Last Updated: 28/05/2025
What to Do If Your Puppy is Sick
Read through our Vets guide to what to do if your puppy is sick.
Author: Dr Emilee Lay BVSc BSc (Vet) Hons
Reading Time: 10 minutes - short read
Last Updated: 28/05/2025
Read through our Vets guide to what to do if your puppy is sick.
Author: Dr Emilee Lay BVSc BSc (Vet) Hons
Reading Time: 10 minutes - short read
Bringing a new puppy into your home is an exhilarating experience, filled with joy and anticipation. However, just like human infants, puppies are more vulnerable to certain illnesses due to their developing immune systems. As a responsible pet owner, it's crucial to be vigilant and knowledgeable about the signs of illness in puppies and how to respond promptly.
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the common signs of a sick puppy, identify common puppy illnesses, discuss what actions to take, and delve into preventive measures to safeguard your furry friend's health. From recognizing subtle behavioural changes to understanding the importance of vaccinations and parasite prevention, we aim to equip you with the necessary information to ensure your puppy's well-being.
Let's navigate through the steps of caring for a sick puppy. Remember that seeking professional veterinary care and maintaining a calm, supportive environment during these challenging moments is a must!
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Lethargy
Loss of appetite
Nausea and Vomiting Diarrhoea (especially if with blood of mucous)
Excessive Panting
Whimpering Limping/Lameness
Sudden Aggression
Excessive Licking or Scratching
If you notice any of the above signs, contact your local vet. Make a note of how long your puppy has been showing signs. If your puppy is displaying abnormal behaviours - recording a video can be handy to show your vet. Photos of vomitus or diarrhoea can also be helpful.
Knowing what's normal for your puppy is also essential. Daily checks at home can help you pick up the more subtle or early signs of disease. These checks can include asking and checking:
Being vigilant at home is key, as puppies cannot always effectively communicate when something is wrong. Check out our New Puppy Guide for everything you need to know from A to Z when it comes to caring for your puppy.
This is a common concern for new puppy owners. Vomiting and diarrhoea are not necessarily illnesses but rather a sign of one. More often than not they can be triggered by eating something they shouldn’t have, a possible foreign body, a sudden change in diet, bacterial and/or viral infections, stress or intestinal parasites.
As puppies can become dehydrated quite rapidly, its important to have them checked by a vet as soon as possible. Do not force feed or syringe feed your puppy if they are vomiting, nauseous, or not eating, without proper guidance. Check out our guide to Vomiting and Diarrhoea to find out more.
Despite a vaccine being readily available, parvovirus is still prevalent in Australia. Parvovirus is a highly infectious virus that can cause severe bloody diarrhoea, vomiting, dehydration and nausea in puppies and dogs. It can survive for long periods in the environment and in severe cases cause death. Mortality rates can be high than 50% if left untreated. This is why it is essential to seek veterinary assistance if your puppy is unwell and displaying any signs of inappetance, vomiting and/or diarrhoea. Read more about Parvovirus.
Your puppy must be kept up to date with their vaccinations. High risk areas such as dog parks and public parks should be avoided until they have finished their course. Vaccinations generally are administered every 4 weeks for three shots from 6-8 weeks of age i.e. 6-8 weeks, 10-12 weeks and then 14-16 weeks. Puppies are routinely vaccinated against Parvovirus, Adenovirus, Distemper and Kennel Cough (and depending on your location Leptospirosis). Vaccines can take up to two weeks to have their full effect, so be mindful of this even after their final puppy vaccine.
Read more in our Essential Guide to Puppy Vaccination Schedules.
Kennel Cough can cause a characteristic dry, honking like cough and general lethargy. It encompasses several highly infectious viruses and bacteria that cause inflammation and infection within the respiratory system. Contrary to its name it can be spread from dog to dog in any setting - especially in places where they are kept in close proximity - such as dog parks! Although it can be tempting to socialise your puppy at the dog park - they aren’t always the best idea from both a health and behavioural point of view. For more information, take a read through When Can Puppies Go for a Walk Outside and Are Dog Parks Good for Dogs?.
Symptoms can occur within 2-10 days following exposure. The easiest way to protect your puppy against Kennel Cough is to have them vaccinated and to avoid doggy social gatherings until they have completed their course. If your pup develops an unusual cough - have them seen by your veterinarian. You may wish to use a harness rather than a collar when they are coughing to reduce strain on their airways. Keep your puppy isolated if they show any signs of Kennel Cough to reduce the spreading of disease.
Puppies are particularly prone to hypoglycaemia or low blood sugar levels - as they lack energy stores to maintain and regulate their glucose levels during periods of stress, inappetence and illness. Small and toy breed dogs like Chihuahuas - which have very high metabolism are particularly susceptible to hypoglycemia.
Signs can include weakness, lethargy, appetite loss, abnormal mentation, twitching or tremors and in severe cases seizures or coma. Early intervention and detection is key to long term survival- hypoglycaemic puppies must be seen by a veterinarian. Emergency treatment can be started at home - by rubbing small amounts of glucose or corn syrup onto the gums.
