Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos are getting ready to welcome their "new baby" into their home, but after medical tests, there has been an unexpected delay. The couple’s rescue pup Javi is being treated for a parasite before he can join them at their New York City home.
© GettyThe Live with Kelly and Mark hosts revealed the health update to PEOPLE while attending the Broadway opening night of Other Desert Cities at New York City’s Hudson Theatre on Sunday, October 18.
“We don’t have him yet because he had a little bit of a health issue,” Ripa told the outlet.
“A parasite,” Consuelos said, explaining he's getting treatment before making the move. “So they’re treating it, and then he’s going to come,” he added, offering an optimistic update on the couple’s long-awaited homecoming. “Any day now."
© IG: @livewithkellyandmarkJavi found their way into their lives during the show’s annual Adopt a Dog Week. Ripa had already embraced the anticipation, telling viewers earlier in the week, “We are like expectant parents. I started nesting last night. I couldn’t sleep.”
Parasites are pretty common
© IG: @livewithkellyandmarkAlthough Ripa and Consuelos have not disclosed which parasite their new dog has, parasitic infections are a relatively common concern in dogs, particularly puppies and animals coming from shelters or rescue settings.
According to the Companion Animal Parasite Council, intestinal parasites such as roundworms and Giardia can affect dogs, with young animals often requiring more frequent screening and preventive care.
Roundworms are especially common in puppies; surveys in the United States have found more than 30% of dogs younger than six months shedding roundworm eggs.
The important thing is that the pup is receiving care before joining a household that already includes another dog, Lena, their Maltese/Shih Tzu mix. They already briefly met, which was documented on social media.
How Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos fell for their new rescue dog
© IG: @LivewithkellyandmarkThe couple announced their adoption on the October 13 episode of Live with Kelly and Mark, just one day after Consuelos first met the pup on the show.
During the October 12 broadcast, Consuelos arrived on set holding the dog, who was featured through the show's partnership with rescue organization Pet ResQ Inc.
“Mark walked into my dressing room this morning with Lucas in his arms, and I saw a different you,” Ripa recalled on the show. “I saw a kinder, gentler you.”
Consuelos described the dog as “so chill” and said he had a “very good disposition.” He then floated the name Javi, short for Javier, even though the pup had already been introduced as Lucas.
“Maybe Havanese. I was thinking Javi could be a good name for him. Javier?” he suggested. “Well, his name is Lucas,” Ripa reminded him, joking, “This is trouble. He’s naming this dog we have not adopted.”
The couple made the adoption official the following day, with Consuelos announcing the news at the beginning of the show. “We have news: We adopted Javi yesterday,” he said. “We have a new baby!” Ripa exclaimed.
Kelly Ripa still feels a connection to her late dog Chewie
The excitement surrounding the new adoption also comes with an emotional backstory. When Ripa first watched Consuelos holding the rescue pup, she immediately thought of their beloved dog Chewie, who died in February 2025 at 17 years old.
When the new rescue pup appeared on the show, Ripa said she couldn't help wondering whether Chewie had somehow played a role in bringing him into their lives.
“I kept thinking about how much Javi reminded me of Chewie,” she said. “And I was thinking, ‘Oh, I bet Chewie sent Javi here for us.’”
