergens? it seems like a pretty serious allergy to me.

any recommendations gratefully received-thankyou for your time


Hi Anne
You're right to be concerned here. Facial swelling does indicate a pretty severe allergic reaction and further episodes are likely to be worse.

The steroids will help, and you may want to also talk with your vet about giving your pup Benadryl or something similar to help 'head off' any more problems. But these are both interim measures and you definitely need to get to the root cause of his symptoms rather than just treat them.

Food allergies are definitely a possibility, the diarrhea and vomiting indicate digestive upset.

There are several dog foods that are specifically designed for dogs with allergies/sensitivities to certain food ingredients. You can check out my Dog Food Allergies page for lots of information on this condition and several foods that are recommended. In Australia there will likely be different brands, but you should be able to find something appropriate.

I would also suggest having him tested for environmental allergies, as it could be that it's something other than food that is causing the problem. Facial swelling and so on can be caused by insect bites/stings as well, and I imagine it's possible that he's allergic to a fairly common insect or it could be a plant or a tree in your yard and so on. Unfortunately the possibilities are extensive, but you can probably narrow them down by thinking about when his symptoms appear or worsen, and where he's been and what he's been doing right before that time.

Allergies in dogs are actually more common than most owners realize and it can take a lot of 'trial and error' and quite a bit of patience and time to figure out what is going on. But it will be worth it in the end.

Best of luck!

pups eyes opening

by mary kay
(georgia)

what could be problem if puppy has not opened eyes at day 21. Can it take longer?



Hi Mary Kay
Puppies generally start to open their eyes at around 2 weeks of age, but it can take longer, a lot depends on the breed and the type of puppy. However, 3 weeks is longer than I would expect.

If the rest of the litter has opened their eyes and it's just one pup that hasn't got there yet, I would recommend having your vet check him out to make sure that there isn't a physical problem.

Sometimes if there's discharge due to infection, it can sort of 'glue' the eyelids together, you would likely notice this though.

If all the pups in the litter still have their eyes closed then I wouldn't worry about it too much just yet. Give them another few days, if there's still no change at that point then a visit to your vet would be wise.

For general tips and advice on raising new born puppies, you can visit my New Born Puppies page.

Best of luck with your puppies.

sneezing puppy

I took my puppy outside tonight to use the bathroom, she is 6 weeks old.

When we came back inside,she started sneezing a lot. Is she ok? What would make her do that?



Hi
It could simply be that your puppy breathed in some dust, pollen etc. and it set her off sneezing.

Or it could be that the sneezing is an early symptom of some dog illness such as Kennel Cough or even a bacterial infection.

If she continues to sneeze, or has discharge from her nose or eyes, or gives any indication of being a sick puppy, then get her to your veterinarian right away.

Best of luck with her.

my puppy is throwing up

by justine montemalo
(elmont,ny)

hello i have a 13 week chihuahua puppy and she threw up a lot of brown stuff..she only eats dry pedigree food what could that be?



Hi Justine
Puppy vomiting can be caused by lots of different things..... from one of the common, contagious dog illnesses, to worms, coprophagia (stool eating) and more.

Only your vet can make an accurate diagnosis and if your pup is vomiting repeatedly and isn't able to keep food or water down then she needs to be seen by a vet right away.

The fact that the vomit is brown, could mean that it contains blood, in that case it could be a very serious problem indeed, and I can only recommend that you have her examined by a vet asap.

I wish you the best of luck and hope she makes a full recovery soon.

2 Wk old Yorkie won't eat

I have a 2 week old yorkie that doesn't want to eat. I took him to the vet today and was given formula to feed him, but he doesn't seem to want that either.

He is the runt of three others (all girls) and they are twice his size. I don't want to lose him so if anyone can help please do so. Thanks.



Hi
This is tricky, as it can be difficult to help puppies like this, especially in tiny breeds like Yorkies.

If he's still nursing from his momma, hopefully he will be getting enough to get by, even if it's not a whole lot. The formula as a supplemental feeding should help, but you can't force a puppy to suck from a bottle, and the only other alternative is tube feeding. Your vet can show you how to do this. It is a little scary at first, and you have to do it just right, but when done correctly it ensures that your pup gets enough milk in his tiny tummy.

