Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

Puppy not eating after shots? How can I help my puppy eat again?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Maltese | Male | unneutered | 1 year and 2 months old | 3 lbs

My 9 week puppy got his shots and a datñy later after his shots he doesn't want to eat anything what can i do to help him?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on February 17th, 2018

Good on you for getting Shaggy's shots, but I'm sorry he isn't eating! You can see a drop in appetite after getting the vaccines, but it should return within 24-48 hours. I would try to tempt him to eat with some boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice in small amounts. If he refuses to eat this and still isn't eating tomorrow, then take him into the vet as this is abnormal. Good luck, I hope this helps!

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My puppy just had his 9 week old booster vaccines two days ago for distemper, parovirus, and a few others. He was fine the day of his vaccines but now he is having yellow diarrhea and is not eating good. Could this be some sort of reaction from his v
You can see some mild diarrhea and decreased appetite after getting vaccines, but typically that is seen a bit sooner after they are given, usually around 24 hours. I would try feeding him a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. Then slowly add back in his normal diet. If the diarrhea does not clear up in the next 24 hours or gets worse, he refuses to eat the bland diet, he starts vomiting, he stops drinking water, he starts vomiting water, and/or he becomes very lethargic, I would take him into a vet immediately. Best of luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My Boston Terrier is 4 months. He recently after his vaccinations distemper and parvo started to drink what appears to be excess water and is not eating. He is still active. He is sleeping alot and he seems to be having some trouble chewing. Its like
Hello. It is possible that the vaccinations are causing his difficulties. The effects of the vaccines should subside in another 24-48 hours. Try feeding him some plain cooked chicken, or even a couple of jars of pureed jarred baby food, like the turkey or chicken. If Harvey is not feeling any better in a couple of days, please contact your veterinarian. It is possible he was incubating something previous to the vaccines, or he needs more professional treatment from having a reaction to the vaccines. Regardless, I hope he is feeling better soon. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I have this male puppy named Charlie. He hasn’t been feeling very well. He was throwing up Friday but I gave him his shots Saturday and wormed him and he hasn’t thrown up or nothing anymore the throw up was just like spit tho. He’s lost a lot of weig
Poor guy. It sounds like he may be experiencing a severe vaccin reaction. We treat these with a steroid shot and antihistamine shot. You will need to take him to your vet for treatment for this. B/c of the severity of his condition it is unlikely anything over the counter will help him recover. He also should be tested for parvovirus since he is so young and this is likely his first vaccination. You can try force feeding him some boiled plain chicken and rice or cottage cheese and 1-2 tsp of honey or karo syrup to keep his blood sugar up, until you can get him seen. I hope that your pet Charlie is able to make a full and speedy recovery. Best of luck and take care.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
What do I do if my dog has not been eating right these past days? She just got her first shot a couple of days ago
While a dog can lose their appetite for around 24 hours after receiving their vaccines, it's not normal that Abby hasn't been eating right for the past couple of days. I would have her seen by a vet today for a health check to make sure she isn't experiencing a reaction to the vaccine.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My 11 week old jack Russell received vaccinations 3 days ago. Today he is lethargic and doesn't want to eat or drink, he just goes to his kennel and sleeps. His nose feels a bit dry
Poor Jack! It's not normal to see lethargy and a lack of appetite three days after having vaccines. Typically, the dog is lethargy and quieter the day of and the day after receiving vaccines. I would try to tempt him to eat by offering him some boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice in small amounts, or by soaking his dry food in gently warmed low sodium beef or chicken broth. If he refuses to eat those things and is still lethargic in the morning, then I would have Jack seen by a vet for a health check.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog got her shots 2 days ago. She won't eat only drink water. She has diarrhea and shes vomiting. Could this be because of the shots given?
Yes this could be a side effect to the vaccination, but it could also be unrelated. Take your dog off food for about 12 hrs, then feed bland food such as boiled rice with boiled white chicken meat in small quantities over several feeds a day,. Do this for a day, then start replacing small quantities of the rice with his normal food over the next two days until he is at the normal quantity of his regular food. At the same time you can offer him some black tea with glucose (10 tsp of Glucose and 1 tsp of salt (NOT Diet Salt!!) per quart of tea to drink. If the diarrhea does not go away by the end of the third day or if your dog deteriorates, you will need to take your dog to a veterinarian for an exam.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi my Staffordshire bull terrier as been sick for around 24 hrs I took him to emergency vets who gave him a anti sickness injection what would the dog be like after this he is drinking gave chick an rice but didn't want anything to eat thanks
Often times the appetite does not return until 24 hours after the injection. Since he is drinking and not vomiting that is a good sign and he is not getting dehydrated. It is common for them to feel a little lethargic also. Try some food every 8-12 hours to test his appetite, if no appetite returning then get him rechecked
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My 17 week old puppy has been fine all day until about 1/2 an hour ago when he threw up all his food whole. The throw up had a few pine needles in it. Over the weekend he got his 1 years rabies and his first dhlppc shots. He it still shaky though. I
He might have eaten something spoiled that is causing this. withhold food for 8 hours then offer him boiled boneless chicken and rice every 4-6 hours in small portions. if he is eating and not vomiting, continue with this diet for 2 days. After 2 days, you can put him back gradually on his normal food. If he continues vomiting or is not eating, take him to the vet to get treatment.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Kiki got an injection yesterday and doesn't want to eat.What can I offer him to eat?Please help ASAP!!
Without knowing the type of injection, it is difficult for me to say if one has anything to do with another. If it was a simple vaccination, this can be a pretty typical side effect from something like this. I wouldn't worry as long as the refusal to eat doesn't last greater than 24 hours. If you want, you can try offering something like hamburger, tuna, or chicken just to whet his appetite. Just don't give too much as you may cause some diarrhea in such a young kitty. Hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
We brought an 8 week old pup yesterday he had his first lot of shots yesterday morning before we picked him up but he has had diahera.. ???
He might have eaten something spoiled that is causing this. offer him boiled boneless chicken and rice every 4 hours in small portions. if he is eating and not vomiting, continue with this diet for 2 days. After 2 days, you can put him back gradually on his normal food. If the diarrhea does not resolve, take him to the vet to get treatment.
Updated on September 24th, 2025

Related Searches

Dog Food Dog Food With Grain Wet Dog Food Dog Health & Wellness Vaccines and Shots for Cats Puppy Food At-Home Dog Vaccines Dry Dog Food Premium Dog Food Prescription Dog Digestive Medications Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Puppy Food Prescription Diet Puppy Food PetAg Puppy Food Royal Canin Puppy Food Puppy Dog Food Purina Puppy Chow Baby Blue Puppy Food Natural Choice Puppy Food The Honest Kitchen Puppy Food Science Diet Puppy Food
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored