Raw Hide Chews & Puppies

How early can I give my puppy raw hide chews to keep him from chewing everything else?






Hi
Rawhide is one of those toys that dogs absolutely love, but that has to be used with caution and supervision.

A small puppy isn't likely to be able to chew up a large rawhide toy and so it's fairly safe to allow them to play with one, however you need to supervise constantly and if he should succeed in ripping part off, or softening it to the point where he could ingest a piece, then you need to remove the toy right away.

I'd recommend that you check out this page... Rawhide Dog Chews as it has lots of tips and advice on choosing the safest rawhide toy/chew and how to allow your dog to enjoy them with the minimum of risk.

Hope this helps, best of luck with your pup.

grunting

by victoria
(nc)

my puppy is half wiener dog and half chihuahua and when i pick her up she makes a grunting noise.

I've never noticed this before so please help me, is it normal?







Hi Victoria
Puppies (and even older dogs) often make a sort of 'grunting' noise when they're picked up, or sometimes when they're being petted.

As long as your pup doesn't seem to be in pain and is happy, healthy and active I wouldn't worry about this. However, if you're worried about her health at all, or she's showing any signs of feeling unwell I'd recommend having your vet check her out.

Best of luck with your pup.

POTTY TRAINING MY PUPPY

by shirley
(los angeles, ca)

I have a 10 week old puppy have been crating him for weeks now. only had 2 accidents. However he poops in the house and pees also. I take him, out in the morning and make him go poop. Then I feed him and wait 20 to 30 minutes to poop again. He poops and pees outside a second time. I let him in the house and poops again. He is not finishing his poops outside and even pee sometime.

I put him in a certain area everyday same spot and he sits for a while.what can i do. Also he keeps itching himself a lot. Has no fleas. Always in the same spot.







Hi Shirley
This is pretty common with puppies, and the best way to overcome it is to use the crate a little more.

For example, in the morning after his 'after breakfast potty break', bring him inside and put him in his crate for 15 minutes, THEN take him back outside and he should 'finish up'. Once he's done that you can bring him inside for play time.

Also be sure to supervise him whenever he's indoors so that you can 'catch him in the act', that way you can correct him immediately and take him outside. There's no point at all in reprimanding a puppy after the fact, they simply don't understand.

Hope this helps, best of luck.

Questions about strep and hip displasia in a Lab puppy

by Lynn
(Taft, TN)

I have 4 week old Lab puppies.

Last Saturday we took 2 of the 9 to the Vet.
They had a fever and one of them could not use it's back legs.They Vet did blood work and said it was strep. We started Clavamox and they started getting better.

1) How do puppies get Strep?
After starting the medicine 6 days ago, the pups have not had a fever after the first 2 days.
I have kept the puppies separate.

2) When can I put the pups all together?
Now the pup that couldn't use it's back legs is very awkwardly trying to walk.
She is very wobbly like she doesn't have control of her muscles.

3) Could this be caused by the strep?
She was walking fine for 3 weeks. She is perfect is every other way. The Vet today seems unsure. I didn't get a solid answer.
He took ex-rays and said she had hip dysplasia.
I have had the parents hips checked in the past, and they have good hips.

4) Does hip displasia just mean the hip is displaced?

5) What can be done?

6) Is there a surgery?

7) Do they out grow it? How long does that take?
Considering the back legs just dangled Sat. and now she can awkwardly walk a little ways, she has gotten a wee bit better every day.
Any answers, suggestions and input is Greatly Appreciated!!!!!!

Thanks and God bless, Lynn







Hi Lynn
That's a lot of questions :o) Unfortunately I'm not a veterinarian and I really think that most of the questions you have would be better answered by your vet as he/she is the professional and has the training and expertise to help you.

However, as far as hip dysplasia goes, I'd recommend that you read this webpage - Hip Dysplasia In Dogs as it has lots of information on about this condition and should answer many of your questions.