The 'runt' or tiniest pup often stays quite a bit smaller during puppyhood, although during adolescence and in adulthood he may 'catch up' or occasionally even get larger than some of his siblings.

As long as the pup is healthy, his small size shouldn't be too much of a worry, and the tiniest pup is often the one with the biggest personality in the litter and can stand up for itself pretty well.

There is a special nutrient-rich paste called Nutri Cal which is very beneficial to give new born pups who aren't thriving the way you would like. This may help him.

You can find more tips and advice about caring for newborn pups on my New Born Puppies page. However, your vet should be your first 'port of call' when in doubt.

I hope this helps at least a little, and wish you the best of luck with your pups. Hope this little guy makes it through.

9 week old cockapoo won't eat and throwing up

by mitch dixon
(Tell City, Indiana)

We just bought a 9 week old female cockapoo and she was doing pretty good the first night. But she won't eat. she is drinking her water, but is throwing up often.

We've tried softening her dry food with a little water. also, have tried goats milk as the breeder suggested. also was told to try cottage cheese, but she wont eat.

Any advice would be very much appreciated. thank you. Mitch




Hi Mitch
It's always difficult in this sort of situation to know whether the behavior is due to illness or the stress and upset of coming into a new home.

Loss of appetite, lethargy and an aura of 'depression or sadness' is quite common in pups for the first few days in a new home, a sudden change in diet and stress of traveling can also cause digestive upsets such as diarrhea and/or vomiting. You can read more about this and what to expect during this adjustment period on my Bringing Home A New Puppy page.

Unfortunately the same symptoms can be the earliest signs of several common, contagious dog illnesses, and it's often difficult to tell the difference, even for experienced dog owners.

It's always better to be safe than sorry though, and if you're concerned then I would definitely recommend taking your pup to your own vet for a check up. That way you will be able to put your mind at rest, and if there are any underlying health issues you'll have a head-start on treating them.

Hope this helps some, I wish you the best of luck and hope that your pup is doing much better soon.

my dog gave birth 4 week ago and now she has pimple like bumps around her mouth

Will these acne looking pimples go away? they pop and have a head just like a human


Hi
I'm not sure how this could be related to your dog having given birth, and I haven't seen anything similar myself. However, it seems to me that it could be a sign of some sort of infection, or it could possibly be Mange

Mange often occurs when the immune system is weak, and although you are more likely to see this in puppies, I would think that it's possible that whelping and the strain of caring for her pups has lowered your dogs' immune system.

I'd recommend having your veterinarian take a look at her to make sure that everything is okay, and prescribe any treatment if necessary.

Best of luck, hope she's back to normal soon.

lump on stomach

by lindsey
(opelika alabama)

WHY DOES MY SIX WEEK OLD PUPPY HAVE A LUMP ON HIS STOMACH? HE IS A POMERANIAN




Hi Lindsey
It's most likely a type of simple hernia, called an 'incomplete closure'. These are fairly common in puppies of all breeds, and generally don't cause any long term problems.

However, I would advise you to have your vet check this out to be sure that it is a hernia, and to advise you whether anything needs to be done or not.

Best of luck with your pup.

Puppy suddenly began acting drunk

by Kim
(Los Angeles)

I came back from work to find my 6 month old puppy acting strange, first he ran around like crazy hitting himself places and was trembling when he sat still, now he just wants to sleep and when standing or sitting alone he almost falls over as if drunk.



Hi Kim
I'm not a veterinarian, and I can't say for sure what is causing your pups' problems, but there are a couple of possibilities. You will however need to have your vet make an accurate diagnosis.

I'm not sure if he's a small/tiny breed pup, but if so it could be that his blood sugar levels dropped too low and he's showing signs of hypoglycemia.

These tiny dogs need to eat often to keep their blood sugar levels stable, and if you're gone all day this could have been the problem. Giving him something to eat should help. Keeping some Karo syrup on hand to rub on his gums is a good idea too.

If he's not a small breed dog, then it's possible that he's hurt himself while you were gone, maybe hit his head, or it could be that he's showing signs of epilepsy. Some breeds are more susceptible to this condition than others.

