Just rescued a puppy, looks underweight. Should I get him to the vet?

Awww. It's very nice of you to take on this type of responsibility. The first thing you should do is to take him into the vet for an initial examination. They will be able to make sure there is nothing seriously wrong, versus simply malnutrition and dehydration. If this is the case, Champ will likely require something to eliminate gastrointestinal parasites. He belly looks very round in that picture, which in young dogs is usually associated with worms. This can be a very common cause of weakness and malnutrition, and the nutrients that he is consuming will not be properly absorbed until the parasites are eradicated. The veterinarian will also probably want to give some fluids, either subcutaneously or directly into the bloodstream. The method of delivery will ultimately be decided based upon the level of dehydration the vet detects. Champ will require a healthy, high quality large breed puppy food eventually. However, in the meantime, I would provide something like a Purina Critical Nutrition or HIll's A/D. These are prescription diets that are very high in fat and high calorie, and are typically not easily turned down by even the sickest of pets. Lastly, Champ probably needs your love, warmth and support. I am sure you have plenty of this.

Hello. A puppy should be examined for general health & the presence of intestinal parasites by your veterinarian now. It is never a good idea to just deworm because you may be missing some important parasites like coccidia. Vaccinations are usually started at 8 weeks of age & boostered at 12 & 16 weeks of age. Good luck with your new buddy.

There is not much you can do other than to ensure good nutrition and health from this moment forward. I would recommend starting a high quality puppy food. In addition you want to make sure that they are up to date on vaccines per your veterinarian. They should be dewormed at least twice. Finally, you should endure they are on flea prevention and heartwo preventative if endemic in your area. All of these things should improve their overall condition. I also recommend neutering between 6-8 months. Good luck!

Hello. It is best to have this puppy examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible to check & treat for any intestinal parasites & any possible coat or skin issues such as mange, fleas & ticks. The veterinarian can guestimate the puppies age & recommend the vaccinations that are appropriate to the puppies age & what diseases are present in your area. Thank you so much for rescuing this puppy & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

He is very cute! Congrats on the adoption. Frequently, these rescues may have a low grade illness. The stress of transport and a new home can cause a worsening of symptoms. Since he is "new" to you, have him examined by your veterinarian to diagnose and treat any pre-existing conditions. Consider blood work and a fecal exam to make sure the weight issue does not have a serious underlying cause. At the very least, he will get a clean bill of health and you can likely chalk up the symptoms to the stress of transport and a new home. Monitor for other signs such as coughing, vomiting, diarrhea or a loss of appetite. It may take him a few days to settle in.

Based on what you are describing I would be concerned that Ellie has either a heavy intestinal parasite burden or parvovirus. Both can cause weight loss, dehydration, vomiting and diarrhea. I would recommend taking Ellie to be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. She will likely need treatment (for either disease) to be started right away since she is losing weight already. Your vetnwill probably recommend checking a fecal sample and running a parvo test. At the very least she will need to be dewormed and, if healthy enough, start her vaccines. I hope this helps. Best of luck with Ellie. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You should definitely take Fifi to a vet as soon as you can. The vet will perform a thorough exam to make sure she is healthy, check her for a microchip (which is linked to a dog's owner), and will likely deworm her and give her some vaccines. Most dogs receive a rabies vaccine and combination vaccine that includes common viruses that dogs are exposed to. The vet will also walk you through monthly flea, tick, and heartworm control and likely be able to tell if Fifi is spayed and an estimate of her age. Good look with your new addition and I am happy to answer any additional questions you may have!