What to do if my 5-week-old puppy won't eat and sleeps a lot?

If she is truly only four weeks old then she probably got separated from her mom a little early. You may have to try some soft canned food or even a little dog milk replacement in order to encourage her to eat. It is very normal for these guys to sleep a lot and play a little and as they get older they will start playing more and more. If it any point she is not eating at all or playing then I would have her checked out by your bed. When she become six weeks old she will need her first set of shots and to be dewormed by your vet as well. I hope this helps!

And in terms of the food -- he should be willing to eat wet food, if not dry food, at this age. So if he's not, I would highly recommend a check up with your vet to make sure everything looks ok. He may just need more time to adjust, but with such a young guy, he can get low blood sugar and dehydration very quickly, so it's important to act sooner rather than later.

Eight week old puppies will sleep a lot. But when awake, he should be active, alert, and hungry. Many times it takes multiple deworming treatments several weeks apart to clear an infestation, I would recommend having a fecal sample checked by the veterinarian. Be sure that he is getting his vaccinations, the vet will recommend a series of vaccines every 3-4 weeks until 16-18 weeks old. Until he is fully vaccinated he may still be very susceptible to parvo or distemper. If he is very lethargic, vomiting or diarrhea he needs to see a vet right away. At 8 weeks old I recommend feeding 3 times daily. He should be on a high quality large breed dog food (some great brands are Science Diet, Royal Canin, Eukanuba or ProPlan). At this point you can base what you feed him according to the directions on the package. Be careful when playing that you don't tire him out too much. Be sure he stops for breaks and snacks. Until fully vaccinated I would not take him outside much and avoid public parks, dog parks or petstores with Twix. I hope this helps. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! They really sleep for the vast majority of the day. It is not unusual for puppies to not eat great as they get used to eating solid food. I would recommend you try different kinds of both kibble and canned food. If there is no improvement and he continues to not eat, I would recommend you consider having him evaluated by a veterinarian for that purpose and also to possibly establish care with a veterinarian for recommendations on preventative and early life care. Good luck!

Athena is such a cute puppy! Puppies will typically nap quite a bit during the day, which is normal as they are growing. If you think Athena's appetite is decreased then I would get her seen by your vet to ensure she is healthy and that there are no problems to be concerned about. She may have preference towards certain textures of food as well. If you have not tried canned food (either chunky or pate form) I would try this and see if she will eat this more readily. She should still receive her initial examination with a vet and discuss vaccinations, etc. Feel free to contact me with any other questions or concerns you may have.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your puppy. This is not normal behavior for such a young puppy. If he goes too long between meals, his blood sugar will drop too low. I recommend having him evaluated by a veterinarian today. In the meantime, you can place karo or maple syrup on his gums to help raise his blood sugar. I hope this information helps!

Hello. What a sweety Dixie is. Puppies do sleep quite a bit, so as long as she has a good appetite & there is no vomiting or diarrhea, then she will be fine to wait for your appointment where she will receive a good exam to make sure she is perfectly healthy. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.