I'm afraid I can't be more specific or helpful than this, but I would strongly recommend that you have your pup examined by your vet so that you know what is going on and can get him any treatment necessary.

Best of luck, hope he's doing better soon.

2 Month old mix breed. Diarrhea and Rubbing her Butt.

by Stephanie
(Fayetteville, NC)

Kelbi, the puppy

My two month old mix puppy has had diarrhea about two fulls days now and for the first time rubbed her bottom across the ground.

Does this mean she has worms...or could she just have been wiping excess poop off?


Hi Stephanie
She's adorable, great coloring! She's definitely got those sad 'puppy dog' eyes too.

Worms in puppies can cause diarrhea, and 'scooting' (rubbing butt on floor) and if your pup hasn't been dewormed by your veterinarian then I'd recommend taking her in to get a fecal test and probably deworming medication.

Often it takes more than one round of dewormer to totally eliminate the problem, so even if she's been dewormed once, she may still have a problem.

Of course, there are lots of other possible causes of puppy diarrhea. These can range from minor things like a sudden change in diet, to major dog illnesses.

Puppies can get dehydrated very quickly if they're suffering from diarrhea and/or vomiting, and if your pups been suffering for several days she could be at risk.

I'd strongly suggest that you have her examined by your vet as soon as possible, and meanwhile make sure she's getting plenty of fluids. You can add gatorade or pedialyte to her water if she'll drink it. This helps replace lost minerals and electrolytes.

If she seems sick in any way, isn't eating, is lethargic, severe diarrhea or repeated vomiting, or you're worried about her - please take her to an emergency veterinarian or a 24 animal hospital. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

I wish you the best of luck and hope Kelbi is feeling much better soon.

2 week old puppy throwing up

I have Shih Tzu puppies that are 2 weeks old. I wormed them yesterday with Nemex 2.

I have one puppy who is now throwing up and won't eat.

Any ideas on what to do or give?



Hi
In my experience, it's rare to see any side effects from this dewormer, but occasionally a pup may vomit.

This is usually a short-lived reaction, and the pup recovers quickly. Keep an eye out for signs of overdose though, especially in very young, very tiny pups.

The symptoms of an overdose may include swelling (particularly of the face/head), hives, slow or irregular breathing patterns, pale gums and lethargy.

If you notice any of these symptoms, or your pup continues to vomit or refuse to nurse, get him to a veterinarian right away. Very young pups are at risk of dehydration pretty quickly, so if he doesn't eat for several hours he may need some supplemental fluids.

If in doubt, I'd recommend calling your vet or a 24 hour animal clinic for more advice. Best of luck, hope this little guy is doing much better soon.

Shivering/Shaking while sleeping

by Estelle Siegel
(NJ)

I have a 13 month old Papillon that is small for his breed, weighing in at 4.5lbs. I noticed today that all of a sudden he is shaking and shivering while he was sleeping.

He has never done this before. This is also the first time I've had him while the weather is beginning to get chilly. Is this something I should worry about?


Hi Estelle
It's difficult to say for sure what's going on with your pup, but I would recommend that you have your veterinarian take a look at him to make sure that there's no health issue.

It could be that your pup is cold, but it would need to be fairly chilly where he is to make him shiver. Shock, a fever, anxiety, stress or illness can cause shivering and shaking, and only your veterinarian can really determine the exact cause.

If your puppy seems happy, healthy and active when awake and is eating, drinking and eliminating normally, chances are this isn't anything serious, at least at this point. But it's always better to be safe than sorry so have your vet examine your pup.

Best of luck, hope he's doing much better soon.

Large HARD, PINK bumb on my puppy's neck (throat area)

by Dionne Smith-Avery
(Los Angeles)

I noticed a pink bump on my puppy's neck and it's gotten larger over a 2 week period.

I thought it was just acne. However, I squeezed it and blood came out. I dabbed it with alcohol and the top portion has darkened and the bump seems a lot harder. It seems like it's growing into her skin.

Have any ideas what this may be?


