My 8-week puppy is bloated, sleeps a lot, and breathes fast. Should I worry?

I would recommend bringing him in for an exam. Sometimes rapid breathing can be a sign of discomfort or illness. It is possible he may need a few rounds of deworming, or could have an infection and associated fever. Either way, around 8 weeks is when he should be getting his first round of vaccines and an exam, so I would simply talk to your veterinarian at that appointment.

It could be that Mighty is suffering from intestinal worms which are common in puppies and would give a bloated appearance to the stomach. I would give him a deworming treatment now, and another in two weeks to kill all the worms. He should then be dewormed monthly until he is six months of age, and should be dewormed every three months thereafter. As for breathing quickly when trying to sleep, this can be normal and I wouldn't be concerned about it unless he's breathing quickly all the time. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm this clinical suspicion and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. 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.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Mama! She is super cute! I would take Mama to an Emergency hospital and have her looked at as soon as you can. Anytime there is concern for breathing it could be life threatening, especially if she is also weak. Puppies can suffer from low blood sugar which can make them weak. The fast breathing could be from a fever, pneumonia, or pain. The distended belly may or may not be related. She could just have worms. The best thing for Mama is to have a Vet do an exam. I hope this helps and I wish Mama a speedy recovery!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It isn't unusual for puppies this young to have a big belly after eating. I would make the meals smaller and feed him more frequently. You are also correct that he likely has intestinal parasites, deworming him will help but it will take time. If his stomach enlarges enough it can put pressure on the diaphragm and change breathing patterns. That's why I would feed small meals frequently for a while. Otherwise puppies do breath faster than adults, especially when sleeping. Since he is otherwise doing well I would just watch him closely and follow your vet's vaccination and deworming schedule. Good luck!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! At 8 weeks of age puppies do not run far or fast. They are just too little. This will develop over time and soon you won't be able to keep him from running. 8 week old puppies breath fast when they sleep, this is also very normal. If he is eating and drinking the poop and urine will come. If he hasn't ate or drank in 8 hours that is more concerning. Be sure you know when his next vaccine is due and set up your first Vet exam and bring a stool sample. I wish you and Buddy the best!

Puppies do breathe a bit faster while asleep than adult dogs. An occasional sneeze or nasal drip is fine. Monitor for lethargy, decreased appetite, difficulty breathing or a yellow or green nasal discharge. See your veterinarian for an exam if any of these symptoms develop.