Hi All Yesterday we picked up our new 8 week old Black Labrador puppy I just had a few questions i wondered if anyone could answer: 1 - We are crate training and the positives are that she doesn't mind the crate at all, ive been putting her in there to sleep every time she falls asleep on the floor/our laps, she even goes in on her own sometimes and eats in there. However, at night, as we expected she was crying all night. Were we right to totally ignore her apart from taking her to toilet every few hours silently and putting her back in? 2 - Is it normal that she literally sleeps most of the time. She will wake for maybe 10 minutes of play and then just lie down where she is playing and sleep 3 - she is not eating that well to be honest. She is having maybe half the amount of food that the box recommends for her age. We are using Bakers complete puppy food as this is what she was weaned onto by her breeder, i am wetting it because she was yapping while eating at first. Is this normal/ok? 4 - Related to the above, is it normal for occasional yapping while eating even once food is moistened? 5 - Her stomach twitches while she sleeps (could be hiccups?) and also looks bloated and feels a bit hard, we have set up her initial appointment at vets for Thursday which will include her shots, her worming and flea treatment. This is the earliest they could see us, should i be worried? They are closed today, i tried to ring them to ask them a few things 6 - Her poo is a little runny, not massively but i would still class it as diarrhoea , is this just because she is young? Sorry for all the questions, i only meant to ask 3 We are just worrying (probably too much) and want her to be happy. She hasn't been wormed, flead or had any shots at her previous home so i guess she just feels vulnerable to us. Thanks
Re: Had a new puppy, a few questions... Hi there, and welcome! Yes it is a worrying time with a brand new puppy. If your pup cries all night long, I would consider either sleeping on the couch near to her crate for a couple of nights, or putting the crate in your room. It's a terrifying experience for some pups, to be separated totally from all that they know and love, so personally I think it is good to take it gently and not go 'cold turkey'. but anyway, in a few days she will be used to her new home and will stop crying at night. Sleeping a lot is pretty normal. Regarding not eating that well - I think that is fairly normal for the first day or so, again because of the upset of being somewhere new. However, if her stomach still doesnt feel right and she has runny poos tomorrow, I would insist on seeing the vet personally... just for your peace of mind. Congratulations on your new addition! What is her name?
Re: Had a new puppy, a few questions... Hello, Welcome from me and Charlie, six month old chocolate boy. Charlie is my first dog (well, second, but the first was so long ago my mum did all the work!). I can't help with most of your questions, but a couple: Charlie slept most of the time at first. He was very lively when he was awake, but slept a lot and very deeply. I didn't go down to Charlie at night at all, and ignored all crying. I kept his nights really short at first. He was dry over these short nights really quickly and stopped crying on night two. He didn't cry much on night one though, so I think it's right that all pups are different - do what you think will works for your pup. It didn't take him long to demonstrate how he can inhale food! I think he has a natural talent for that though! ;D Best wishes, hope you enjoy the forum, there are some really experienced people and they always help out - it's great.
Re: Had a new puppy, a few questions... Hey Thanks for replies, her name is Luna. I have attached a picture top down to try to show her belly, im definitely going to phone vets, i am just feeling that somethings not right Thanks for any more input that people can give, really trying to put my mind at rest for the night
Re: Had a new puppy, a few questions... Her tummy does look swollen...did you say she hasn't been wormed at all yet? My pup came with a card showing he had lots of worming treatments before I got him. Maybe she has worms? Sorry I'm not much help, someone more experienced will be along in a while, I'm sure.
Re: Had a new puppy, a few questions... Hi, i am also a new puppy owner so i can help you with a few of the questions as i have been there and done most of them. 1. i would just ignore her and only go down to let her out when she is quite. Even better try not to let her out in the middle of the night as then she will want to wake up every night in the middle of the night wanting to go out, if you set up a bit in her cage that she can go to the toilet on if she needs to that would also be good so she does not go on her bed, let her out before you go to bed and as soon as you wake and get her into that sort or routine. The following link might also be of use for you to deal with her crying at night http://www.thelabradorsite.com/?p=1959 2. yes it is normal, our little one is 12 weeks old today and she still sleeps most of the time and only wakes up for sort of 1/2 hour at a time but is full of beans then she will just crash where ever she is 3. that is to be expected, she is in a new home without her litter mates or her mum, and it is scary for a little pup, we did not have this problem with our current dog but we did with our other dog who was a rescue who came to us very underweight anyway so it was very worrying at times as he would not eat, and ended up at the vets on a drip for a 2 days, but i don't want to scare you, as long as she is still drinking enough then her appetite will soon return (she is a lab, she will quickly learn to inhale her food). The following link might also help http://www.thelabradorsite.com/?p=3984 4. i don't know what you really mean by yapping 5. i would not be too concerned but i you think something is not right it is best to get it checked out, our puppy did and still has got quite a large swollen tummy, but she has been wormed, she is st the moment growing around her belly and ears, soon enough things will all come into proportion 6. That is quite normal, our little one still has a few runny poos' but she does eat everything and anything so that is a factor for that. Moving into a new home is very stressful so it is bound to upset her tummy a little bit, it should settle down over the next few days
Re: Had a new puppy, a few questions... Hi, I have Otis who is four and a half months. Otis came to me having been wormed, but he still had them, lots ! So maybe the swollen tummy could be worms, soon sorted out though. I wouldn't encourage your pup to poo near the crate, its better to put them out if they need to go. They like to keep theyre bed clean, and you want to encourage good toileting habits. I think you have to do what you feel is right, and Im sure Luna will soon settle at night. Its a lovely time having a new pup, puppy snuggles are the best ! Best to see the vet if you are worried about the tum, and they can treat it.