As for the strep, I'm not too sure how your pups would have contracted it, but it's a bacterial infection and usually pretty contagious so you did the right thing by separating the puppies. I would imagine by now the affected pups are no longer contagious to the others, but I'd double-check with your vet just to be sure, before putting them back with their siblings.

Although strep (and other infections or conditions) can cause arthritic symptoms in puppies and dogs, I'm not certain they would have been so severe as to cause the pups' legs to just 'dangle'. However, if she is now doing better then I guess it's possible. Perhaps she has mild hip dysplasia which was made visible due to the effects of the infection. Again, I'm not a vet so I'm really just speculating - your vet should be the one with the answers.

If your adult dogs have OFA certification of 'Good' or 'Excellent', then the chances of the puppies having hip dysplasia is much less than for dogs who have not been screened - but it's not a guarantee that an individual pup won't show symptoms or have hip problems I'm afraid.

I wish I could give you more help/info, but hopefully this will help some. Your vet should be able to fill in the rest. I wish you the very best of luck and hope this little girl makes a full recovery.

8 week old puppy - when to have her next set of puppy shots?

I will be getting an 8 week old puppy in a few weeks (a Malshi). She will have had 2 of her puppy shots, de-worming, and ear mite treatment.

When will I need to get her 3rd puppy shot and rabies shot (I saw around 13 weeks or something like that)? Also, I have read that until puppies have all their shots, they shouldn't be out a lot or going to different places where they could get sick.

If I can't get her 3rd shot as soon as I get her, am I still unable to take her places?






Hi
Puppy shots should be given at three week intervals, and your pup will need to have had 3 sets of the combination vaccine plus the Rabies shot to be fully protected.

As she's only 8 weeks old and has already had 2 sets of shots, she may need an additional set, but that is up to your veterinarian. For now, calculate 3 weeks from the date of her second set and set up an appointment then for her third set. The Rabies vaccination is given at about 16 weeks of age.

She will also need to be dewormed at the same time as the shots are given.

It's not safe for a puppy who isn't fully vaccinated to come in contact with areas where other, unvaccinated, dogs may have been. There is a risk that she will pick up an infection or illness (such as Canine Parvovirus) because her immunity is not complete.

You can take her to the homes of dogs that you know are fully vaccinated and healthy, and as she's a small breed you can take her out with you as long as you carry her and don't allow her to come in contact with the ground in public places such as sidewalks, parks etc. etc.

Hope this helps, best of luck with your new pup.

Rigor Mortis 'episodes' in newborn puppy?

I am currently trying to rehabilitate a 4 day old pup that could not get mom's colostrum because she was too aggressive and killed one of the pups in her litter. Original owners brought the puppies back in a few days later, 3 were already dead and the rest were hypothermic and mal-nourished.

I am aware that the puppy is already at a huge disadvantage without mom's milk, and have been using esbilac as primary food source. My main concern is randomly the puppy seems to become vocal and then go into a state of complete rigor mortis. I actually thought he was dead and then a few minutes later saw him breathing again...when i picked him up his muscles were no longer tightened and he was "normal" once again.

I asked the vet who said that he has seen puppies do this before but doesn't know the cause. I'm wondering if hes lacking calcium, Na, or K... or am I causing this to happen? I did give SQ injections of LRS, but time wise it doesn't appear to fit. any ideas?





Hi
Hand-raising puppies is always a bit tricky and sometimes a pup will die in spite of your very best efforts, and for no apparent reason.

I haven't had personal experience of this particular type of behavior in a newborn puppy, but from research that I've done it would seem that perhaps low blood sugar, or deyhdration, or both, is behind these muscle contractions.

Perhaps you could try adding a little Karo syrup to the formula you're using, or give the pup some water/sugar mixture to help raise the blood sugar. If he's not nursing well this may also help with any borderline dehydration problems. If you're in a veterinary office you could perhaps give some subcutaneous fluids too.

Apart from that I'm afraid I really can't say what may be causing this little pups' behavior but I hope that the above measures help. If you're not already giving him Nutri-Cal or something similar perhaps that would help too?

