7 Common Puppy Illnesses: Signs and Treatment

The puppy days are some of the most intense and wonderful days you’ll have with your new canine companion. But what if things aren’t quite going to plan? Unfortunately, puppy illnesses are common, with one recent study suggesting about 1 in 5 puppies have a health problem soon after coming home [1]. New pet parents may need to visit the vet sooner than expected for common puppy issues, such as vomiting and diarrhea, parasites, or skin problems.

This can take new puppy parents by surprise. With some diseases in puppies happening within hours of being in their new home, there’s no time to build a pet emergency fund. In some cases, it may even be too soon for pet insurance. Luckily, there are options such as CareCredit, a health and pet care credit card that can be used to pay for both planned and unexpected veterinary costs.*

I’ve been a veterinarian for eight years, and I’ve seen plenty of puppies with a whole range of illnesses. One memorable pup became very ill within hours of me signing off on their insurance, and spent the night in the emergency vet. 

Let’s go over how to tell if a puppy is sick, common puppy illnesses, and more, to help you decide whether you need to take your poor puppy to the vet.

How to Tell If Your Puppy Is Sick

When you first get your puppy, you don’t know them very well. That can make it harder to spot if they’re acting out of character because they’re ill. So, how can you tell if a puppy is sick?

Well, the first thing to look out for is their general demeanor. Aside from some nervousness in their new environment, puppies should be inquisitive, friendly, and interested in the world around them. They should also alternate periods of play with sleep and eating on a fairly regular schedule.

Puppies who sleep a lot, seem hard to rouse, or aren’t awake and energetic in their wake periods could be sick. Puppies should have a good appetite and, while diarrhea is common, it isn’t normal and shouldn’t be ignored — especially since puppies can go downhill quickly even with mild illnesses. If you think your puppy is sick, it’s best to call the vet. They’ll help you determine whether or not to worry.

7 Common Puppy Illnesses: Signs and Treatment

Here are some common puppy illnesses to know about:

Parvovirus

Puppies are especially likely to catch parvovirus as their immunity protection from their mother wanes, especially if they haven’t started their vaccination course yet. This highly contagious virus is caught from infected dogs and from the environment where those dogs have been. Parvovirus is the main reason veterinarians advise caution when taking your dog out until their vaccinations are complete. 

Parvovirus is often fatal, and dogs who survive can have digestive problems for life due to the damage done to their intestines. 

You might spot diarrhea and vomiting, especially with blood. Head straight to the vet — treatment is intensive and the faster it’s started, the better chance your puppy has of survival.

Distemper

Another disease that veterinarians vaccinate puppies against, distemper, is thankfully less common — although still extremely serious. You might see vomiting, coughing, lethargy, fever, and neurological signs as the illness progresses. 

Due to the damage to their immune system, dogs are also very prone to picking up secondary infections, which can sadly be enough to kill a puppy. 

There is no treatment for distemper. Dogs have supportive treatment while their immune system battles the virus.

Fleas, ear mites, and other external parasites

Extremely common but thankfully mild in most cases, external parasites are usually contracted from the environment or contact with other pets. It’s very common for puppies to have ear mites or fleas, especially if they didn’t have the best start in life. 

You might see itching, head shaking, or biting at the back and flanks. Fleas are sometimes visible, or your dog’s coat may look dirty with what looks like dried mud but is actually flea poop. Ear mites leave thick dark-brown ear discharge. 

These, and a host of other external parasites, are easy enough to treat. Your vet will explain the best product for your puppy’s infestation.

Worms

We often call internal parasites worms. They are parasites that live in your dog’s intestines (and in some cases, other organs), feeding off your pet. Puppies can get roundworm and hookworm easily because they explore their environment with their mouths, and they can also get it from their mom’s milk. 

Contrary to popular belief, we can’t prevent worms in dogs. The drugs we use to target them kill all the worms that are present, but need regular re-dosing to ensure the puppy doesn’t immediately pick them up again. 

You might spot a round belly, diarrhea, or difficulty gaining weight. Talk to your vet to make sure you get the right worm treatment for your puppy.

Giardia

Giardia is a protozoal parasite that’s fairly common in puppies. It can be fairly subtle — dogs may grow and eat with no problem, and there’s no characteristic bloated belly. Instead, dogs will just have chronic diarrhea, of varying intensity. 

Giardia is often not diagnosed until dogs are a bit older, as it’s common to try worming and treating the diarrhea symptomatically first (it needs a special test to identify it). Normal worm treatments don’t tend to work against giardia. If your puppy is diagnosed, they’ll need different medications.

Kennel Cough

Kennel cough is the common name for a group of diseases that cause a cough in dogs. It’s common in puppies who are socialized a lot, since it spreads from dog to dog. Your puppy’s immune system isn’t fully developed, meaning they can catch and spread kennel cough more easily. 

There’s no specific treatment, but dogs may need symptomatic treatment to help, especially if they’re at risk of secondary infection. 

Vaccinations are available and are highly recommended if your puppy is going to puppy classes, group training, or doggy daycare.

Congenital diseases

While not common, veterinarians normally spot congenital diseases when puppies are very young. Congenital diseases are those the puppy is born with. In most cases, it’s something that happened in early development. 

Among other diseases, common congenital diseases puppies may be born with include a liver shunt that prevents them properly accessing nutrients from their food (portosystemic shunt) or a hole or extra blood vessel in the heart, causing blood to flow incorrectly. 

The common symptom in these cases is ill thrift — puppies who are runty, fail to grow, have bad coats, or are lethargic. There are usually surgical options to correct these, so talk to your vet as soon as you’re worried your puppy is sick.

How to Help a Puppy Feel Better

If your puppy is sick, the most important thing to do is to take them to a vet. Puppies have immature immune systems, and this can mean they deteriorate quickly from even mild illness. 

Once your vet has decided your pup is safe to go home, make sure you follow your vet’s instructions with regards to medications and exercise. Sick puppies usually need to be fed little and often, but it’s best to stick to a diet they’re familiar with rather than change it up when they’re unwell. 

Make sure your puppy always has plenty to drink, and keep them warm. However, it’s easy to burn a puppy’s thin skin — avoid hot water bottles and heated blankets, and make sure they can move if they get too hot.

How to Keep Your Puppy Healthy

There are lots of things you can do to help keep your puppy healthy. The first thing to do is take your puppy to their first vet visit — within a couple of days of bringing them home. Your vet will be able to give you personalized advice about puppy vaccinations, parasite prevention, diet, and the rest. 

Try to puppy-proof your home and yard, especially in areas your pup will be unsupervised. Try to also educate yourself about common toxins in the home and yard so you can react quickly if you see your dog eating something they shouldn’t. 

Training dogs to use a crate is sensible, as it allows you to keep them safely contained when they can’t be supervised. 

Lastly, make sure you have a plan for your puppy’s medical bills, whether that’s CareCredit, pet insurance, or something else. CareCredit empowers pet parents to be financially prepared for the lifetime of care their canine companions need to stay healthy and happy.*

References

1. Brand, Claire L et al. “Pandemic Puppies: Demographic Characteristics, Health and Early Life Experiences of Puppies Acquired during the 2020 Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the UK.” Animals : an open access journal from MDPI vol. 12,5 629. 2 Mar. 2022, doi:10.3390/ani12050629

*Subject to credit approval. See carecredit.com for details.

This information is shared solely for your convenience. Neither Synchrony nor any of its affiliates, including CareCredit, make any representations or warranties regarding the products described, and no endorsement is implied. You are urged to consult with your individual veterinarian with respect to any professional advice presented.