My 9-week-old puppy won't eat. Is something wrong? What can I do?

Thank you for sending your question and the photo of Oakley - he is very cute! Sometimes when our pets suddenly change a behavior, we are (naturally) inclined to look at other evernts to see if there might be a connection. While dogs do mourn the loss of people they are very close to, this typically happens when dogs and their people have lived together for many years, so I’m not sure this is a realistic cause of his sudden loss of appetite. There are just so many things that can cause a normal young dog to stop eating - parasites, a blockage in the intestines, infectious diseases like parvo or leptospirosis- it’s hard to say what is going on, but your instincts to go to Oakley’s vet are 100% correct. I encourage you to get him in and get him checked out - exam and blood work at minimum - to see what’s going on.

Hi, and thanks for your question. This is a quite generic but concerning presentation. Differentials are many, from gastrointestinal diseases (infection/inflammations often dietary related) to any disease that can spread systemically (causing lethargy for example) like infection, and anything that can cause pain/discomfort. The approach must be logic, starting from offering different kind of food. A check up is needed if inappetence lasts for more than 24hours. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If Mia was eating fine and suddenly has stopped eating, this is certainly a cause for concern. Issues with the teeth, gums, or mouth can cause pain while eating. Of course there are other medical conditions that can cause decreased or lack of appetite that will need to be ruled out with her veterinarian. You can try softening the food down with water and heating it up a bit to bring out the flavor and entice her to eat. If she still doesn't want to eat, then please take her in to see her vet as soon as you can.

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Yoshi! Decreased appetite is concerning in a puppy because of the potential very serious gastrointestinal infections such as parvovirus that they can get. Monitor him closely for progression of his already decreased appetite, nausea (which may manifest as drooling, decreased appetite and lip smacking), vomiting, severe lethargy and/or diarrhea. If any of these signs are observed, have him evaluated right away. I think that if he is otherwise doing fine, then it is ok to monitor him for now. If he has not improved by tomorrow, then have him evaluated by your veterinarian. Make sure that he is drinking water to avoid dehydration. Good luck! Keeping my fingers crossed for a speedy recovery!

I would have Moja seen by a vet immediately. It's very concerning when a young puppy won't eat, and it could be caused by a serious illness, such as parvovirus, distemper, intestinal worms, infection, or injury among other causes. It's important to have the cause of his anorexia diagnosed so he can be treated. Please take him into a vet now.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Loss of appetite can be observed with many conditions such as gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, kidney disease, pancreatitis, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have Eugene evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and others depending on the findings on exam. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck and have a great day! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Hello there. That is a good question! Sorry to hear that Jax is not feeling well. You should definitely be concerned. It is really not normal for a puppy to not want to eat. One meal......not a huge deal but if this continues for more than 12 hours or if he starts vomiting, is very lethargic, begins having diarrhea or otherwise acts abnormal then you need to take him to your vet immediately! This can be an early sign of something more serious. Puppies can go from bad to worse quickly so you don't want to wait to long to get them medical help if they need it. I hope that a Boxer puppy at 8 weeks of age weighs more than 3 pounds so I hope that is a typo or I definitely think he is not getting enough food.... Jax will need to be seen by a vet at 12 weeks of age for vaccine boosters, a fecal test and dewormer so be sure to make that appointment. You don't want him to miss out on that - it is very important. I hope this was helpful. Best wishes to you and Jax. Dr. Amber