My 8-week-old puppy isn't eating and has runny poop. Is this normal?

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!

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

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Bentley. Puppies can have a poor appetite due to the stress of coming to a new home. This will typically only last 24 or so hours though. In your case, Bentley may be more accustomed to the raw diet and be wanting that type of food. However, raw food is not an appropriate diet for a growing puppy. It will not be nutritionally balanced to support his growth and development. Imbalances in the calcium and phosphorus ratio can lead to significant bone development problems. Furthermore, raw diets contain a high risk of Salmonella poisoning for both you and Bentley. I recommend that Bentley sees his veterinarian for a new puppy examination and to assess the cause of the diarrhea. This can be contributing to his poor appetite. You can discuss the best diet options for him. In the meantime, try canned puppy food as this may appeal to him. I hope this information helps!

Congratulations ok the new puppy. There are many chases if diarrhea in a young puppy. Sudden diet change, GI parasites, eating food that irritates their stomach (such as the hot dogs), or something more serious like parvo or distemper virus. diarrhea and get the appropriate treatment. If he is eating and otherwise acting playful, I would recommend you stop feeding him the hot dog treats and add canned pumpkin to his diet to help firm up his stool. If he is not feeling well, I would recommend you have Rosco seen soon by a veterinarian to help determine the cause of his

Your pups are so cute! Diarrhea and reduced appetite could be caused by parasites, change in diet, toxin ingestion, infectious viral diseases, blockage in the intestines caused by ingestion of a foreign body, or a mass/growth in the gastrointestinal tract. Parvovirus is also a possibility, particularly in a dog as young as Rocky, as you mentioned he is too young to have had all his boosters yet. Please make an appointment to have Rocky seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible, as diarrhea can easily lead to dehydration in such a young pup, and can be very dangerous if left untreated. In the mean time, if he is not eating well, you can try boiling boneless skinless chicken in water, shredding the chicken, and feeding her small amounts of the resulting chicken broth and cooked chicken with boiled plain white rice once it has cooled. I recommend taking in a fecal sample from Rocky to your vet as well, as that may aid them in making a diagnosis. Good luck, and I hope he feels better soon!

It is very common for puppies to have diarrhea. This can happen with intestinal parasites, infectious diseases such as parvo virus, change in diet or even stress from the change in homes. It's possible that he also picked up and ate something off the grass that upset his system. If he's normal otherwise (no vomiting, good appetite, normal activity level) you could start by giving him plain boiled chicken breast and plain white rice in a 1 to 1 ratio. You can also add a small amount of pumpkin puree as the fiber can help firm up the stools. If the diarrhea continues or he becomes ill, starts vomiting, acting lethargic, or doesn't want to eat, I would strongly recommend taking him to a veterinarian right away. They will most likely want to do a fecal exam to check for parasites, a parvo test to check for this very serious illness and may even do blood work and x-rays to look for evidence of a stomach or intestinal blockage. This is very common in puppies since they like to chew on and swallow things they shouldn't.

Poor Dexter! The vomiting and diarrhea could be due to many conditions including eating something he shouldn’t have, bacterial over growth, parasites or even an intestinal blockage. If the diarrhea has continued beyond 24 hours, I recommend to have him examined by the veterinarian. If he has not eaten well for the past 24 hours, I recommend to have him examined by the veterinarian. With continued diarrhea, there are often bacterial shifts in the gut that will make matters worse regardless of the initial cause. Make sure to bring in a sample of fresh stool. The doctor will check him for parasites and bacterial over growth. Puppies generally have a big appetite so when they aren't eating well, it's concerning for a more serious cause of illness. Some times a bland diet can help and then a slow, gradual introduction to the normal food can be done. A bland diet can consist of 25% boiled white meat chicken and 75% boiled white rice. This should all be plain. Have Dexter examined if needed. I hope he starts feeling better quickly! Please feel free to post any additional questions.