Puppy looks thin after deposit. Should I get a vet check before buying?

This is hard to answer without photos of the puppy, but if you have concerns about the health of the puppy I would inquire if the breeder is willing to take this puppy to his local vet to have him examined and then request a copy of the medical records from that visit. That is unfortunately the only way you will be able to know that kitty is healthy enough for adoption. You can also ask that the vet test Naughty for intesitnal parasites. Intestinal parasites are the most common cause of low weight in puppies. There really is no other reason for an underweight puppy except for malnutrition (not feeding enough food), which the breeder should know not to do. If the puppy is just small (runt) but considered to be a normal body weight (Body condition score) by the vet, then there are no major concerns with adoption Naughty. Keeping all these things in mind you should be able to come to an informed decision on whether to adopt this puppy or not. A good breeder would know to feed the puppies enough food to encourage proper growth, and also to deworm the puppies routinely to prevent intestinal parasites from robbing them of their nutrition. I hope that you are able to come to a decision soon regarding Naughty! Best wishes and take care.

Bear does look quite small in the picture, and I'm concerned about the shape of his head. It doesn't look normal. I can't say for certain from a picture, but he doesn't look ok to me. I think he needs to get checked out by a vet immediately. Best of luck.

I think the best thing you can do is see if the breeder will let you take the puppy to the vet to have this checked out for yourself. The vet will be able to tell you if there will be problems in the future or not. Should the breeder not allow this (and I would ask to do it when the puppy is a bit older, around four weeks), then do not get the puppy. Any reputable breeder would allow a potential owner to do a vet check. I hope this helps!

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Thank you for posting pictures, these are helpful! Rocky is very thin, and you are right to be concerned. He should not be this thin. I would be very worried about some underlying disease condition that is preventing him from either being able to eat the food, or from being able to absorb the food. Possible causes are GI parasites (worms, giardia, coccidia, etc.), exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), other GI absorbtive disorders (IBD, GI lymphoma, etc.), partial obstruction or foreign object in the gut, persistent right aortic arch or hiatal hernia causing vomiting/regurgitation, food allergies, etc. I would try feeding him boiled rice with boiled/boneless/skinless chicken breasts, as well as a high quality canned puppy food. I would also strongly recommend getting him to a vet where I would discuss a fecal test, a deworming trial, x-rays or preferably ultrasound, testing for EPI depending on the quality of his feces, and x-rays of the chest to look for congenital malforations there. Best of luck with Rocky, I hope he feels better soon!

Most importantly I would check that your puppy is coming from a reputable breeder. You should be able to see at least the mother with the puppies and if not this would be a major red flag. When visiting the puppies should look bright and in good condition. The breeder should be able to tell you when the puppies were wormed. You can also ask the breeder about whether there is any history of conditions such as elbow or hip dysplasia in their dogs. If you are unhappy about anything I would walk away. In terms of feeding I would recommend feeding a good quality food specifically for puppies such as Hills science plan.

He looks pretty cute! It's hard to guess a puppy's breed from a couple pictures. It does look like he needs some care. His big belly may be caused by intestinal parasites, and he may have an infection or mange on his face (I can't see clearly). His coat is a little dull, but I am sure that would be a glossy brown after a few weeks of a good puppy food and a bath. I would recommend that you take him to the vet for a good checkup. They can test him for intestinal parasites and check for mange. They can also get him started on proper vaccinations to protect him against common puppy diseases.

I would not take her to the vet straight away, I would take her home for a week and continue the same diet recommended by the breeder and same number of meals. Then in one week have her checked over. It is always best to have them settled at home for a week, as changing home can trigger tummy upsets in its own. Changing the diet would also contribute to having tummy troubles . Keep her on the same diet and discuss then with your vet, if the diet is appropriate for her, according to her age and weight. Your vet will also check her microchip number and advise you on any changes that need to be done, if necessary.