Hi Dionne
I'm afraid that I'm not a veterinarian and it's impossible for me to tell what is causing this lump, but I would suggest that you have your veterinarian take a look at it.

Most lumps and bumps in puppies aren't anything to worry about, but it is possible that she has an infection at the site of this lump which could need treatment.

It could have been an insect bite/sting or an injury of some sort that triggered this lump, but as it isn't getting better by itself it needs to be evaluated by a veterinarian. It could be a sebaceous cyst (benign) or something similar too.

I'm sorry that I can't help more, but I think your vet will be able to diagnose this, and treat if necessary, quickly and easily.

Best of luck with your pup.

puppy not eating and vomiting

We got the puppy from the pound on Sat. and she was fine. Then on Sun. she started getting sick throwing up and stop eating.

Took her to the vet on Wed. check for parvo and parasites every thing came back fine. She wasn't running a fever, she has her shots. Still not eating her food, drinks a little water. She been five days without eating.

I'm scared she going to die, she is so weak.



Hi
I'm sorry to hear that your pup is sick, it must be very worrying. The fact that she's had some vaccinations is good, but unless she's had all three sets she isn't fully protected from disease.

I would strongly recommend that you take your pup back to the veterinarian if she is still not eating and is only drinking a little. She is probably already dehydrated and that alone can make a puppy weak and ill. She may need some IV fluids to get her strength back a bit.

I'd also recommend getting a second test for Parvo and parasitic illnesses such as Coccidiosis and Giardia to be on the safe side.

Your vet should be able to make a diagnosis and treat her for whatever is causing the problem. I wish you the best of luck with her and hope she'd doing much better soon.

Sick puppies

I have a liter of shih-tzu puppies and they are fine one hour and then one will stop nursing, i put it on the nipple but it will not suck. This is not the first time, i give them nutri-cal puppy milk and still lose them.

Also some 8 week old puppies started getting diarrhea and throwing up and have already had their shots.

Out of nine pups i have six left. The vet said no parvo, did not know! HELP!




Hi
I'm sorry to hear about what is happening to your puppies, but unfortunately I'm not a veterinarian and I can't really say what is going on. It sounds as though you have two litters who are both experiencing problems, and I suppose it is possible that there is an infection of some sort that is affecting them all.

Even with one (or two) sets of puppy shots, a puppy is not necessarily immune to any infectious dog illnesses that it is exposed to. Although your vet has so far ruled out Parvo, there are other diseases such as Coccidiosis for example, that could cause diarrhea, vomiting and even death in very young pups. Your vet can test for other illnesses such as this by taking a stool sample.

If the momma dogs aren't up to date on their vaccinations it's possible that they have passed something onto their pups, something that isn't doing them any serious harm, but is dangerous to young pups.

Other than that I'm afraid I really can't tell what is causing these issues. I'd strongly recommend going back to your vet and asking for more help. Just saying "I don't know" when pups are dying isn't good enough in my personal opinion.

Sorry that I can't be more help here, but I wish you the very best of luck and hope that your surviving puppies stay healthy.

Bump under her skin around left shoulder.

by Debbie
(Thompsonville, Il.)

One of my 10 week old chihuahua pups has developed a small lump (about the size of a bb) under her skin. It doesn't seem to affect her and wasn't there two days ago. She had her first shot two weeks ago, so I am sure it is not something that developed from an injection.

I have a friend who has 6 week old chihuahua pups and two of her pups has the same thing! Do you have any idea what it might be?


Hi Debbie
I'm afraid I can't say for sure what this bump is, but puppies tend to get all sorts of lumps an bumps and pimples from time to time. 99% of the time they disappear by themselves and never cause a problem. Sometimes they're little sebaceous cysts, other times ingrowing hairs, or bug bites etc. etc.

Although she had her puppy shots two weeks ago, it's possible that this lump is a reaction to them, just developed very slowly. Sometimes these vaccination-related lumps do that and they may linger for weeks, or even months, but they're nothing to worry about.

If this little lump isn't red or inflamed, doesn't seem to contain pus, and isn't painful or itchy, then I would just 'wait and see' for a little while. If it gets bigger, looks sore or irritated, or she seems bothered by it during that time, then a visit to the veterinarian is in order.

