Why is my 11-week puppy not eating, losing weight, and has fleas?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Blacky. I recommend seeking veterinary care for him as soon as possible. Several weeks is way too long for a puppy to go without proper nutrition. Based on his exam findings, fecal testing will be recommended to look for any intestinal parasites or other intestinal infections. Based on these results, either treatment can be recommended or further testing if necessary. He may require deworming medication, antibiotics and fluids to rehydrate him. I hope this information helps!

When you say he hasn’t eaten in 2 days I am not clear if you mean he hadn’t eaten in the days before you got him, or if he hasn’t eaten with you the last 2 days. Puppies want to eat. If he is being offered food but not eating then I would be very concerned and recommend that he be evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible. The hairless spots on the skin can be multiple problems, but most common would be a mite called demodex. It is usually seen when the immune system is weak. If there are just a few spots often they will resolve as the puppy grows and gets stronger. But if there are many areas or large areas there is a treatment available. I am more concerned about the eating than the skin at this point. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon! Thank you for using Pet Coach.

I recommend to have Mony examined by the veterinarian. The weight loss and the decreased energy likely represent illness. This could range from something like a parasite infection to an infection in her uterus. Since she can't talk and tell you whats happening, I recommend to play it safe and have her examined. Regarding the fleas, baths don't tend to work well to control fleas. I recommend to use a monthly flea product. Top products for dogs are oral products such as Simparica and Nexgard. You will need to switch all the pets over to a good flea product. Make sure to discuss these products with your veterinarian first. These products are generally safe for all pets but there are some conditions which are contraindicated for the oral products. Cleaning up and treating the house and yard will also help but it will not clear all the fleas. The main control is making sure the pets are on good products. This is what will ultimately stop the infestation. Also remember every female fleas lays about 50 eggs a day and it could take up to 6 months before the eggs hatch. Therefore, you will need to treat for at least 6 months. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi there! Sorry to hear that Felicia is not feeling well. The clinical signs you describe are concerning when they occur in a puppy as they can be seen with serious gastrointestinal infections such as Parvovirus. Other possibilities include intestinal worms and dietary indiscretion, among other possibilities. The sooner these conditions are treated the better the outcome tends to be. For this reason, I recommend that you have Felicia evaluated by your veterinarian to check for these possibilities and to start therapy based on findings. I would proceed with an evaluation as soon as possible as I am afraid that she is getting weaker. At the very least they can address dehydration if present and start her on anti-diarrhea medications. Good luck! Keeping my fingers crossed for your girl!

Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Your puppy has very vague symptoms of vomiting which can mean she has an upset stomach. I believe I see milk in the bowl you have in the picture there. If that is the case I would stop giving that right away. Domino is more than old enough not to still be getting puppy milk. If she continues to vomit after stopping the milk, then it's best to take her to your vet for a full examination and possible testing to determine why she is vomiting so that we know how to best help her. Also I would recommend bathing her in Dawn dish detergent to strip all the fleas off her for now. Make sure not to get any in her eyes and follow up with an oatmeal based or aloe based shampoo and conditioner to prevent her skin from getting too dry. She is old enough for Revolution topical flea and heartworm preventative from your local vet, so I would recommend getting her hat to protect her from the fleas here moving forward. I hope your puppy gets better soon. Best wishes and take care.

I would be very concerned about that amount of weight loss and I doubt it would be related to fleas alone. Kidney disease, diabetes or certain types of cancer could cause weight loss and an increase in water consumption. I would recommend seeing a veterinarian- they may recommend checking some blood work after a physical exam.

Have him examined by a veterinarian. A stool sample should be rechecked for intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth. Puppies typically require multiple deworming to clear parasites. Malabsorption or maldigestion issues should also be ruled out. Review the vaccination history with the veterinarian to confirm Brownie is adequately protected against illness.