Why is my 5-month-old puppy not growing? Could worms be the cause?

Puppies grow at different rates and even though the parents are large and stocky not every pup may get their build. Make sure you are giving Max a good quality food and that you are feeding enough at each meal. If he's very hungry and eats all the food quickly then you're probably not feeding enough at each meal. I feed twice a day and give a biscuit or two for treats. Controlled exercise daily will build muscle and swimming is a great exercise also. Max will reach his full size by the time he is two years old, perhaps slower than the others. He's a handsome boy and is just at an awkward stage right now. In addition please have a stool sample checked by your veterinarian to be sure there are no parasites effecting his growth. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Max.

I do not recommend using vermox in dogs (especially puppies). It can actually be toxic to the bone marrow and there are usually safer alternatives available. If there is a vet nearby, then they can help get you get a dewormer made for dogs. Also, I cannot (legally and ethically) recommend medications without having examined your dog first. If the picture is current and Max is five months old, then he does appear small for his age. He should be bigger than that. However, I don't think any amount of feeding will make him grow any bigger. He actually looks (hard to tell for sure without examining him in-person) in good body condition - meaning that he doesn't look like he's skinny. And, 16.5kg for five months is not too bad. If he is on a good formulated diet, then I do not see a need to add supplements. Adding too much nutrients to the diet may actually cause developmental abnormalities. It's best to just make sure he's healthy and free of parasites. I recommend having a local veterinarian help you out with that. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do about the other dogs and cats attacking him. He may get bolder and more socialized as he ages, which will keep him from getting attacked as much. Also, domestic/purebred dogs are not nearly as hardy as the street dogs; so it's expected that the street dogs will be more aggressive and territorial. I hope that helps and all is well with Max.

There are a few possibilities. He could still be recovering from the parvo disease and will start gaining weight soon. He could be a mixed breed and just have a small adult size that he's getting to (and from his picture, he doesn't look like a pure lab to me, although it's impossible to tell from looks alone), or he could have an endocrine issue that he preventing him from growing normally. If he is otherwise normal, I would recommend giving him another month to work on growing, otherwise, schedule a vet visit to talk about possible testing. Good luck! He's quite a cutie.

Puppies tend to go through a lanky phase especially if they're a taller breed. Typically they will grow taller before they start to fill out and grow muscle mass. It sounds like your kid is still young and otherwise very happy, so I would give it some time if she was dewormed appropriately. If you're feeding once a day it might be best to consider twice a day feeding as well, like 2 cups twice a day instead of 3 cups once a day. It's very hard to overfeed puppies as they are actively growing. So if you feel like she is not gaining weight appropriately you can try adding an additional 1/2 cup at a time and reassessing in a week or two. Also most veterinary clinics will be fine with you bringing your pet in just to use the scale, just call ahead to ask. This would be a good way for you to know about weight gain. I hope this helps and thank you for using pet coach!

HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Puppies tend to have a more bloated belly. Intestinal parasites are usually the main cause of this. Sometimes the intestines are more gassy in puppies too. I would give the dewormer some more time. If there is no improvement by a week i would have her examined and bring a stool sample with you. Sometimes changing puppy food can help as well. She is due for vaccinations so a Vet exam should be happening soon anyway. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! At least in the pictures, he looks pretty good. Very handsome dog. These dogs do tend to show their ribs a bit. I think that he could benefit from perhaps gaining a few pounds but not much. In terms of his growth, he has likely reach his growth plateau which is why he has not been growing much lately. If he is otherwise doing well in terms of appetite and activity level, I would not worry much. I do think that it would be best to relay this to your veterinarian who knows his medical/preventative care history so that we ensure that his caloric intake is appropriate for his age and most importantly activity level. This is something that can be easily done and make a difference in terms of him gaining some weight. Again, he is very handsome so congrats as it looks like you have been taking good care of him. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I have several thoughts for you regarding Cooper. 1) He's simply hungry. Puppies, just like human children, do not all eat the same and do go through growth spurts. If he is underweight (per a veterinarian), increase the total amount by ~25%. If he is an appropriate weight, but seems to have "stalled out" in the growth department, give it time - again, sometimes weight gain comes in spurts. Your vet can actually calculate a daily calorie goal for Cooper based on his current weight and body condition score if you'd like a more specific recommendation. 2) He has an underlying problem. Liver shunt, heart defect, pancreas problem, or other issues can cause a "failure to thrive" or "runty" puppy. If he truly isn't gaining weight or is underweight despite a good appetite and plenty of food, it's time to talk to your vet about bloodwork and other testing to figure out if there is a problem. 3) He has worms. Worms do not shed eggs 24/7 and it is technically possible to have a "negative" fecal float and still have worms. If he had enough worms to cause problems gaining weight, it is doubtful the float would be negative but still, talk to your vet about a dewormer - just in case. It is much cheaper and easier than all the other testing so you'd hate to miss such a simple fix. Hope this helps and best of luck to you and Cooper!