New puppy poo - advice please

[salamancalalo]

Hi,

Please can I have some advice?

Brought female puppy home last night from breeder at 8 weeks 3 days old, Labrador.

Cried all the way home on the 40 minute drive, but expected some distress as we are completely new to her and she was in her car crate.

Since bringing her home she's done a huge amount of itching of her coat, ears, legs, tail. Very whiny all through the night and again this morning. Constant wowling unless sleeping really.

She wouldn't eat last night the food that came from the breeder, so I mixed in one tablespoon of butternut box which aroused her appetite and she ate all the kibble as well.

She has had some breakfast this morning, same as food last night, water too, then had a poo around 30 minutes later, which seems to have slimy, almost foamy looking blood in it.

Urination is normal and doesn't seem abnormal and going as expected.

Will be calling the vets as soon as they open at 10am for advice and a consultation (fully insured), but could there be a simple explanation for this?

Eg stress? Anxiety of a new home? The addition of a small quantity of new food?

Puppies can have slimy poo. But, I would be very concerned about the blood.

The puppy could be incredibly stressed if it was left in a crate for 40 minutes in the back of a car by itself with no one beside it. And it should have settled shortly after arriving home - if it was healthy and had been raised well.

Sorry, but overall, she doesn't sound like a particularly balanced, healthy, happy puppy.

Separately, I wouldn't be feeding a v. young puppy butternut box. Puppies need specific puppy food that is higher protein, fats and calcium - that's to help their bones, development and give them energy. Butternut Box is great (I feed it to two of my adults) but it's an 'all-purpose' food suitable for all life stages - which means it's the same recipe for a geriatric dog, or a puppy. They just send you more food for a puppy rather than tailoring to a puppy. Given Labradors are very prone to joint issues I would be looking for specific puppy food.

I think you need to call the breeder and ask for advice.
I wouldn't chop and change food at this stage. Even the change in drinking water 40 minutes drive away can affect a young puppy's tummy.
You absolutely must take the puppy to the vet today. All that itching doesn't sound good and blood in poo would concern me greatly in an otherwise healthy adult dog, let alone in a puppy.
She might have fleas or some skin irritation (caused by anything including food allergies), she might have an intestinal parasite infection which would need addressing sharpish.
Yes, stress in itself may result in tummy problems but maybe she didn't eat to start with because she had a tummy ache or was stressed.
Whatever it is please get her to the vet today or return to breeder.

Sounds like a very stressed little puppy to me.
Yes to calling the vets for advice. but personally I would not take them unless absolutely necessary. (Pup not eating, pooping it's guts out & getting lethargic)
I think puppy needs a bit of time to adjust to the new home. Don't change the food and let her come to you if possible instead of scooping her up at every opportunity.

The itching, check her coat by running your hands across against the grain. If there are lots of little black dots, she most likely has fleas. In that case, talk to the vet for advice!

I don't know I really would go to the vet now if it was my puppy. Blood in poo is definitely not good and she is very young.
Poor thing must be exhausted and scared and stressed and with an achy tummy.
The thing is you don't know if she was showing these signs for days before you picked her up.
With a puppy, the earlier you get to the vet, the better.
Speaking as a dog owner who gives it a few days if my adult dogs develop any issues. Most things sort themselves out with rest or care that I know I can provide and just to walk through the door at the vets is costing me £65. So it makes sense to me.
With a puppy, I really wouldn't delay any assessment.

I could have written his OP with my labrador. It's stress. He was pooing up to 9 times and yes there was some blood in it and we went to the emergency vet who put our minds at ease. Like yours, he was an anxious boy for a while and it was a nightmare trying to find a diet that suited his tum but he is now a healthy and strong 5 year old. Do PM me if you want to ask anything else.