Comments on: Help us help our puppy.

Question: Help us help our puppy.

arianell — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 15:16:02 -0800

We just got an adorable new puppy. We're ecstatic! The dog, however, seems less enthused... for the past two days, he has done almost nothing but sleep. He has yet to eat anything, and he has no desire to explore our apartment or walk outside. Why is this, and what can we do to help him adjust?

Our new dog is a gorgeous five-month-old shiba inu. We took him home with us yesterday, and since he got to our apartment he has seemed quite listless. At first we thought he was just tired, but now we're a little concerned. He doesn't want to eat his puppy food, even though we can hear his stomach growling. It's the same kind of food his breeder raised him on, so it's not that we're just feeding him something he doesn't like.

It's really hard to get him to come outside with us, even to go to the bathroom. When we do take him outside, he has little interest in exploring, and he completely refuses to take walks with us (if we wanted to get him to move, we would literally have to drag him across the ground). He has eaten a couple of milkbones, and we've been somewhat successful in getting him to play keep-away with a squeaky toy (he'll play as long as he doesn't have to get off the couch, that is.)

Why is our dog so dejected? Is he simply homesick, or should we be worried?

By: fatllama

fatllama — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 15:21:38 -0800

You should take your dog to the vet: it sounds like he is ill.

By: nimsey lou

nimsey lou — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 15:22:42 -0800

Have you taken him to the vet yet? Even if the breeder has taken the litter to get their puppy shots, you should have your vet check out your new best friend.
My chihuahua pup was listless too. Turned out that she had a tape worm. Once that was gone she was super hyper.

By: freshwater_pr0n

freshwater_pr0n — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 15:26:57 -0800

This puppy sounds very ill, and I wouldn't advise waiting until Monday to get him to the vet. A puppy who acts the way you describe could have an intestinal blockage or a serious illness.

Here's a page that lists emergency clinics in your area:

http://dogsarizona.com/emergency_veterinarians/index.htm

Keep us posted!

By: found missing

found missing — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 15:41:12 -0800

Your puppy very likely needs attention today. As f_p said, don't wait.

By: words1

words1 — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 15:45:02 -0800

Sounds like it could be parvovirus, to which puppies are prone. Get to a vet.

By: frobozz

frobozz — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 15:52:28 -0800

Yes, even nervous puppies are active. I normally think people on askme can jump the gun on the 'get to the vet now' answers, but in this case I entirely agree.

By: mmkhd

mmkhd — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 15:55:44 -0800

Seconding the possible worm infection (or another general illness).

How did the dog behave the first night? Any anxiety or was it listless,too?

Did you talk to the breeder? What type of breeder ist it. Is it an reputable breeder or "just" an at home breeder with not much experience? Five month is relatively old for a puppy, three month is more like the usual time, didn't anybody want your puppy before you? Or is this the time the breeder mandated? Did you see the littermates and the mother? How was their general behaviour? Did they seem healthy and energetic?

Did the breeder give the puppy its initial vaccination shots and a deworming? (If no, bad breeder.)

It can be many things. I would talk to the breeder if you trust her/him. Otherwise go to the vet. Go to the vet anyway. A general checkup can't hurt, eases your mind and shouldn't be too expensive.

How is the coat? Glossy? Matted? Are the eyes bright and clear? Cute pink era canals, or a fetid mess? Is the puppys belly bloated? How does the puppy react to gentle pressure on its belly? Are the stomach noises hungryness or a unhealthy gurgling in the intestines? How does the puppy's stool look like? etc. Did you visit and observe the litter before you decided on your dog?

Even if you answer these questions here, MeFi cannot help you. You have to talk to the breeder, a knowledgable dog person and/or a vet. It can be everything and nothing.

By: mmkhd

mmkhd — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 15:57:25 -0800

Sorry for the excessive linebreaks.

By: ClaudiaCenter

ClaudiaCenter — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 15:58:15 -0800

Nodding, nodding -- sounds like sick puppy. Not at all typical puppy behavior, even for homesick puppy. I would go to (emergency) vet.

By: Rock Steady

Rock Steady — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 17:02:57 -0800

I work at an emergency animal hospital, and if you were a client calling in, I would suggest you bring your pup in immediately. Lethargy in puppies is a real "red flag" symptom. Hopefully it is nothing more than a little GI upset, but it could certainly be much more serious, and potentially life-threatening. Good luck.

By: tamitang

tamitang — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 17:56:12 -0800

I would definitely have him checked and IANAV; however our new Yorkie puppy acted just like that when we first brought her home to the point where we were so concerned we tried squirting baby food in her mouth just to get her to eat. Took her to the vet who couldn't find anything wrong. On the third day she perked up, started eating and has been fine ever since. Still, have him checked out.

By: arianell

arianell — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 20:12:17 -0800

Thanks for the quick and concerned responses, everyone. We ended up taking him to an emergency veterinary hospital last night, and the vet we saw couldn't find anything wrong with him, although she did give us some deworming meds. He's eating just fine now, although he's still very apprehensive about going outside. Hopefully that will get better as he gets more comfortable with his new home.

By: nimsey lou

nimsey lou — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 20:41:39 -0800

thanks for the update and good luck with your new pup.