I'm sorry that I can't help more, but I wish you the very best of luck and hope this little one survives and grows big and strong.

My puppy has a pot belly but she doesn't have worms?

I just got a 10 week old puppy from a private owner and we asked them if they were dewormed and he said he dewormed them when they were 5 weeks old.

We brought her home and he was a little thin and after we feed her, her belly got big. Do I need to be worried. We gave her wormer to make sure she doesn't have them.

Becca







Hi Becca
Puppies need to be dewormed several times within the first few months and it should be done by a veterinarian with a vet-approved medication. Over the counter dewormers aren't very effective and can have unwanted, even dangerous, side effects.

Most puppies have puppy worms to begin with and as long as they're treated properly they shouldn't cause any long term problem. But you definitely need to have your vet do this for you, usually at the same time as your pup gets her puppy shots is recommended.

Young puppies can often eat very greedily and too much food (or swallowing a lot of air) can make their tummies swell up and look bloated. It's pretty normal and gets better as they grow older.

Puppies are also well known for eating stuff they shouldn't and if a pup ingests something like a sock, stuffing from a toy, newspaper etc. etc., it can sometimes get 'stuck' inside, causing an obstruction. This can lead to a swollen tummy, but in that case you'd also notice other signs of distress such as vomiting, straining to poop, excessive panting, pacing or whining. Lethargy, loss of appetite etc. etc. If you notice any of these things get your pup to a vet right away.

Hope this helps. Best of luck with your puppy.

kid friendly dogs

by steven
(flower mound TX USA )

what is the best dog for kids ten years old?



Hi Steven
There are a number of dog breeds that are excellent with children, and some of them aren't the first ones to come to mind.

I'd recommend that you take a look at my Best Dog Breeds For Children page as it has all the tips and advice you need.

My Best Dog Breeds For Families might also be helpful.

Best of luck with whichever breed you choose.

rawhide chew toy for 2 month old mini schnauzer?

by Wendy
(Canada)

Is it appropriate to give a 2 month old mini schnauzer rawhide to chew on?

I am aware of the supervision required to prevent choking etc.





Hi Wendy
I actually just answered a very similar question right here... Rawhide Chews & Puppies so I think you'll find all the info. you want right there.

Best of luck with your puppy.

dog fell from bed

by elai
(philippines)

help, my 1 month old mini pinscher fell from bed, and suddenly he become very weak.. what will i do?




Hi Elai
You need to get your pup seen by a veterinarian right away. If there are no outward sign of injury he could still have internal injuries and only a professional can find out what's wrong.

Please get him veterinary help right away. Best of luck, hope he makes a full recovery.

Frenchie ears - are they going to be correct?

by Eve
(California)

Hello, I am buying a French Bulldog puppy. She is six weeks old right now. I asked for current pictures.

I am concerned about her ears. In the photo the one ear that is going up looks like a propeller. I've had Frenchies as young a five weeks and their ears were going up not sideways like this one.

Should I be concerned? Thanks in advance, Eve





Hi Eve
I've not owned French Bulldogs myself, but having been 'mom' to many other breeds over the years I am pretty familiar with the very unpredictable nature of puppy ears!

As I don't have personal experience with the breed, and I'm not a vet, what I say is purely my personal opinion and you are probably more of an expert than I am on this particular topic.

Personally I wouldn't worry too much about this puppys' ears at such a young age. There's a LOT of time for them to go up (and probably down and sideways too) before they settle into their permanent position. Puppy ears are notoriously unpredictable and generally during the early months, and teething phases, can go up and down and any-which-way on a daily basis.

If you've chosen your breeder carefully and trust him/her (which is the preferred situation), I would discuss this with them. They know their dogs, puppies and the breed in general and should be able to give you an honest evaluation of her ear set - both now and in the future.

