My pitbull puppies are different sizes, should I really be concerned?

Hello. There always seems to be one puppy that just seems to struggle, but this does not mean anything is wrong. As long as you see the mother dog nursing her, cleaning her, & not ignoring or pushing this puppy to the side, then she will be fine. Often these slow starters will easily catch up to their littermates in time. Just keep a close eye on everyone. Buying a small digital kitchen scale & taking weights 2 times a week will make sure everyone is growing. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petcoach! If the soft bump is near her belly button (umbilicus) it is likely an umbilical hernia. It is not uncommon and usually not painful or harmful to have. Your Vet can fix it when she spays her at 6 months. The incision will just be a bit longer. All dogs are a bit different in their growth. Cookie may be more of the runt than her sister. As long as she is eating and not having vomiting or diarrhea she may be fine being smaller. You just want to be sure she isn't too thin. I've attached a body condition score chart below in the link. If she is indeed too thin I would have her check for worms and discuss her weight with your Vet. I hope this helps! https://oregonvma.org/files/Purina-Dog-Condition-Chart.pdf

You want to make sure to feed a high quality diet. You also need to make sure that the growth is slow and consistent. If your puppy grows too quickly, it will be more likely to develop conditions like hip dysplasia. The diet I recommend for my large breed puppies is Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy. It will ensure even growth and the diet is highly digestible. This diet can be purchased at many pet stores or online. Proper exercise is also important but remember not to start jogging with a large breed puppy until they are at least a year old. You can damage the joints that way BUT normal things like playing or chasing the ball should be fine. Please post again if you have any further questions!

I am wondering if she could be a different breed then you were told if you feel she is so small. As long as she isn't sick then it is just her and she may not get so big. If you are concerned I would discuss this with your veterinarian and they can evaluate her to see if she is a healthy pup. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Chico is such a handsome boy! He looks like a Pitbull and males can be around 35-60 pounds when fully grown. He still has a bit of growing to do, and he may be mixed with another breed of dog leading to his smaller size. Plus he is the runt, so they do tend to be smaller. I hope this helps!

Each dog carries a pregnancy differently, and some dogs will have larger stomachs that others. There is no specific size a pregnant dog's belly should be, so as long as Snow is eating and drinking, isn't losing weight, and isn't very lethargic, I wouldn't be concerned about the size of her belly. I'm not sure if you have had her seen by a vet to confirm her pregnancy, but I do recommend having her seen by a vet if you have not. Best of luck!

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could have been due to some degree of mild trauma. If she is otherwise doing well, and the size of the pupils normalize in the next 24-48 hours, then she is likely to be just fine. If no improvement is noted or she worsens, then have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck with your girl!