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My newly adopted puppy won't eat or drink. Should I be worried?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Female | unspayed | 1 month and 22 days old

Hello, I just adopted a puppy from here today and she hasn't eaten or been drinking water. How can I get her to eat? Should I be worried?

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident

Published on July 28th, 2018

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is certainly not that unusual in puppies and really in some adults as well as they adjust to a new environment. If she seems fine otherwise with a good activity level, I recommend you try a highly palatable diet such as the Purina Pro Plan shredded blends or potentially consider adding pieces of boiled chicken or dog grade gravy to make her current diet more palatable. This is likely going to work for you. If at some point, she appears to not be doing well, have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment. Good luck!

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    Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

    Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident

    Published on October 9th, 2018

    Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is not unusual for a new pet to have an abnormal appetite for a few days when in a new environment. You can try using canned food or different kinds of kibble to see if something seems more palatable and to her liking. However, if this does not work or it has been longer than a few days to a week, she should be evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment to ensure this is not due to a medical issue such as gastroenteritis, pancreatitis, among many other possibilities. Good luck and have a good night!

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