Puppy health problems you can’t prevent with vaccination

We can take every precaution under the sun, but even a vaccinated puppy can fall ill. Some health problems that we can’t vaccinate against include:  

Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea doesn’t last long or linger. For the most part, it is little more than a temporary inconvenience. Your puppy could suffer from mild diarrhoea if it's overly excited, nervous or happens to eat something that it has no business ingesting, for example, the contents of the kitchen bin! However, diarrhoea can also be a symptom of something more severe. If you suspect that it is a symptom of a serious illness and have concerns, don’t hesitate to take your puppy to the vet. You should always take your pup to the vet if: 

• Diarrhoea lasts longer than twenty-four hours
• Diarrhoea has blood in it
• Diarrhoea is accompanied by other signs of illness such as breathing difficulties
• Your puppy becomes lethargic or 'floppy'  

'Floppiness' could mean that your pup is dehydrated which can be common among puppies. 

Vomiting

Vomiting isn’t rare when it comes to puppies. Usually, if your puppy vomits, a little dose of TLC will go a long way. Like diarrhoea, vomiting can be a symptom of serious illness. You should take your pup to the vet if:

•  Vomiting lasts more than twenty-four hours
•  Vomit has blood in it
•  Vomit is projectile
•  Vomit is accompanied by other signs of illness.  

Dehydration can occur rapidly so it is important to be on the lookout for it. As always, rely on your instincts and trust them if you feel a visit to the vet is necessary. 

Ear infections and mites

Regardless of how committed you are to keeping your puppy’s ears clean, the onset of infections or ear mites is still a possibility.

For your peace of mind, it is important to recognise the characteristics of healthy ears. These include: 

•  Shiny
•  Free from discharge or wax
•  Pale pink inside
•  No unpleasant smell

If you are worried about your puppy's ears or they seem to be troubling him (often demonstrated by constant scratching of the ears or shaking of the head), don't hesitate to take him to the vet.