Is my puppy ill or just adjusting to his new home?

by Laura Evans
(GB)

My partner bought our new puppy a week ago as a surprise. He is now 8 weeks old. For the first few days he was very playful and was eating and drinking fine, but over the last few days he has began to eat and drink a lot less. He is lethargic and no longer interested in playing and appears to be losing weight.

His 1st injections are booked for Thursday but should i take him to the vet sooner?(also his breath is very smelly could this be connected?)I'm very worried,

Thankyou.






Hi Laura
I'd definitely suggest you get your pup to see your veterinarian as soon as you can, don't wait until Thursday.

It sounds as though he may be sick in some way, and as he's not vaccinated and is very young, he's at risk of contracting several contagious dog illnesses

Often during the first few days to a week or so, a puppy will be a bit quieter than he normally is, and may not eat much. However, it sounds as though your pup was fine to begin with, so I'm inclined to think that's he's sick, rather than simply adjusting to his new home.

Of course I could be wrong, but with puppies it's always better to be safe than sorry, as early intervention can make a world of difference for a sick pup. Your vet will be able to give you an accurate evaluation and if your little guy needs any treatment he'll get it quickly.

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