How You Can Tell if Your Puppy is Sick

Dogs

How can you tell if your puppy is sick? Puppies can fall ill for a variety of reasons but their symptoms aren't always easy to detect.

Diagnosis of sick puppies can be challenging because puppies frequently get sick very quickly. It is not uncommon to hear about a puppy that was running around, playing, eating, and drinking normally in the morning becoming horribly sick and not moving just 4 to 6 hours later. In adult dogs this kind of rapid development of symptoms would be uncommon, but it happens regularly with young puppies.

Common Signs of a Sick Puppy

Some common indications of a "sick puppy" include:

• Lethargy
• Weakness
• Less interest in playing
• Lack of appetite or decreased appetite
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Straining to urinate or defecate
• Pale mucous membranes
• Sleeping more
• Less interaction with you or other pets
• Weight loss
• Trouble walking
• Rapid or difficult breathing

You are the person who knows your pet best, and owners often notice subtle early warning signs that someone else may not detect. If you observe any of the mentioned symptoms or see any other signs that concern you, call your veterinary hospital as soon as possible. In fact, it's worth seeking the advice of a vet even if you can't quite pinpoint what's wrong. That feeling that something is “off” about your dog can be indicative of a health problem.

The safest approach when you suspect your puppy is sick is to have your puppy examined. Once your pet is under the supervision of a veterinarian, the vet may ask additional questions to help localize or diagnose the problem.