Ask Dr Claire
St. Bernard puppy not eating properly
In short, it’s always a concern when puppies aren’t eating. Not eating (inappetance) is really just a symptom and can be the result of many underlying causes.
In this case, we really need to find the cause of why he’s not eating so that we can treat your puppy’s problem (not just the symptom). This will help us reach the best treatment plan too.
Some of the underlying causes for a puppy not to eat might include:
- Infectious disease (bacteria, viruses, parasites)
- Gut problems (inflammatory bowel disease, tumours, obstructions, food intolerance or food allergies)
- Abdominal or metabolic problems (such as kidney or liver including shunts, electrolyte and glucose abnormalities)
- Direct irritation of the stomach
- A reaction to toxins or other drugs
- Fussy eater and more
Puppies tend to go down hill quickly and can’t tolerate periods of time without eating and drinking.
If he hasn’t been gaining weight, and certainly if he isn’t eating food, I’d recommended a hands-on examination from your local vet ASAP.
They may even recommend a blood and urine test test as a great way to assess your pup’s base health.
Abdominal imaging (such as radiography and ultrasound) is often used in cases of not eating as well to exclude any disease or issue in the abdomen and gut.
If you’d like to chat in person, you can book a vet on a live video call or start a chat to discuss in more detail.
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Chat soon,
Dr Claire