Is starving sick puppies for 5-8 days safe for their health?

yes you can do it for a limited amount of time (max 12 hours), then start feeding with a bland diet based on boiled chicken and rice in small portion every 6 hours for the following 3-4 days. Then gradually reintroduce the normal diet over 5 days. I would definitively recommend a veterinary check up if the signs persist or you notice vomiting, lethargy or inappetence. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Blacky. I recommend seeking veterinary care for him as soon as possible. Several weeks is way too long for a puppy to go without proper nutrition. Based on his exam findings, fecal testing will be recommended to look for any intestinal parasites or other intestinal infections. Based on these results, either treatment can be recommended or further testing if necessary. He may require deworming medication, antibiotics and fluids to rehydrate him. I hope this information helps!

At two-three weeks of age puppies would still be with their mother and would be expected to feed every 4-6hours as a minimum. Young puppies have limited stores of energy and yes, prolonged fasting can cause major complications such as a drop in blood sugar which could trigger seizures and even death as well as dehydration, especially if unwell

Please make an appointment to have Star seen by a veterinarian to help determine the cause of her symptoms. In the mean time, you can try boiling boneless skinless chicken in water, shredding the chicken, and feeding Star small amounts of the resulting chicken broth and cooked chicken with some boiled white rice once it has cooled. You can also try offering her cooked extra lean ground beef and boiled potatoes. These bland foods may help settle Star's stomach. I don't recommend the cerelac, as sometimes the flavourings added can upset a dog's stomach. Good luck, and I hope she feels better soon!

Uh oh, naughty puppies! Mild cases of GI upset can often resolve with a bland diet of rice and cooked chicken breast. However, little puppies such as Angel can dehydrate quickly if they can't keep anything down, so anything lasting longer than a day should be addressed by a vet. After 2 days of vomiting and diarrhea, your pups likely need fluids to combat dehydration, and will feel much better faster if they are given medication to combat the vomiting and GI upset. So, I would take them in as soon as possible. Hope this helps and they feel better soon!

Hello. It never hurts to do a small fast to help settle the stomach. 12 hours should be fine & then re-introduce food slowly, maybe 1/3 of the ration followed several hours later by another 1/3 & remainder in the evening. It might be easier to fast both dogs overnight, that way no one feels left out. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor pups! The most common cause of diarrhea in puppies this age is intestinal parasites, so I would recommend taking a fecal sample to your vet to be checked tomorrow morning, if you can. He/she can prescribe an appropriate dewormer or other medication if needed, depending on what is found. If the fecal exam is normal, then it would be best to bring the puppies in for an exam sooner than next Monday if possible since they may need an antibiotic or other medication to treat the diarrhea - it's best not to let this go too long, since young puppies like this can get very sick, very quickly.