JRDS Posted April 21, 2006 Report Share Posted April 21, 2006 I have a litter of two day old pups. The litter had eight in it, one has died this morning and another was on the brink as it is not feeding well from its mother partly due to competition. I have started to feed a milk replacement supplement (Lactol) and the tin says small breed pups 300ml a day which seems far too much. We have fed it today 5 ml and hour but I'm worried it is not enough. Anyone had similar problems and if so how much and how ofted for a virtual newborn Cocker? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted April 21, 2006 Report Share Posted April 21, 2006 JRDS; 300ml a day is only 3 cc's that is not all that much. In the past I have found that it is best to split the pups into 2 groups at feeding times let the smaller pups go first and then allow the second group to nurse. If you are bottle feeding be very careful that the pup has to actually suck to get the milk from the bottle. If the milk flows to easily the puppy can not keep up with it and will end up with milk on its lungs. Allow the pup to feed until he has a nice full tummy. Hope that helps NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRDS Posted April 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2006 Thanks for that although it appears now to be fading also, a little upsetting to say the least but these are / will be our first mortalities in three litters so I suppose to be expected with the law of averages. Will keep trying but don't hold out much hope, can't help thinking what we have done wrong but at the end of the day natural mortality is a fact of life so we will never know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted April 21, 2006 Report Share Posted April 21, 2006 It could very well be what is known as "fading puppy syndrom" and will sometimes affect one or two puppies in a litter. Usually the bitch will push those pups to the side and ignor them. Did you have a test for vaginal herpies done on the bitch before she was bred? As this disease will cause the entire litter to pass unless they are kept at a temperature of I believe but dont quoate me, 82 degrees F for 7 days. She would have had to been exposed to a dog that had it to contract it though. If it is just the two pups affected I would say it is probably fading puppy syndrom. Good Luck NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRDS Posted April 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2006 Put the second pup out of its misery as it wasn't making anything, others seem ok but time will tell. Thanks for the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted April 22, 2006 Report Share Posted April 22, 2006 JRDS; How is the litter today? NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRDS Posted April 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2006 NTTF Touch wood the last 6 seem to be doing OK, like you said it was probably Puppy Fading Syndrome. Never seen it before and never want to again, there is something extremely sad about young pups dying in front of you with nothing you can do to stop it other than to put them out of their misery. Thanks for your concern. Regards John Spencer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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