throwing up

Question
my puppy is a 8 wk old yorki, i just got him yesterday and he seems very healthy and happy he is still slow on eating, this am he just woke up and threw up brown stuff, it was liquid like not thick what do you think it could be?? he is peeing im wondering if its just where his tummy is hungry from him not eating much ?? thanks

Answer
Hi Amy,

Congratulations on getting a new puppy!
If you're feeding your puppy a different food than he was getting before you adopted him, that could explain the vomiting, and reluctance to eating. Ideally, it's best to change a dog or puppy's diet gradually, over a period of 5-7 days. Simply being in a whole new environment could have also put him off a little. He has a lot to adjust to! Give him 24 hours to see how he's doing.

Changing food too quickly can cause an upset stomach. If your puppy acting okay, then try feeding him a little chicken or turkey baby food (from jars) mixed with cooked white rice (9 parts baby food, one part rice). After a day, if the vomiting has stopped, start gradually mixing the puppy food into the rice mixture, and transition to all puppy food by the next day.

Rather than tying to guess at what the problem might be, it would be best if you had your puppy examined by a veterinarian. Puppies are very sensitive to dehydration, and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).  They do not have a fully developed immune system and no reserves to help them when they are sick.

It's always a good idea to get a vet exam, even if the person or store you got your puppy from told you your puppy is healthy. If your puppy continues to vomit over a 48 hour period, starts acting lethargic, or develops diarrhea, a vet exam definitely needs to be done.

Best of luck,

Patti