If you're buying this pup as a show prospect, then you may want to wait a little while before committing and make sure you're happy with the rest of this pups' conformation. Of course, a show pup can only be sold as 'show potential' due to their young age and there are no guarantees in that sort of situation.

Otherwise, if the pup has everything else you want, the breeder is excellent etc. etc., the ears should be less of a concern and will most likely be absolutely fine when she is fully grown.

This is a personal decision that only you can make, with as much expert input as possible and following your own inclinations and experience. I hope I've helped a little and wish you the best of luck with whatever decision you make.

Are Goldendoodles good with children? ; ]

I was wondering if goldendoodles are good with kids. they are a mix of a golden retriever and a poodle.

Are those two dogs good with kids. I think they are but i want to know if you think so too. PLEASE COMMENT! :]








Hi
It's impossible to say that every member of a particular breed will be great with kids or make a good family dog, but in general some breeds are more likely to be good with children than others.

Golden Retrievers are usually great with children, and Poodles also make good family pets, so a Goldendoodle should be a suitable choice for a family pet.

However, in any litter there is going to be a variation in both looks and temperament among the puppies, some may be nervous or anxious, others more dominant. Generally if you're looking for a family pet you want the most 'middle-of-the-road' pup, one who isn't shy, but isn't the boldest either!

Check out both these pages for more tips, info. and advice on picking a family dog....

Best Dog Breeds For Families

Best Dog Breeds For Children

As Goldendoodles are a hybrid breed, you may also be interested in my Designer Dog Breeds

Hope this helps, best of luck with whatever breed you choose.

14 week old Morkie keeps waking up at 230am every night

by Kellie
(Media, Pa)

I adopted my Morkie puppy 3 weeks ago. She is doing good with potty training however she keeps getting up at 2:30am every night to go to the bathroom(mostly poop).

I tried ignoring her one night and leaving her in the cage but then she pooped in her cage and all over herself.

Will this eventually stop as she gets older, the getting up at 2:30am part or should I try ignoring her again?






Hi Kellie
Most puppies need at least one 'potty break' during the night until they're around 12 - 16 weeks old, particularly the smaller breeds.

DON'T ignore her, she needs to go outside, and if she gets in the habit of pooping in her crate it will seriously interfere with the progress you're making on potty training.

I know it's tiring and inconvenient to have to get up in the night, but this is part of the responsibilities of puppy parenthood! However, although you need to take her outside to eliminate, don't make her night-time awakenings fun for her. Don't make eye contact, be really low key and quiet, don't talk to her (other than the usual 'potty command' that you use) and as soon as she's peed/pooped bring her back inside and put her straight back to bed.

She will eventually stop doing this as she (and her bladder/bowel control) matures, it's just a matter of time. If you handle it in the way I've described above, this should be sooner rather than later.

Hope it helps, best of luck with your puppy.

Puppy 14 weeks old swallowed small rib bone whole!

by Beth
(Georgia)

Is this a major problem or will her stomach be able to break it down?

She made it through the night without a problem, but I am concerned.





Hi Beth
Puppies have a habit of swallowing all sorts of things that they shouldn't, but luckily most of the time the object 'comes out the other end' without any real trouble.

However, there is always a risk that something sharp will damage or puncture the stomach or intestines; that cloth or string will get entangled internally; or that rawhide or some other large object will get stuck and cause an obstruction. In these cases emergency veterinary help is needed.

If your pup is acting normally, eating and drinking okay and is active and happy, then for now I wouldn't panic. Just keep a close eye on her and watch for signs of the bone (or what's left of it) reappearing.

However, if she seems out of sorts in any way, doesn't want to eat/drink, appears lethargic or retches/vomits or seems constipated, then you'll need to get her to your veterinarian right away for an examination.

If you are in doubt at all it's always better to err on the side of caution and get an expert opinion.

Hope this helps and that your little girl has no ill-effects from this experience!

Vaccinations

by Dianna
(Utah U.S.A.)

I have 2 shitzu puppies that need immunizations. I have purchased the Solo-Jec 5 Plus but am wondering if they can handle a full dose shot.

