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With a litter or two on the ground, a breeder’s hands are full of cleaning, weighing, handling, and much more. Having so much to do, it can be hard to catch the beginning stages of a sick puppy. Despite extensive research, first–time owners may not know the warning signs of certain illnesses and how a sick puppy might look or behave. AKC Pet Insurance has put together a quick checklist to help breeders and their new puppy owners catch the signs of illness early.
While puppies do need a significant amount of sleep, doing nothing but sleeping is a concern. After the first few weeks, if a puppy isn’t engaging in play with littermates or curious about exploring the world, they may not be feeling their best. A puppy who just lounges around and lacks enthusiasm should be examined further to ensure they aren’t starting to show symptoms of being sick.
Check puppies daily by running your hands over their bodies to confirm there are no ticks, fleas, insects or wounds. Puppies can be clumsy and are still learning how to play safely with others. Accidents such as scratches and scrapes can occur that may need attention. If a puppy’s coat loses its luster or becomes patchy, a visit to the veterinarian is in order.
Puppies eat a lot! Big life changes, such as a puppy moving to his new home, may cause a temporary lapse in appetite, but once he’s settled, he should be happy to chow down. While the amount and type of food that a puppy should eat changes based on age, if a puppy isn’t eating as much as usual or is having trouble keeping food down (vomiting), it’s time to visit your veterinarian.
If a puppy is scratching or rubbing his ears, shaking his head, or you notice a foul odor coming from his ears, he may have an ear infection. While adult dogs generally experience ear infections due to bacteria and yeast growth, ear infections in puppies are more typically due to mites. If you suspect an ear infection in a puppy, visit your vet who will do an examination, clean out the ears, and recommend a medicated ear cleaning solution for your use at home.
A puppy’s eyes should be clear and free of goop. There are several eye conditions that can cause issues, such as pink eye and dry eye. If a puppy is squinting, excessively blinking, pawing at his eyes or has discharge, you should visit the vet right away.
Since puppies are known for eating things they shouldn’t, puppy diarrhea is, unfortunately, a common symptom of varying issues. Reasons a puppy may have diarrhea include diet change, bacterial infection, viral infection, ingestion of foreign bodies, parasites, or stress. A puppy with diarrhea should be observed, and the vet should be called. You can explain any additional symptoms to the vet, and he can tell you if the puppy should be brought in for a visit.
Many breeders track the weight of puppies at minimum through the first two weeks of life. Ensure that puppies are steadily gaining weight and receiving proper nourishment. This is the best way to help them become strong enough to fight off illness. Once a puppy heads home, new owners can track weight by teaching their puppy to sit or stand on a scale or by understanding body condition scoring. Losing weight and reduced interest in eating is another concern. In this case, the puppy may be sick and should be taken to the vet right away.
As the caretaker of a litter or an individual puppy, you should know the routines of your dogs. Be aware when behavior deviates from normal. A puppy who usually is bright and active when handled might suddenly become quiet and nonreactive if they’re feeling sick. If a puppy suddenly becomes more vocal, with increased whining or whimpering, he may be trying to let you know that something is wrong.
How Serious is Vomiting in Puppies?
Generally speaking, occasional bouts of puppy vomit are not uncommon. A puppy might have eaten something that upset their stomach, or they may just have sensitive digestive systems. If your puppy vomits once in a blue moon then it is likely no cause for concern. However, a puppy throwing up becomes more significant when the vomiting does not stop, when there is blood in the vomit, or when there is nothing left in the stomach to throw up except mucus and bile (the yellow fluid). Also, age matters. In puppies 6 months old or less, vomiting is also a more serious condition than in older dogs because of their smaller size, immature immune systems and tendency to become easily weak and dehydrated.
While puppy vomit may have a simple, straightforward cause (such as eating too much food too fast, stressful situations and eating rich foods or foreign objects), it may be an indicator of something far more serious. Vomiting in puppies can have a wide range of causes, and determining the correct one may be quite complicated. For example, one of the more common and serious infectious causes of puppy vomit is parvovirus infection which, if left untreated, is potentially fatal in puppies.
How can I tell if my dog is going to be sick?
Dogs tend to drool, lick their lips, and swallow excessively when they feel nauseous. Some may eat grass, possibly to relieve gastric irritation, or to make themselves sick. When your dog is sick you’ll typically see strong abdominal contractions.
Sick Puppy. When To Worry and When To Go To the Vet.
No one likes being sick, and it can be distressing to see your dog or puppy vomiting. While one-off vomiting may be no cause for alarm – your dog may vomit simply because they’ve eaten too much or too fast, for example – there are numerous reasons for a dog being sick.
Your local vet will help you establish the cause and recommend treatment, if necessary. Always seek help from your vet if your dog or puppy keeps being sick, if you suspect they’ve been in contact with a toxic or harmful substance, or if you spot blood in their vomit. Other concerning signals are bloating, recurrent vomiting, retching, white foam or in your dog’s vomit and vomiting water.