You could also try my Ask A Vet page, as you can get a professional opinion from an online vet for a very low price. I don't recommend this service for emergency situations, but for this sort of thing it's a very cost-effective way of getting veterinary advice.

Best of luck with your puppy.

Dog Has Loss of Appetite and Hair Loss

It is a one year old male Chihuahua.

He has a loss of appetite, weight loss, hair loss, restlessness (wants to sleep a lot), but we put some flea medicine on him and a couple days later he became ill.



Hi
I'd strongly recommend that you take your dog to your veterinarian for a full examination. The symptoms you describe indicate that there's something wrong and it needs to be diagnosed and treated before it gets worse.

This may be related to the flea medication that you used. I always warn against using over-the-counter flea products as they can have unwanted side effects. Occasionally these side effects can cause serious problems.

Of course, it could just be a coincidence and your dogs health problems could stem from something totally unrelated.

Only your vet can make that diagnosis and I'd recommend getting your dog examined asap.

I wish you the best of luck and hope that your little guy makes a full, and speedy, recovery.

8 week old pit bull with bow legs

by vikki
(georgia)

my new puppy seems to be bow legged in the front and sometimes he walk on the back part of his front legs with the paw being bent????



Hi Vikki
I'm afraid that I can't say for sure what is going on with your pups' legs. It could be a congenital problem, possibly due to his position in the womb or an inherited flaw.

However, it could also be the result of inadequate, or incorrect, nutrition. A similar sort of 'knuckling over' is most often seen in large breed dogs such as Great Danes.

I would advise you to take your pup to the vet for a full evaluation so that you know what is causing the problem and can get him any treatment he needs.

I'd also suggest that you visit this webpage Puppy Feed Program for Knuckling Over as it has information and advice that may help.

I wish you the best of luck with this and hope that you're able to get this taken care of quickly.

Puppy dribbling urine throughout the house

We adopted our puppy 7 weeks ago from a rescue. They said he was 11 weeks. His teeth have not started falling out so the vet says he is much younger than we were told.

He has been completely housebroken for 4 weeks now. Tonight in a matter of 2 hours he dribbled throughout the house 5 times. Do we need to get him to the vet?



Hi
I'd say "yes", get your vet to take a look at him. The most likely scenario is that he has a urinary tract infection.

UTI's can cause urgent and frequent urination, and often a pup will pass only a few drops at a time, or dribble because they can't control it.

A round of antibiotics normally clears up the problem. Your vet will be able to diagnose the problem (a UTI or any other) and get your pup taken care of.

Best of luck.

Puppy puking and pooping clear liquid

by Debbi
(Albany, Oregon)

My 6 week old basset hound puppy woke up this morning puking clear liquid. I took her outside to go potty and she pooped and peed, brought her back in and she started to poop on the floor. I took her back out and she went poop again, it was a little runny. She then went walked a few steps and squatted again as though she needed to poop again this time it was clear liquid. She dragged her bottom a few more times and the was fine.

Now she is laying near me and her tummy is gurgling. She had her first shot five days ago and has seemed fine since, until this morning.



Hi Debbi
Your pup is still very young, and if you've only just got her, the tummy upset could be due to stress and maybe a change in diet. It's not unusual for a pup to have some loose bowels and sometimes a little vomiting during the first day or two. You can read more about this on my Bringing Home A New Puppy page.

However, if you've had her for a while now, or she's a pup that you've bred and raised yourself, and this is a new behavior then I would recommend watching her very closely. If she has any more episodes of this then check with your veterinarian, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Best of luck with your little girl.

my 4 day old puppy stopped eating

by rich
(ks)

my 4 day old pup was doing fine until today. after she ate 10 hours ago her belly looked hard and she quit moving around. her belly has since loosened a little but still is not moving much and won't eat.

she is yawning a lot and has not pooped in the last 10 hours and we have tried to get her to by rubbing her with a cotton ball.



Hi Rich
With a puppy this young, not eating is a big deal. She's at high risk of getting dehydrated and weak, when this happens puppies often just slip into lethargy and may well die.

