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Why is my puppy lethargic, vomiting, coughing, and has runny eyes?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | neutered | 4 months and 5 days old | 9.7 lbs

my puppy has been sleeping and extremely sleepy all dat barely wanting to get up play or walk (it's about 2pm) he threw up twice yesterday. his eyes have been runny and have a red swollen part that looks similar to cherry eye come and go for the past few weeks. today and yesterday he has gone to poop but either nothing or just a smal amount of liquid came out. he has been able to poop as well as his happening. he's also been coughing/making noise like something's stuck in throat. whats wrong?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on January 13th, 2017

I am so sorry your puppy Ted has been ill. There are a couple of possibilities as to why he is so sick. 1) Parvovirus infection- if he is unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated and has been outside at all, then he could have picked up this extremely contagious and potentially deadly virus. It causes vomiting, lack of appetite, lethargy and loose stool +/- blood. He needs treatment right away by your local vet if you suspect he may have this. 2) Foreign body obstruction- if he likes to eat things in the home and seems to have a painful belly then take him in immediately to your local vet for x-rays of his belly and further care. 3) Other disease- severe anemia, bacterial infection, etc. If you cannot get him in right away then try to offer him small amounts of Pedialyte (non-flavored) and Pediasure or cans of baby food for nutritional support. However if he keep vomiting up everything he eats, then the vet can help by giving him anti-vomit medication, fluids to rehydrate him and further medicine depending on what is causing his illness. Poor pup! I hope he gets better soon!

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Dr. Paula Simons

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    I'm so sorry to hear that Ted is not feeling well. Based on what you're saying about his condition it sounds like he is suffering from a variety of issues that are concerning to me. The coughing and runny eyes makes me worry about the risk of a respiratory infection while the vomiting/diarrhea makes me concerned about a gastrointestinal infection. These conditions may be related and could be due to a viral infection, especially because Ted is still a young puppy. It is important that he is assessed by a veterinarian as soon as possible. With vomiting, the risk of low blood sugar is a big concern. His lethargy is also very concerning. I would say that these symptoms are severe enough that he needs medical intervention right away. Best wishes for Ted! Feel free to begin a consultation to discuss his condition further.

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