Due to their underdeveloped immune system, puppies are particularly prone to both internal and external parasites. Common internal parasites include roundworm, hookworm and tapeworm, whereas common external parasites include fleas, ticks, mange and demodex. These can cause a variety of clinical signs including vomiting, diarrhoea, itching, scratching, hair loss and a failure to thrive or grow. Internal parasites in particular can be acquired from as early as in the womb, from their mothers milk and even from ingesting eggs in their environment. It is essential to have your puppy up to date with their parasite preventatives.
Puppies should be wormed every two weeks from 2 weeks of age until they are 12 weeks old, then monthly until 6 months of age. From 6 months and onwards they can be wormed every 3 months (if you are using a heartworm injection) OR once a month when combined with a monthly heartworm, flea and tick product.
If you notice worms in your pup's poop after administering a preventative - make sure to take a photo to show your vet and have your pup checked at the vet. Depending on the worm may need a slightly altered worming schedule for a short period of time as well as environmental decontamination.
Wrapping your head around Parasite Prevention can be a doozy- so check out our Guide to Worms and Guide to Fleas and Ticks in Dogs! Don't forget to also read our article on How Often Should I Worm My Puppy?
t is essential not to delay seeking veterinary care for your puppy. Veterinarians can examine, diagnose, and provide appropriate triage and treatment plans for your puppy. In an emergency it's easy to panic - but make sure to take a big breath and focus on the essentials. Make sure you have an appropriate dog carrier to transport your puppy in.
Your veterinarian will be able to guide you through the process and discuss all the options for your puppy. Remember to be kind to your veterinarians, even when stressed, a little kindness can go a long way. With the additional pressures on the industry due to a shortage of veterinarians and an increased demand for veterinary services - many clinics are booked out well in advance.
Make sure to have a list of clinics and their contact details on hand. Knowing where your closest Veterinary Emergency Centres are - is also important - especially for those out-of-hours situations.
With the internet at our fingertips, it can be tempting to go down the rabbit hole that is Dr. Google. Asking for advice online can help provide reassurance, especially in times of stress. What is important to remember is that consulting a vet who can physically examine your pet, assess their health, and provide their expert opinion on treatment options is always the way to go.
Early intervention and appropriate professional care greatly contribute to a puppy’s recovery. At-home or over-the-counter remedies can delay essential treatment and in some instances worsen the prognosis. If finances are a concern, some clinics offer buy now pay later services such as payment plans through third-party companies.
It can be quite distressing when your puppy is unwell. It is important to note that even after a vet visit, your puppy may take some time to improve. Patience and dedication are key! Puppies are a long-term commitment even more so when they are unwell - being understanding about what they can and can’t feasibly do during this time is a must.
Knowing whats normal behaviour for your puppy and what their personality is like can help you identify alterations in appetite, mood and energy levels - all of which can assist in your vet making a diagnosis.
Make sure to provide an area where your puppy can rest easily - away from too much noise and distractions. Much like a little den - a dog crate can be a great place for them to recuperate.
Bland diets are sometimes all a dog can stomach when they are sick. Boiled chicken (without the skin) or tuna in springwater with rice made into a porridge can help keep their energy levels up and well hydrated. Do not force-feed or syringe feed your puppy as they may aspirate or vomit. If they are unable to keep food or water down without vomiting - this requires an immediate vet visit.
If you have a newborn puppy - check out our guide to caring for a newborn puppy for more information.
It can be easy to spiral when your puppy is unwell. Remember to take a moment to collect yourself, breathe and come up with a game plan. Being anxious can sometimes also stress your puppy out more. So remaining calm will also benefit them.
Being calm also extends to your pup. Avoid outings, playdates, or puppy school until your puppy is feeling better. Ensure they are kept in a nice quiet place so that they can recuperate.
In Summary
After you’ve had a breather its important to get started on your game plan!
Check out our handy Pet First Aid Tips Guide for more information!
Many common debilitating diseases that puppies can acquire are easily preventable with appropriate vaccinations and parasite prevention. Puppies usually have at least one vaccination prior to being rehomed. Make sure to double-check when their next vaccine is due and book an appointment with your vet. Some clinics offer puppy health checks as well - and these are a great way to make sure you’re on the right track.
As mentioned before puppies should be wormed every two weeks until they are 12 weeks of age. Flea and Tick Prevention can be started from 6-8 weeks of age. Reweigh your puppy before each dose, as they may outgrow the pack you have at home. Make sure to double-check when their next flea, tick and wormer is due and put a reminder in your calendar or diary.
Here at Pet Circle you can select for Auto Delivery so that you never run short of the essentials! We also have an extensive Guide to Puppy Care and can also provide tailored Vet Pet Plans or Live Chat. You can discover more here about our free Vet advice and Vet Squad.
Want to read more? Check out our other articles:
Common Mistakes Puppy Owners Make
Want to know more? Check out our Discover Page for more tips on keeping your pets happy and healthy.