I understand they need 3 series at 3-4 week intervals but in the past have had keeshounds which required split doses.

The puppies are 10 weeks old and weigh about 1.5 lbs.






Hi Dianna
I'm afraid I'm not a veterinarian and don't give puppy shots myself, so I can't really answer this question.

I'd strongly recommend that you call your own vet and ask him/her about the dosage etc. as that would be the safest route.

Sorry I can't help more. Best of luck with your puppies.

Not walking yet

by Elly
(Seattle Wa)

We have a Lhasa Apso 20 days old and still not able to walk, I am so worried cause i can see she is very healthy and eating from mom very well but she can't walk.

Why? please!!!!!






Hi Elle
I wish I could answer this question for you but you really need to have this little girl examined by your vet to find out if there actually is a problem or not.

At 20 days she's still very young, but should be stumbling around or mobile to some degree at this age. Small and tiny breeds can sometimes be slower to develop than the larger ones too.

If she's eating well and is happy and healthy otherwise, it may just be a developmental delay for some reason. However, only a vet can make sure that there are no underlying health issues that are causing the problem so I'd advise you to have her examined asap.

Best of luck, hope she's doing just fine soon.

Lump on roof of puppys' mouth

by Julie
(ohio)

I just noticed a lump on the roof of my 5 month old puppies mouth..

Any idea what this could be?





Hi Julie
This is something I'd recommend you have your veterinarian check out.

Puppies tend to chew on anything and everything, and it's possible he's injured his mouth in some way. A tumor of some kind is possible, but I would think unlikely in such a young pup. Maybe just a structural defect?

Only your veterinarian can make an accurate diagnosis and I'd suggest having him take a look so you can rule out any real problem, and get treatment (such as antibiotics) if necessary.

Sorry I can't help more. I wish you the best of luck with your pup - he's gorgeous.

New born puppy ate her mom's bloody discharge

by Martha Celemin
(Fort Lee, nj)

My dog had 6 puppies last week. One of the puppies instead of going for her nipples always goes to her vagina and I found that the puppy was licking the bloody discharge.

Could the puppy get sick from doing that? I try to check every time they have to eat but sometimes I can't be there. Thank you for your advice.







Hi Martha
Actually this isn't as uncommon as you may think. New born puppies sometimes get confused and end up sucking on the wrong area - or even on each other!

Generally it doesn't cause a problem, but whenever possible do redirect this pup and help it latch onto a nipple if necessary. As long as the puppy seems to be gaining weight and is contented I wouldn't worry too much. If you have any concerns about his/her health though, do please talk to your vet.

Best of luck.

my 7wk. old yorkie puppy!

by elizabeth
(tucker ga)

she is eating basic puppy food now, but she got a hold of little pieces of hot dogs that i had torn up for the mama and daddy of her! will this harm her at all and how! i am worried now.

she went nuts over them, once i noticed her i tried to stop her from grabbing more! it was crazy! please give me advice. thank you!







Hi Elizabeth
A few pieces of hot dog shouldn't harm your puppy, but it may give her an upset tummy!

Puppy diarrhea is fairly common, and often the result of 'dietary indiscretions', so if this happens don't be too surprised.

Of course hot dogs contain a lot of salt, artificial additives etc. and aren't nutritious, but generally they're not actually dangerous :)

Best of luck with your pup.

dark urine after puppy vaccinations

by f pembroke
(rural nc)

My terrier puppy got a canine spectra 5 today, about lunchtime. He's 16 weeks old, and weighs a little over five pounds.

This evening, his urine is orange. No fever, eating well, pooping and peeing as usual. The only symptom is the dark urine.

Could this be from the shot?





Hi
It's possible that this could be a result of getting his puppy shots. It's not something I've seen personally but imagine it could happen.

Dark urine could also be a sign that he's not getting enough fluids, so increase his water intake to help with that.

