jack russell pup

by joanne
(redditch, uk)

I brought an 8 week old jack russell male puppy today, he seems happy and healthy however he has a really big pot belly, is it normal for him to have a big belly at his age?

He doesnt seem to be in any pain with it, its just that hes tiny and his belly is really big.




Hi Joanne
Most puppies have a bit of a fat 'puppy tummy', but if your pups tummy seems out of proportion with his body he may well have worms.

This is very common in puppies, and is easily treated by your veterinarian. Although worms aren't a big problem in the short term, if left untreated they can cause some serious health issues.

Don't use over the counter products to treat your pup, you need to know exactly what type of worms they are. Plus, OTC medications are often not very effective and can have unwanted side effects.

It's always a good idea to have a new puppy checked over by a vet anyway. You can read more about worms and how to deal with them on my Puppy Worms page.

Best of luck with your new puppy.