What's wrong with my puppy

[seaweedhead]

5 month old puppy. Seemed fine last night but today refusing to eat and not drinking much. Just vomited and it looked like there were bits of wood in there so possible he's been chewing sticks in the garden. We managed a short walk this morning but he was quite slow and seems subdued, though managed to run when he spotted the neighbour's cat.

Vet nurse here.
I think you need to see a vet , at this time of day you may see one during the practices normal opening times , as it's Saturday an out of hours will be very expensive.
The vet will examine him and have a feel of his abdomen , if they suspect a foreign body they may xray/ultrasound, if he is unwell after you know he ate wood you shouldn't be waiting to see .
Good luck.

Just take him to the vet. And make sure you know when his last bowel movement was. Better to be safe than sorry with puppies.

Do you have a vet help line with your insurance?
we have always found they are brilliant.
they will (hopefully) reassure you or tell you to get to a vet.
it saved our sanity many times when our dog was a pup

He needs to see a vet today, no one else can help you but a vet.

Echo others. Straight down the vets.

Hope your boy is okay ❤

I hope you're on the way to the vets now. Sticks can be fatal - dogs shouldn't be allowed to chew on them or be encouraged to put them in their mouths.

Thanks all. Emergency vet it is then. Now I just need to figure out how to get there because it's miles away and I don't drive.

You get a taxi that's ok with dogs.

Hoping pet is okay also.

Does the vet offer a pick-up service?

Taxi, train, bus, lift from friend or neighbour - or even ask local dog walkers if they're able to drive you. It's really important to have ways to get yourself to/from the vets if necessary.

when you ring the vet see if they can help you get there or recommend someone then obviously start ringing local cab services. Most drivers should be ok if you say you’re taking a puppy to the emergency vet.

I’ve got pet taxis before but usually prearranged. Good Luck.

if you have uber they offer an uber pet service now too

Agree that it is important to know how you would get to an emergency vet in a pinch. Ask a neighbour if necessary

Thanks for all your advice, I am new to this- really it's DH's dog but he had a family emergency to deal with.
Anyway a friend was kind enough to give us a lift (40 minutes there and back). Pup is doing fine. The vet concluded that he had probably eaten something that disagreed with him. He's still not quite back to his usual self but has been eating and drinking and managed a wander round the park this morning.

always keep an eye on puppy in future
they very much mouth things and can eat all sorts
good luck

We do keep an eye on him and I've had to take things out of his mouth on many occasions but can't watch 24/7!

24/7 is precisely how much a dpuppy needs keeping an eye on ime...
We are currently reorganising the back garden as her taste for shrubs is escalating . Not worth risking a huge vet bill and a sick dpuppy to not be vigilant.. You were imo lucky this time.

yes you must keep an eye on a puppy, like you would a toddler

A puppy proof area without access to anything dangerous is needed for any time you can’t “keep an eye on” the puppy though @seaweedhead
Glad he’s better though