My 6-week puppy won't eat hard food after deworming. What's wrong?

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.

Lelia not eating is a sign that she feels very bad and it's possible that it is related to a reaction from that dewormer although other causes are possible. The big concern is that she is very young and not eating. Puppies do not have the physical reserves of an adult dog. If she has not been eating since Monday then you need to take her in for an exam and medications to soothe her stomach. You don't want her to end up with low blood sugar and need a visit to the emergency clinic! If she will not eat her own puppy food, try warmed white meat chicken and plain white rice. This is not balanced but it will be fine for a few days. If she will not eat that, she is pretty sick. With young puppies, it's best to be cautious as they are fragile. Have her checked out today if possible.

It is safe to take the water out, though usually that does not cause soft stool. Having a small kibble can help a lot for small dogs if needed. My concern is that perhaps they have worms or something else going on? Try a good puppy Dewormer like sentry or Bayer Quad Dewormer (PetCo). Use one that is labeled for their weight and follow the package directions. Deworm everyone at the same time. And unless they are smaller than 3 lbs, it is fine to move to twice daily feedings. Best of luck to you and the puppies!

It is quite possible that he is nauseous from the medicine or he had a lot of worms which are now dying and that is causing him a tummy ache. Don;t feed him for 12 to 24 hours and then offer him some bland food such as boiled white rice and boiled white boneless chicken. Feed him small portions often. When he has regained his appetite he should be fine. There is a possibility that he will get diarrhea as well for a day or two as the body is going to try to get rid of the worms as quickly as possible.

Sometimes puppies can have a slight decrease in appetite when they first come home since it is a big adjustment, however it sounds like you've had her a few days. Given her age and her breed I'd recommend seeing a veterinarian to make sure she doesn't have low blood sugar, parasites, or another medical problem affecting her appetite. If she also seems weak, lethargic or disoriented you should see an emergency veterinarian as soon as possible. She is adorable!

I will put a link below on how to pill a dog, so that should help you with Cooper taking the deworming pill. To help him wean and to get used to dry food, I would soak a high quality puppy formulated dry food in warm water until soft. Then mix that with the puppy milk to make a mush the consistency of oatmeal. Over the next two weeks, gradually increase the amount of dry puppy food and decrease the amount of water and puppy milk you use until he is eating the dry puppy food only. Best of luck, I hope this helps! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3yHgItqGmo

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! At 4 weeks you can start to wean bottle feeding. I would start with soft canned puppy food for 1 week then mix in wet dry food over another week. By 6 weeks the puppy should be able to eat dry food or moistened dry food. I hope this helps and I wish you and Cujo the best!