Lab will not eat

Question
I have a 10 week old full bred yellow lab.  She lays arround most of the day.  When she does eat it is a few bites here and there.  I am a new dog owner should I become worried?  What can I do?  Her energy is okay she will run arround but then it is nap time.  Suggestions?

Answer
Hi Patrick,

Puppies, like babies, need a lot of sleep. It is not at all uncommon for a puppy to be bouncing off the walls one minute and be ready to sleep the next. As long as her energy is good and she eats, drinks, and uses the restroom normally you shouldn't worry. If she is having diarrhea or is vomiting, you will want to see a veterinarian as she may have intestinal parasites. Also, if she isn't drinking enough you should have her checked out. Has she had her first vaccinations yet? She should have her first vaccination around 6-8 weeks, and receive a booster every few weeks after that until she is old enough for her immune system to hold the vaccination (most veterinarians stop around 3 months). If she hasn't been vaccinated you will want to have her checked out as well, just to be safe. Otherwise, the only other reccomendation I can think of is to make sure she is on a high quality food. If she's on something like Ol' Roy, Iams, or Puppy Chow, it could be part of your problem. My favorite foods are Bil-Jac, Eagle Pack, and Diamond, but if you are limited to buying her food at a grocery store, the best food available there is Purina One. Purina One Large Breed Puppy would be a great diet for her. Check the bag for feeding directions - maybe you are just expecting her to eat more than a little puppy's stomach needs! The bag will tell you how much to feed her each day, and with puppies its best to break it up into about 3 meals. You can also pour a little bit of warm chicken broth over her kibble, or mix some canned puppy food in with it to make it more appealing to her if you want.

Good luck!

Ashley