As long as your pup seems perfectly healthy and happy otherwise I wouldn't worry too much about this. However, if you have any concerns about his health I'd strongly suggest contacting your vet and discussing it with him/her. It's always better to be safe than sorry with puppies.

Best of luck with your pup

introduce strange dog in house

is it alright to hold a pup that's 4 months old in your house which my dog just had a pup that's 3 days old the new dog is unknown if the pup had shots?





Hi
Newborn puppies generally get immunity to most major infectious canine illnesses from their mommas milk, and if your new puppies are being nursed by their mom and she's been fully vaccinated (and is up to date with them), then they should be okay but I wouldn't recommend letting the strange pup around them, or in the area where they're being kept.

However, as you don't know if this new pup has had any puppy shots it's definitely a risk to have him in your home, around your own dogs especially with new puppies.

I'd strongly recommend getting him examined by a vet and have his vaccinations done right away, and then keep him away from the new puppies and their momma for at least a few weeks. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

new jack russell puppy hasn't pooped yet!

by david
(pasadena, ca)

We just got a jack russell and have been feeding her regular puppy chow. She has not defecated in 24 hours. is it the food maybe?

She doesn't seem to be in any discomfort. should i be worried?





Hi David
It's not that unusual for a puppy to 'hold it' for a day or so when they come into a new home - not the pee, just the poop!

It's all part of the stress effects that you often see during the first week or so. I'd recommend that you check out my Bringing Home A New Puppy page as it has lots of info. on what to expect.

It's not a good idea to change over to a different puppy food abruptly, but to gradually faze out the old and faze in the new over a period of a week or so.

Puppy Chow isn't a good food and I'd recommend that you check out the pages on my site that talk about feeding puppies, and how to choose a nutritious food as it's very important that puppies get their unique nutritional needs met.

Hope this helps, best of luck with your puppy.

loose motions in puppy

by LATIKA
(INDIA)

My 6 week old Lab Puppy has been having slightly loose motions 6-7 times a day after I gave him Drontal for deworming. Is this normal?

He is otherwise active and eating well. He is on a diet of Weaning Puppy food from Pedigree.





Hi Latika
Deworming medications can cause tummy upset in puppies, and it's possible that this is the problem. If your pup seems happy and healthy otherwise then hopefully he is okay.

Weaning can also cause loose motions as a sudden change in diet is one of the common causes of puppy diarrhea.

As your pup grows you may be interested in the information on this page.... Feed Program For Overseas as it has lots of useful information for dog owners living in India and Asia.

Best of luck with your puppy.

What treats should I give my 8-week old pup?

I love your site. We are bringing home our new lab pup this weekend.

Am I allowed to give her commercially prepared treats to train her, or do I need to wait until she is older?

How much older? What treats can and should I give her at this age?





Hi
Most dog treats are fine for puppies, but in general I'd advise staying away from those that are highly colored or flavored as these ingredients can cause an upset tummy or allergies.

Freeze-dried liver treats, plain dog biscuits, Biljac liver treats or frozen Biljac are the ones I use most often.

You can also give your pup tiny pieces of cheese or hot-dog (sliced thin and microwaved until crisp).

Whatever treats you choose, give them sparingly as you don't want to fill your puppy up with treats to the extent that he/she isn't hungry at mealtimes!

Best of luck with your new addition.

beagle pup dried up

by vickiespencer
(jefferson county new york)

are beagle just had a litter of pups it's 3 wks, we are afraid her milk is drying we don't have a lot of money could we give them evaporated milk?






Hi Vickie
When puppies are somewhere between 3 and 4 weeks of age their momma will naturally begin to wean them.... often she will reduce the amount of time she lets them nurse.

Sometimes she will even regurgitate some food for them as a kind of 'baby food', but although this behavior is common in wolves and wild canines it's generally less common in domesticated dogs.

Evaporated milk doesn't have the nutrients your puppies need, and the best replacement to help them through this weaning stage is puppy formula available in pet stores. The powdered variety is cheaper than the ready-made liquids.

