Seven Puppy Illness Warning Signs Every Owner Should Know

If you have bred a litter of puppies from your dog, hopefully you made the decision to do so because your dog is a good quality pedigree breed with plenty of demand from owners for your puppies. Knowing that you have made a well thought out and responsible decision to breed means you can enjoy the wonderful parts of seeing new life enter the world and playing with adorable little fur balls during their first weeks of life!

Alternatively, you might find yourself with a litter if you have adopted or bought a pregnant dog—whether you knew it or not—or if you have agreed to foster a rescue dog with a litter to provide benefits of domestic life and a family environment, helping them adjust for successful rehoming.

Having a litter of puppies at home can be hugely rewarding and enjoyable, though it also involves hard work. Generally, the dam takes care of most of the puppies’ needs but it is vital for anyone caring for the litter to spot early warning signs of illness. Prompt detection and veterinary care help puppies thrive and achieve healthy adulthood.

In this guide, we'll explore seven important warning signs of illness in young puppies. Recognising these will empower you to act swiftly for the health and well-being of your puppies.

1. Early Health Checks and Veterinary Support

Most puppies are born naturally, although certain breeds like the French bulldog puppies often require caesarean delivery due to their physical traits. Having your vet check the litter within a day or two of birth is recommended to identify any health concerns early. After the initial vet visit, unless there are concerns, puppies usually have their next examination at around eight weeks for their first vaccinations. This makes diligent observation during the interim crucial for promptly noticing any health issues.

2. Feeding: Ensuring Every Puppy Gets Enough Nutrition

It’s important to ensure all puppies receive sufficient milk from their mother. In large litters or where one puppy is dominant, the weaker pups might be displaced and miss feeding opportunities. Supervise feedings, and rotate puppies if necessary to give each a fair share of milk.

If the dam’s milk supply is insufficient or the litter is very large, supplementing with puppy milk replacer can be necessary until pups start eating solids. However, mother's milk remains invaluable for the nutrition and immune benefits it provides, so encouraging some natural feeding is always best.

3. Monitoring Weight Gain

Steady weight gain is a key indicator of puppy health. Weigh puppies every few days to ensure they are growing. Puppies that fail to gain weight or show weight loss should be assessed by a vet without delay, as this might signal underlying health problems requiring treatment.

4. Temperature and Warmth

Puppies should always feel warm to the touch. Even a slight chill in one or more puppies can suggest health concerns such as infection or failure to thrive. Maintaining appropriate environmental temperature and spotting any puppy who feels colder than littermates supports early intervention.

5. Activity Levels and Behavioural Changes

While some puppies are naturally more active and others more calm, an unusually lethargic or limp puppy is a warning sign. Healthy puppies show curiosity and movement consistent with their developmental stage. Any puppy showing prolonged lack of movement, reluctance to play, or unusual behaviour changes including aggression or confusion should be checked by a vet.

6. Excessive Crying or Vocalisation

Puppies often vocalise with yelps, squeaks, and babbles, but constant crying without obvious reason may indicate distress or illness. Excessive vocalisation warrants investigation to rule out discomfort, hunger, pain, or underlying disease.

7. Visible Signs of Illness

Visible symptoms such as runny or crusted noses and eyes, skin or coat problems like itching, redness, or hair loss, vomiting, diarrhoea, or any other abnormalities should never be ignored. Handling and daily health checks help spot these signs early. Any such symptoms should prompt immediate veterinary consultation to provide appropriate treatment.

Additional Tips for Responsible Puppy Care

• Vaccinations and parasite control are critical to protect vulnerable young puppies from common illnesses.
• Maintain cleanliness in the puppies’ environment to reduce infection risks.
• Provide a safe, warm, and stress-free space to encourage healthy growth and development.
• Work with reputable breeders or rescue organisations to ensure responsible acquisition and care.

Summary: Caring for young puppies involves careful monitoring of feeding, weight, temperature, behaviour, and visible health signs. Early detection of any warning sign and prompt veterinary care helps ensure puppies grow into happy, healthy adults. Responsible ownership and consistent care are the foundation of successful puppy rearing.