Best Pets Healthtrusted, vet-reviewed care

dogs

How to Spot an Unhealthy Puppy: What to Check Before You Choose

Puppies can hide illness, and buying a sick puppy is heartbreaking. Learn the warning signs of an unhealthy puppy and exactly what to check before you take one home.

· dogs, puppies

Puppies hide illness — so check carefully

A healthy puppy is bright, alert and clean. When you’re choosing a puppy, a quick inspection can help you spot problems early — and tell you when to walk away. The veterinary charity PDSA is clear that the biggest risk of buying a sick puppy comes from where you get it, so this guide covers both the physical signs of an unhealthy puppy and the checks you should make at the breeder’s.

We’re not a substitute for a vet — if you’re ever unsure about a puppy, a call to your vet is always the safest step.

Signs that a puppy may be unhealthy

According to PDSA, a puppy that has a lot of discharge from its nose, eyes or ears, or seems very lethargic, probably isn’t very healthy and needs a vet check-up before you agree to take it on. Watch especially for:

  • A runny or dry nose. Healthy puppies should have moist (but not runny) noses. Discharge from the nostrils can signal a problem.
  • Cloudy, red or weeping eyes. Eyes should be bright, clear and open as normal, with no discharge or heavy tear staining.
  • Coughing or snuffling, which PDSA flags as a possible sign of a health issue.
  • A poor skin or coat — a coat that isn’t clean, or has knots, matts or sores.
  • A lack of energy. A very sleepy, slow puppy can be unwell.
  • Mess around the bottom, which can point to tummy troubles or worms.

What to check when choosing a puppy

When you visit a puppy, PDSA advises you to do a simple health checklist:

  • Watch how they move. Legs should support the puppy normally, with no limping or stiffness when they stand up and move around.
  • Check their eyes and ears. Eyes should be clear and bright; ears should be free of nasty smells, build-up, or discharge.
  • Cover their mouth. Gums should be a fleshy salmon-pink and moist (some dogs naturally have darker, pigmented gums). Check for any lumps or bleeding.
  • Feel their coat. It should be clean, with no sores, wounds, or itching.

PDSA also stresses that you should be able to see the whole litter with their mum — even if the rest are reserved. Puppies should look happy and confident, and the parents should be friendly and good with people.

Red flags at the breeder or seller

Where you get a puppy matters enormously for their health. PDSA warns about puppy farms, and lists red flags to watch for:

  • Several litters available at the same time — especially of different breeds. This can be a sign of a puppy farm.
  • Being rushed or prevented from seeing the litter with mum.
  • A puppy that “isn’t quite ready” to leave — puppies should not leave their mum before 8 weeks of age, as this can damage their social development and welfare. A puppy younger than about 7 weeks should still be suckling from the mother.
  • Poor hygiene or sick-looking puppies in the litter.

A reputable breeder will happily answer questions and show you the paperwork. PDSA’s advice if you suspect a puppy farm: walk away. Buying won’t help that puppy — it just makes a profit for the breeder.

Loose poo and tummy trouble in puppies

Diarrhoea in a puppy can be serious. PDSA notes that while most mild cases resolve within 24–48 hours, puppies are more fragile than adult dogs, and diarrhoea can be caused by worms, parvovirus, and other infections that need veterinary treatment. If a puppy seems unwell, or has had symptoms for more than 24 hours, contact your vet.

One of the most serious causes of illness in young puppies is parvovirus. PDSA describes it as causing severe, foul-smelling, watery and bloody diarrhoea, vomiting and severe lethargy, and warns it is especially serious in unvaccinated puppies under six months old, whose immune systems aren’t fully developed. Parvovirus is fatal in most dogs that don’t receive treatment quickly — so a sick puppy always deserves a fast vet assessment.

When to see the vet

Contact your vet if a puppy shows any of the following:

  • Discharge from the nose, eyes or ears, or a runny nose.
  • Coughing or sneezing, or a poor coat.
  • Vomiting or diarrhoea — especially blood, or symptoms lasting more than 24 hours.
  • Very low energy (lethargy).
  • Not eating, or a sudden change in behaviour.

Wherever you get your puppy, arrange a first veterinary check-up soon after they come home, plan their vaccinations (which dramatically reduce the risk of parvovirus), and keep up with regular worming — several intestinal worms are very common in puppies and can make them seriously unwell.

Our pick My Dog Plan

This is our suggestion — there are plenty of other good products out there. If you buy through our link, it helps us keep sharing this advice.

View it →

Sources

This article is for general information and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell, please contact your vet.

Affiliate disclosureWe sometimes recommend products we think are genuinely useful — there are plenty of other good options out there. If you buy through our links, it helps us keep providing this advice at no extra cost to you. Learn more in our disclosure.
Back to Best Pets Health home