You may already know from your own experience that a puppy can move in with you at the age of 8 weeks.
You may have already encountered this challenge: Your 8 week old puppy is not eating.
What is behind it and how you can help him? Find out in the guide below!
8 week old puppy not eating: 4 possible causes
Of course, many of us get a little panicky when the 8 week old pup isn’t eating. After all, even the greatest canine expert gets restless when the little furry nose refuses to eat.
But is not always a cause for concern appropriate. Because there are also causes that are completely harmless in nature. And we’ll start with this one.
1. The puppy is sad
Did you pay attention to the age in the introduction, you may have noticed one detail immediately: The puppy is only 8 weeks old. And has just left his old and familiar home.
What does that mean for him? He now lives with strangersand that without mom and siblings.
That in turn hit him on the little puppy stomach. As a result, the little rascal is not hungry. Then Sadness usually does not have a positive effect on appetite.
2. The puppy is stressed
The separation pain from mom and siblings caused a puppy stress. This can also be a reason why the little dog does not want to eat.
However, if he urinates more, this is a pretty sure sign that stress is actually behind the loss of appetite.
3. The puppy does not tolerate the food
Omnivores or not – the right food is important for dogs. This is especially true for puppies. Because these need certain nutrients and trace elementsto grow healthily.
It can happen that you the little fur nose the wrong food have given. As a result, she doesn’t want to eat. Because she knows that the stomach and intestines don’t really play their part here.
4. Your puppy is sick
The absolute emergency at the end. Your puppy is ill – badly. You may have already heard of two diseases that can affect puppies in particular: distemper and the parvovirus or the parvovirus.
In both cases, this can have deadly consequences. Symptoms include loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, breathing problems and heart failure.
Good to know:
Please always make sure that your dog necessary vaccination protection has. Because this can mitigate a serious course of the disease and save lives.
By the way, such a viral disease can already date from mother animal be transmitted to the unborn puppies. Accordingly, a breeder should vaccinate this as welllike later the little dogs.
What can I do if my puppy won’t eat?
Depending on the reason, there are a number of things you can do yourself to encourage your puppy to eat. For example, if the cause is the pain of separation from the old home, you should above all, give the little dog time.
Because it is important: You should never force your dog to eat. Because that in turn has the opposite effect – and the dog no longer wants to touch any food.
If you can’t make it with me such as treats to stimulate appetitebut you should definitely consult a vet as soon as possible.
How many times a day should a puppy eat?
Puppies have some special habits: you still growing And you are little bundles of energy.
This means that the younger the puppy, the more often it should eat per day. The following applies here: Up to 6 months of age are 3 meals a day right and important. From the 6th month of life can the daily Feed rations reduced to 2 become.
What is the best way to feed my puppy?
It is important that your puppy has the right food and the right amount of food receives. Veterinarians and canine experts advise it, especially to feed dry food. Because this has to be chewed, it is not simply «inhaled» and swallowed.
You should also wet food note that you have this at room temperature serve Because that way it smells more appetizing, so it is also more likely to be eaten.
Last but not least is the feeding place decisive. This one should in a quiet place located where your little fur nose can eat undisturbed.
Can a puppy starve?
The clear answer: Yes! And clearly faster than adult dogs. The reason? Puppies usually hardly have up no fat reserves. These in turn hold an adult dog «vertically».
Of course, we know that you have already arrived at the vet before a critical time window has expired. This can, for example, connect a small dog to a drip and thus provide it with liquid and food.
Good to know:
Actually exists already after 12 hours without food there is a risk that a puppy could starve to death. Of course, age also plays a decisive role here. Because: The younger and smaller, the more dangerous this condition.
When should I go to the vet?
The way to the vet stands always then on if absolute no home remedy or persuasion helped has. In short: when the condition does not improve, but maybe even worsens.
If there is an illness or a food intolerance behind the loss of appetite, the vet will help. Because this one know bestas the Caused is found and which ones solutions there are.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why an 8 week old puppy will not eat or will not eat. There is not always immediate cause for concern.
But it is important that you Keep a close eye on your little roommate. Because as you now know at the latest: Some of the causes of loss of appetite are very serious.
How about you and your dog? Have you had experiences with not eating? Then we would be happy if you share them with us in the comments.