However, if you want a home-made formula, check out this webpage as it has great tips and advice (and an excellent formula recipe) for bottle feeding pups, plus lots of additional information ...... Bottle Feeding Puppies.

Hope this helps, best of luck with your puppies.

Hurt Back Hind quarters and tail

We have a 4 month old akita puppy and she has hurt her back end and tail when we left her in the large kennel.

Hind legs, tail is now down and she drags her legs when she tries to run, Vet took ex-rays and could not see anything broke or damaged. Her tail is still down and legs are still weak.

Any ideas on how we can help her? thank you.





Hi
I'm afraid this is definitely a situation where you need to rely on your veterinarian for answers as it's impossible for me to gauge what might have happened.

If your pup is improving, albeit slowly, hopefully it's just a strain or sprain or something similar. The X-ray would presumably have shown up any breaks or fractures.

If you have a crate for her I'd recommend using that to help keep her contained and not put too much pressure on her rear end as she recovers. Other than that your vet will be able to advise you better than I can I'm afraid.

I wish I could help more but I do wish you the very best of luck and hope that your pup makes a full recovery.

Phone Hitting puppy in the head will he be ok?

by Veronica
(USA)

We have a 5 week puppy and my sisters black berry fell and hit him on top of the head. Now he has like an small indention. Will he be ok?





Hi Veronica
If he has an indention in his skull, then he may have fractured the bone. If he's a small or tiny breed the chances of this are much higher.

I can only recommend that you have your vet look at him to make sure that no real damage has been done, as head injuries can be very serious and don't always show symptoms immediately.

Best of luck, hope he's 100% okay now.

What breed is my puppy?

by Jessica Garrett
(Houston, TX)

A guy gave me this puppy that he said was two months old when she was really three to four weeks i think..

He said she is a full german shepherd, but i am not sure. I don't think she has big enough paws. She is now five to six weeks old i think.

I see some german shepherd and maybe siberian husky. Please let me know what you think!!!







Hi Jessica
She does look like a very young puppy, maybe around 6 weeks or so in those photos. It's very difficult to guess what breeds she may have in her background though - especially from a photo and at this age.

It's possible that she's full-blood German Shepherd, she has the ears, coloring and markings of a GSD. However the only way to know for sure would be to see both her parents and I'm guessing that's not possible.

If I were you I wouldn't worry too much about what breed (or mixture of breeds) she is, just love her for the unique and individual puppy that she is.

She's an adorable little girl and very pretty, as long as she's happy and healthy that's all you need. Best of luck with her.

Vomiting of New 4-mo old mixed-breed puppy

by Edna Powers
(San Bernardino, CA)

We are over-the-road truck drivers, and purchased a 4-mo old mixed breed puuppy (part Chihuahua, part Terrier, we think).

She seemed to be doing quite fine and acting playful and healthy earlier today; but when we finished our puppy shopping and fed her the first meal of "Science Diet, Small Breed Puppy Food", several bouts of vomiting followed. She has vomited about 4 times withing the past 6 hours since feeding her. Her last episode was just a few minutes ago, and produced nothing (just dry heaves).

The first few bouts of vomiting produced the food which she ate. Now, her tummy seems to have been emptied and she is looking kind of weak and won't drink water. We are unable to gradually introduce this new food, since the seller provided nothing but the dog, and we have no way to contact the seller.

What can you suggest to help to keep her food down and/or stop the vomiting episodes? Should we give her water by a dropper? Please help! Thanks






Hi Edna
Such severe vomiting is unusual as a reaction to a change in diet, and I'm concerned that it indicates one of the many dog illnesses that puppies are at risk of catching.

Puppy vomiting is a major symptom in many canine conditions, and in puppies it may signal Canine Parvovirus which is extremely serious.

If your pup can't/won't drink water (or keep it down), or eat, and seems lethargic and sick, you need to get veterinary help for her immediately. Only a vet can make an accurate diagnosis and get her the help that she needs.

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