My 7-week-old puppy is vomiting, alert but not playful. Should I worry?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Winston. If he either refuses food or starts vomiting again when he wake up, he will need to see an emergency veterinarian today. He is so young that you do not want to wait long if he is ill. It is very easy for him to become dehydrated. If he seems better when he wakes up, you can monitor him today and follow up with his regular veterinarian. I hope this information helps!

Unfortunately, this is not normal behavior for a young puppy and is pretty concerning. At less than two months old, your puppy needs to eat regularly or he risks having low blood sugar, which can cause serious health problems. Vomiting is not typically caused by stress and all these signs make me worry about a more serious illness. Please have him seen by a veterinarian right away because his lack of appetite and vomiting are very serious.

Oh my. Poor guy. If he has a fever this can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection (i.e. Parvovirus if he isn't fully vaccinated). I would have him tested for parvovirus first and if that comes up negative he needs full panel bloodwork and a urinalysis. to fully evaluate him. He should be on antibiotics and fluid therapy to help bring down his fever. He also needs anti-vomit medication to prevent him from becoming dehydrated due to excessive vomiting. If his condition has not improved within 24-48 hrs, then you should consider having him hospitalized so that he can get around the clock care and treatment. Poor guy. I do hope that your pup Shadow is able to make a full and speedy recovery from his illness. For tonight you can try feeding him some slghly warmed up cans of baby food (meat and vegetables or squash) to try to entice him to eat. Only a small amount at a time to hopefully not induce his vomiting. Best wishes and take care.

I would not induce vomiting with her. I would keep her warm and maybe offer just very small amounts of water or low sodium chicken broth. If she doesn’t seem back to normal by morning then I would encourage you to have her evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon.

Poor pups. While a heavy parasite load can cause severe GI upset, and anemia which can cause a pup to become extremely lethargic, have bloody diarrhea, etc, I would also want to rule out underlying illnesses as a possibility. It would be best to bring them to a vet ASAP especially if they are lethargic or unable to keep any food or water down as puppies can quickly become very dehydrated. They may also need supportive care such as an IV or injected medications if they are very ill from the parasites or other causes. You can try continuing to offer water, or rubbing a little honey on their gums for energy until you can get to the vet, however due to the severity of symptoms it would be best to seek emergency care.

I am concerned about Tyson feeling so cold. If you have a rectal thermometer, you can take his temperature. Normal is 100-102. If it is low, he should see a vet immediately. Also, you can place a small amount of honey or caro syrup on his gums in case he is hypoglycemic. Other potential causes for his illness include intestinal parasites (even if he was already dewormed once, they are still possible), GI blockage, bacterial or viral infection, food intolerance, among a few other possibilities. Any puppy that is lethargic or has vomiting and/or diarrhea should see a vet if the symptoms last more than 24 hours as they can get dehydrated very quickly.

Poor puppy. That looks like digested food that he vomited up. He may have eaten something that he shouldn't have. Therefore I would try to fast him for 12 hours and then offer him small amounts of boiled chicken and plain rice. If he is still vomiting, lethargic, or has lack of appetite and diarrhea, then I would be concerned he may have either intestinal parasites or has contracted the deadly parvovirus. It is best to have him seen by your local veterinarian if he is not getting better. Hopefully he just got into something he shouldn't have and will show improvement within the next 12 to 24 hours. Best wishes with your puppy Mac and I hope he does get better soon.