10 week old puppy not eating--should I worry?

Question

We adopted a 10 week old puppy on Saturday afternoon. She's a Shepherd/Lab mix, around 20lbs. She was on Pedigree puppy food, so that's what I bought for her, b/c it's what the shelter we got her from had the puppies in her litter on. She ate like a hog that first night and all day yesterday (I fed her three times yesterday, breakfast, lunch and dinner). She has access to water all the time. Well, a couple hours after she would eat, she would have some really smelly gas and her poop was on the runny side. I read that it could mean her tummy wasn't quite agreeing with the food she was on, so I started to switch her to Purina One. It's only been one day, and I haven't completely switched her yet. What I did yesterday was mix give her 1/4 cup of the new food mixed in with 3/4 cup of the old food with every feeding. Again, she gobbled it up. In fact, she kept going BACK to her dish and licking at it like she was starving. 

She slept great last night. She went for four hours before she wanted to go potty. I tried waking her up before that but she didn't want to get up. When she sleeps, she's out cold. You can roll her over and she doesn't even blink an eye. She appears to be drinking fine, she had a ton of energy this morning. I got her up at 5:30 this morning and made her go outside, and she peed several times and made a big poop. 

But so far today she hasn't eaten. She's gone in for a few bites, then walks away from it...and I put the food out 6 hours ago. I've even tried giving her ONLY the old food she was eating at the shelter and she won't even touch that. So What I've done is mixed both together, the same mix as yesterday (1/4 new, 3/4 old) and set it out and again, she won't eat. 

Now, if we get to tomorrow morning and again she won't eat, then yes, of course I'll call the vet. No worries about me neglecting my puppy. But in the meantime, I'm worried. I don't want to start her on the habit of having to put something in her food to coax her to eat, but I don't want her to starve either. 

Oh, I forgot to mention...since the poop she had this morning was a lot more solid than it's been since she got here. And she's a lot less gassy. 

Again, I'm worried. Should I be? I've had dogs all my life, but I've never actually raised a small puppy. Our last dog we got when she was already an adult.

? · Accepted Answer

I'm a vet tech who'll be going back to work in the morning after the holiday  : )

Thank you for adopting your new puppy!
Gassiness does show that the food isn't agreeing with your pup.  And good for you, changing the food gradually, over a week's time.  That's a good thing to do. Any food can upset any puppy any time, so it's a matter of buying the best food you can afford and gradually changing  to it.

Stomach upsets (diarrhea) have other causes, too.  Stress!  Stress from going to a new home, even a great one, can cause diarrhea.  So can coccidia, which they can find at your vet from a stool sample.  So can other parasites.  Again, they can find those and treat them.

I'm sure that in the morning, I'll have several cases of diarrhea coming in to see the vet.  It is a common problem.  There are good medications for that, and it's relatively simple to treat.

If your pup continues to have untreated diarrhea, she could get dehydrated, and that's a bad thing.

SO if I were in your situation, I'd call the vet for a check-up, and take a fresh stool sample along for them to analyze while you are there.  they may give you some free stuff for a new puppy, too  : )

Since I don't know where you are writing from, maybe I'll see you in the morning!!!!    LOL
Unless your pup starts to vomit and becomes very lethargic, tomorrow is fine.

Rosalie · Answer

You need to worry about this puppy now - she's very young, and it sounds as if she may have a GI blockage from eating so much dry kibble. A puppy  not eating is a real danger sign, and I seriously wouldn't wait until tomorrow morning- you could lose her.

 As for switching the food, unless there i evidence to suggest that she is having trouble on what she came on, bad enough to warrant bailing form it, I would wait several days or even longer for her to settle in to her new home before changing anything. Puppies can go downhill for a lot of reasons, and she's already been through a lot of stressful change. Even if she gets through this with nothing, give her some time before you change anything.

 She likely needs to be wormed and a lot of other things in the next few days, but for now, please call your vet and get one on the phone - this isn't a good situation you're looking at now.

? · Answer

Puppy Not Eating

Land-shark · Answer

It is because of all the changes associated with rehoming that have flooded her system with stress hormones which in turn have disrupted her digestion.
Get into a routine of putting down her food just after you have started to eat something, leave it down only 20 minutes. Feed again later in the day when you eat. This will create a pack-like bonding and enourage eating.
Don't worry unless she has watery or bloody diarrhea

scoobysmom2004 · Answer

I would think the puppy was getting better by what u said. If still concerned tomorrow I would call the vet, also the puppy isn't probably used to being fed as much so she probably just is settling in. Pick one of the foods she likes best and stick with it! Congrats on the new puppy I just got a new one myself last wednesday.

Anonymous · Answer

Hi, I need to know that you had mentioned feeding your pup 3 times a day and is that each time 1 cup? What is the cup size? Sometime if you feed to much, the pup will refuse to eat in the next meal until she feel hungry. BTW, feeding to much will make her lazy as well. The correct way is one day consumption divided into 3 times. Hope you got what I mean.

When you took her back, did the owner mention to you whether the pup already de-worm? Please check. If not please de-worm her asap. Dog will eat less when there is worm in their stomach. 

Please jab your pup. Normally 1st jab should be in 8 weeks old. 2nd jab 30 days after 1 jab and 3rd jab 30 days after 2nd jab.

Nothing to worry if she is active, her poop is firm and colour like brown / dark brown.

Cheers.....

? · Answer

She's still reacting to stress.  Be patient with her and give her a structured day with a reliable schedule.  She'll settle down.

Charlie · Answer

Switch her to beniful thats how my puppy was when i first got him four months ago but his poop  wasnt runny or nothing but i got a pit and when he sleeps hes out cold to he snores alot

? · Answer

puppies at that age should me scoffing food really so you should take him to a vet! asap he could be ill .

Anonymous · Answer

my sheltie pup bee wouldnt eat the first day he came home. wut we did wuz put a little amount of food on a paper plate and wait till her sniffed it. thn we wuld say "good boy bee!!" and pet him. associating the good boy or good girl will make them feel u hv approved of them eating. if she still wont eat, pour a little cup of warm water on the food to make it moist. be sure not to flood it tho. if she still hasnt eaten in the morning, call the vet. best of luck.

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10 week old puppy not eating--should I worry?

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