My 4-week-old puppy sleeps a lot, tongue out, and has tears. Is this normal?

Puppies this small don't have teeth to keep the tongue in the mouth, so it's common to see them sticking their tongue out a little. However, this does seem to be out a little more than normal, which may indicate that he has an overly large tongue for his snout. I wouldn't worry too much about this right now unless he is having difficulty suckling or other issues. It's definitely possible that it won't stick out as much as he ages. You can have the vet evaluate him better when you take him in for his first vaccines around 6-8 weeks of age. I hope that helps and all is well with your pup.

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!

Hi there and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Yes, sleeping frequently during the day is not uncommon for puppies less than 8 weeks old. Puppies need a lot of sleep just like human babies do and will change as Sugar gets older. As long as Sugar is normal otherwise (is eating and drinking normally, has normal stool and urine, etc), I wouldn't worry too much. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is not unusual for puppies to sleep for a very large portion of the day. In terms of the appetite, this is sometimes not uncommon in puppies when they are in their new environment. I recommend that you continue to monitor him for now, especially if you just got him. If these symptoms of not eating well and sleeping a large portion of the day do not improve, have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment. Hopefully this is all transient and he will be back to normal soon. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You are likely describing teething which is basically a normal type of behavior when puppies are growing up and it is secondary to mouth discomfort as teeth are growing. I recommend that you get Lucy teething type toys which you can get at your local pet store or online. Anytime that he tries to nibble at you, you say no and give him the toy. This is likely going to resolve the issue. Puppies do tend to sleep for long periods of time and that is normal and expected so as long as she is not showing any other signs of being sick like vomiting or anorexia, it is ok to continue to monitor that. Good luck and have a great day!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Short answer is not necessarily. Not all puppies are highly energetic and pretty much all puppies sleep a lot. It also takes some time for them to get used to their new environment. I would give him more time for him to come along especially since he is otherwise doing so well. If at any point he develops symptoms of illness such as vomiting, diarrhea or inappetence, have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Otherwise, he is likely to be just fine. Good luck!

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.