Re: Had a new puppy, a few questions... Hi there and welcome It can be an awesome responsibility looking after a new pup, so you are bound to worry. It is not good practice to leave a puppy unwormed, and bearing in mind you think her tummy feels a bit hard, it would be a good idea to check in with a vet before Thursday. Are you in the UK? Most vets here will see a puppy next day if an owner is worried. I would give them a ring and say you are concerned about your pup. Do continue to get up in the night, many 8 wk puppies cannot last all night without a bathroom break. With regard to a previous post, it is a very bad idea to encourage the puppy to mess in its crate. Having the puppy's crate next to your bed for a few nights works well for many people, but most puppies do settle within a week if left downstairs alone A vet check is they way to go now Pippa
Re: Had a new puppy, a few questions... Hi, I thought you should not encourage your puppy to toilet anywhere in the crate as this is their space. Pippa has written an article about taking your puppy outside and times to get up, leaving your puppy in the crate times etc. Good luck with Luna all will be fine but agree take her to the vet if you are unsure. Helen x
Re: Had a new puppy, a few questions... Welcome from Lisa and Simba!! She is a cutie! I think you might be onto something with the worms - puppies often come with them. Which would explain the tum and the lack of eating. But as the others have said, it's a big adjustment for the pups the first few days in a new environment, which also could explain the upset tummy. I'm sure the vet will get her sorted in no time and she'll settle down just fine. The first few days are worrying but you will both eventually figure each other out and she will be a lovely companion for you. Don't be afraid to ask questions or express concerns, that's what we are here for!!
Re: Had a new puppy, a few questions... Hi again Thanks for all the replies. Last night everything was different, I woke up once in the night to take her to toilet, her poos were totally solid!!! Her belly looked better, and looks even better still this morning and all of her poos have now been solid. Also she never cried at all when I put her back in crate in the night, it was a near perfect night and a total change from the one before I have managed to persuade the vets to see her tomorrow morning now so hopefully they will put my mind totally at rest Thanks all
Re: Had a new puppy, a few questions... Hi mojo, Glad you had a better night and are going to see the vet soon. Good to put your mind at rest, there are a right worry these puppies : Welcome to the forum to you and Luna Jac and Lilly - 3 year old black Labby girl.
Re: Had a new puppy, a few questions... So glad you had a better night, and that Luna's tummy seems better. You were right to call the vet though, and I am glad they are seeing you.
Re: Had a new puppy, a few questions... Glad things went well last night Good plan to get it all checked at the vet's
Re: Had a new puppy, a few questions... Just to say hi and welcome,im a bot sloe had a busy couple of days.....cutting into my forum time ....very inconvenient !you've had loads of replies and our dog Dexter came to us at 5 months so I'm not much help with the early day problems. Best Wishes Angela
Re: Had a new puppy, a few questions... Hi & Welcome from myself & Charlie. Charlie is now 9 weeks old & a few things we tried seemed to have worked. Charlie has bursts where he will get up & wonder for 10 mins then flake out again. So to me this is normal. At night about 30mins before we all head off to bed we have a mad moemnt with Charlie. All his toys come out & we play. Then bed time..the first week we put a hot water bottle in his crate...only warm enough so he gets some comfort. If you think your pup has been used to the warmth of brothers & sisters so it's a bit of security. We also leave a night light on again a comfort thing. Charlie now wakes at about 4,30 cries out & one of us go down to let him out. 10 mins & he fast asleep again!! As for food: I feed Charlie on Purina Beta Puppy & he loves it. Charlie also had a fat belly but again once he had settled he pooed for England & he's now looking allot trimmer Glad to read you had a better night, it's still a shock to the system getting up to their alarm clock!!!! Good Luck
