Common Puppy Health Problems in the First Year

Most health issues that come up in a puppy's first year fall into a fairly predictable set of categories, and having a general sense of what's common helps you recognize a situation more quickly rather than starting from zero each time something comes up.

Intestinal parasites are extremely common in puppies regardless of source — shelter, breeder, or otherwise — and often show up as diarrhea, vomiting, or a puppy not gaining weight as expected, resolved with a fecal test and appropriate deworming.

Kennel cough and other respiratory infections are common given increased social exposure during this age, particularly with puppy classes, daycare, or dog park visits, presenting as the characteristic harsh cough covered in more depth elsewhere.

Dietary indiscretion and swallowed objects are common given puppies' exploratory chewing tendencies — this age group investigates the world with their mouths more than adult dogs, making foreign object ingestion and associated digestive upset a recurring theme.

Skin issues including mild allergic reactions, minor infections from scratches during play, and occasionally mange (from mites) can show up during this developmentally active period.

Growth-related orthopedic issues, particularly in larger breeds, sometimes emerge during this rapid growth window — limping or discomfort that seems tied to growth spurts rather than an obvious injury is worth a vet visit to distinguish normal growing pains from something requiring intervention.

Behavioral-adjacent health issues like separation anxiety or fear responses during key socialization periods, while not "medical" in the traditional sense, genuinely affect a puppy's wellbeing and sometimes present alongside physical symptoms like appetite changes or digestive upset tied to stress.

What to do: Recognize these common categories so you're not starting from scratch when something comes up, but still bring any new or concerning symptom to a vet rather than assuming it fits one of these common, generally minor patterns without confirmation.

For the parasite category specifically, here's a fuller breakdown of signs and testing.