My puppy scoots, has tear stains, and paws his face. Is he healthy?

Question

Went to visit the breeder and the litter with the pup we are interested in. Our pup was a little slow to approach and a bit sleepy, but very content once handled & didn't mind us poking/examining him. However we noticed that he pooped and scooted his butt on the floor afterwards (worms?). We also noticed he has some tear stains on the white part of his cheeks and pawed at his face a few times during the visit. Are these signs of poor health?

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS · Accepted Answer

You are correct that scooting can be a sign of intestinal worms, which are very common in puppies. That can easily be treated with dewormers. Tear stains can happen more often in certain breeds of puppies, and that can treated with regular cleaning of the area with a tear stain remover. Pawing at his face could be a little more concerning, and it could be a sign of allergies, but without seeing him in person, I can't say for certain. If he did have allergies, it could be a life longer problem, but the symptoms can typically be controlled with medication. It's up to you if you want this puppy, but keep in mind that any purebred puppy is going to come with their set of potential health issues due to inbreeding. The things you have mentioned to me are not something I would be significantly concerned about to be honest, but again it's up to you if you want this puppy. I hope this helps!

My puppy scoots, has tear stains, and paws his face. Is he healthy?

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