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My 2-day-old runt puppy is weak and won't eat. What can I do to help?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | unneutered | 2 days old | 0 lbs

i have a newborn puppy that is only 2 days old that wont eat. His mother brings him close to her but he still wont suck and is the runt of the liter. she keeps him separated from the other 2. hes very weak and we are trying to save him. what can we do?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Davis

Veterinarian

Published on July 5th, 2018

You can try supplemental feeding with dog milk replacer and keep him warm and next to the mother and others if possible. Sometimes there is an underlying medical problem with the runt and in spite of your best efforts they do not survive. Dogs and other animals have litters with several pups because there is often one or two that don’t live. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Lucky.

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    Answered By Dr. Davis

    Veterinarian

    Published on April 20th, 2018

    This is a serious problem as the puppy may get weak and die. I recommend hand feeding it frequently and just spend time carrying it around to get it used to being handled and keep it warm. It may just be a growing phase or with a runt there may be a medical reason it’s smaller and weaker. If it won’t eat then I recommend a veterinary exam to determine if there is a genetic problem causing it to be smaller and not eating. They will listen to it’s heart and breathing and may deworm it again to make sure intestinal parasites aren’t the problem. Again this is a serious problem the could become life threatening so please get an exam if it’s not improving. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your puppy.

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