I'd recommend that you have this pup examined by a vet to make sure that there's no underlying health issue such as infection. If she's simply constipated, a vet may be able to do an enema if necessary, to get things moving again.

In a pup who is constipated but otherwise doing fine, you can make the feeds a little more dilute to increase the water intake, and add in another one or two feeds to the day to make sure they get enough nutrition.

However, in a pup that won't eat, won't or can't poop, and is lethargic, you need professional evaluation before you do anything. For lots of tips and advice on caring for newborn pups, check out my New Born Puppies page.

I wish you the best of luck and hope that this little guy is doing better soon.

9mnth old puppy, severely bowlegged

by B.R
(LI, NY, USA)

Look at his front paws, turning almost completely sideways

Hello. I have a 9 month old mixed breed puppy. According to the puppy store I bought him from he is half Pekingese and half Puggle (pug/beagle mix). When I bought the puppy he was almost three months old, and looked perfect as can be! Overall he has never exhibited signs of being sick, and he is always very happy and energetic!

However, over the past couple of months people started commenting to me about how bowlegged his front legs are. Basically, his front paws turn completely outwards instead of forward! More and more as people have pointed this out to me, I've begun to worry. Im not worried about aesthetics, I love my puppy just the way he is, but I am worried that this severe bowleggedness hurts him. He never acts like he is in pain, he's very hyper and always running around, but I worry about the future.

He wasn't bowlegged when I bought him, and I've looked at various pictures I've taken of him throughout the past 9 months and his legs seemed to have been straight right up until about 6 months when the bowleggedness starts to show.

What should I do? Will his bowleggedness get even worse? Will his bowleggedness cause him pain in the future? Is there something I can do to avoid this? Please help me, he's like my child and I can't stop worrying!



Hi BR
I know how worrying it is when you're pup is sick or hurt, but I don't think you need to panic over this or get too upset at this point.

You say that your pup is half Pekingese and I think that may have a lot to do with it. Purebred Pekingese have bowed front legs, it's part of the breed characteristics, and generally it doesn't cause any particular problems. Personally, I think that this trait is what you're seeing in your pup.

However, as your little one is a mixed breed, and may end up carrying more weight on those bowed legs than a Peke would, I would suggest that you keep an eye on him to make sure that he doesn't start to show any lameness or signs of pain/distress. Otherwise, chances are he'll be just fine especially as he seems mobile and health
otherwise.

Of course there could be other reasons for his bow legs, it could possibly be a dietary deficiency (or even too much of something in his diet), or a joint problem. However, I think these are less likely.

BUT I would most definitely recommend that you have your pup examined by your veterinarian and that you explain your concerns to him. That way, your pup can be evaluated and your mind can be put at rest. If there is a problem that needs treating, he will get the help he needs. If not, you will be able to stop worrying about your little boy.

I hope this helps. I wish you the best of luck with him, he's a cute little guy.

My puppy is 4 months and has parvo.

by nicole rodriguez
(dearborn heights, mi)

she made it through two nights and is now throwing up clear mucus. she threw up 2 times last night and 2 times today. she is on treatment does this mean she is getting better or worse?



Hi Nicole
The fact that your pup is four months old is in her favor, if she's had any Parvo vaccinations that would also be a plus.

Canine Parvovirus is a very serious disease and can kill a young puppy within 24 hours, as your pup is a bit older and has already survived 2 days and nights, I would tentatively hope that she is going to make it.

However, the most acute phase of Parvo usually lasts around 7 days or so, and even a pup who survives to this point has a long recovery period ahead of them, and may still succumb to secondary infection, or occasionally secondary cardiac problems.

IV fluids to combat the dangerous dehydration associated with this illness, plus anti-biotics for secondary infections, and anti-nausea drugs (sometimes plus corticosteroids) are the usual treatment. If your pup is receiving veterinary prescribed treatment, then you are giving her the best possible chance of survival.

Just keep doing what you're doing and hope and pray for the best, that's really all you can do. Personally I would think you can be cautiously optimistic about her chances, but as she's by no means 'out of the woods' yet, don't get your hopes too high for a little longef.

I wish you the best of luck and hope your little girl is one of the lucky ones that survives Parvo.