How to tell if puppy is sick and what to do

by Rachel
(SD)

My 10 month old miniature pinscher is very warm to the touch and shivering when he's not bundled up in blankets. His breath smells extremely strong and awful. He won't eat or drink, and his nose is dry (not wet like it usually is).

Is it possible for dogs to get colds, and if so what should I do to make him feel better?






Hi Rachel
Dogs don't get 'colds' the way people do, but they can get upper respiratory tract infections... either bacterial or viral.

However, I'm not sure that's what is wrong here. I'm not a veterinarian so I can't give you a diagnosis but I can say that you need to get your dog to a veterinarian right away.

From what you describe he is most definitely not feeling well, and it could be something serious. If he's had all his puppy shots, then hopefully it's not one of the more serious contagious dog illnesses that unvaccinated puppies are at risk of catching. But there are a lot of other possibilities.

Please get him to your vet asap as there's nothing you can do to help him until you find out exactly what is wrong - and only a 'hands on' exam from a vet can tell you that.

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