How Much Should an 8 Week Old Beagle Mix weigh?

Question
2 weeks before the puppies were born, I rescued the mother from the side of the road. The puppies are only 8 weeks old and very small. I was wondering how much they should weigh. I've never had puppies before so I'm not really sure. You can still pick them up with one hand. Thanks!

Answer

Hi Sarah,

It's hard to say how big the puppies "should" be, if their dad was a small breed dog, they'd be smaller than an average Beagle. Also, there are two varieties of Beagle, 13 inch and 15inch (at the shoulder). If the mother dog is a pure bred, and of the smaller stock, she'd have small puppies. If the mother dog is a mixed breed, one of her parents might have been a small breed dog, which would also could be passed on to her smaller than average pups.

If the mother dog didn't receive the correct nutrition during her pregnancy, that could impact on the size of her pups.

Small size is okay, if the pups act like normal happy 8 week old puppies! Are they curious, active, not overly aggressive, or overly lethargic? Do they eat well, have clear bight eyes and no nasal discharge? Is their fur clean, shiny coat, free from rashes, bald spots, or potential parasites? Do they eliminate well formed poops?

At 8 weeks old, the pups are ready for their first set of puppy shots, if they haven't already received them. They also might need to be dewormed. When you bring the brood in to the clinic, discuss your concerns of the puppy's weight with the doctor.

Best of luck!
Patti

Best of luck,
Patti