Puppy car sick, not eating. Motion sickness or anxiety? When to worry?

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Congratulations on the new puppy! These signs can definitely be due to nerves or the anxiety of being in a new place. It is hard for puppies to be separated from their littermates or mothers, go in a car they've never been in, and be surrounded by people they've never met. He likely won't take very long to adjust- young puppies tend to feel like part of the family very quickly - it sounds like he is playing already! He should get an appetite and start eating a puppy diet well. There should be a recommended feeding amount on the side of the puppy food bag. His stools should start to firm up - if they remain soft or become liquidy, he may have gastrointestinal parasites/worms that need to be treated - even if wherever you got him from treated him already. I hope this is helpful!

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!

Hello. I am a bit concerned that your veterinarian was not worried that Millie has not eaten anything in 24 hours. This may be stress, but if she does not eat anything by tomorrow, then I would revisit with your vet, & perhaps ask to purchase a critical care food that is administered easily by a syringe. You may need to feed your puppy for a few days to make sure she is getting some calories, & if there is no underlying illness, she should start eating on her own. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. It sounds like your puppy just got carsick. If she feels better after waking, & is able to hold down normal amounts of food & water, then she should be fine. If she continues to act unwell, do see your veterinarian as soon as possible. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Some dogs are not vocal due to their personalities. Others will take time to adjust and get comfortable in their new environment. It can be very stressful and scary for little ones to go to a new home, so it takes some time for their personality to shine. At 3 pounds, his stomach is not big enough to hold a lot of food. He should be feed 3-4 times a day to maintain the blood sugar. Once he is bigger you can decrease it back to twice a day. Stress and anxiety can also affect the appetite. Not every dog goes to the bathroom on that schedule. Take him out after he eats, then every 30 minutes to an hour until he gets good control and the concept of house training. If he is playing and stops to sniff and circle, then he needs to go. If you notice any bloody diarrhea or vomiting or he does not eat at all and seems weak, then i would get him checked right away

Jaxx is very cute! I'm sorry he isn't feeling well. Jaxx could be car sick, as some puppies and dogs do get car sick when they take car trips with their owner. This may be the case since he did eat a very large meal prior to the trip. However, I would be concerned that something else could be going on and causing him to vomit, such as intestinal parasites, bacterial or viral infection (like parvovirus), a congenital problem, or eating something he shouldn't have and having general intestinal inflammation. I would recommend taking him to your veterinarian as puppies this young and small can get dehydrated quickly and become ill very quickly. After an exam your vet should be able to help you get him back on tract and feeling better.

It's probably best to wait until dinner just in case his tummy is still a little upset. Monitor him closely for any continuing signs of illness. if this is just car sickness, he should be fine by dinner time. Try to keep him rested until then. I hope he feels better quickly and please feel free to post any additional questions.