Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook.pdf - Mr. Walnuts

When to Supplement
Puppies who gain weight steadily during
the first seven days of life are in
no danger. Puppies who lose some
weight, but not more than 10 percent
of their birth weight, for the first 48
hours of life and then begin to gain
should be watched closely. Puppies
who lose 10 percent or more of their
birth weight in the first 48 hours and
are not gaining by 72 hours are in
trouble. Start supplemental feedings
at once (see Raising Puppies by Hand,
page 496).
If a puppy is 25 percent below the
average weight of his littermates at
birth, you can expect a high likelihood
of mortality unless the puppy is
hand fed. If possible, allow the pup to
nurse for the first 24 hours to receive colostrum. Then place him in a homemade
incubator and raise him by hand. Alternatively you can supplement his
nursing with hand feedings, but keep him with the litter—always checking
that he is not being shoved away from the dam by larger pups. As soon as his
weight approaches that of his littermates, he can be returned to the nest.
Many immature puppies can be saved if supplemental feedings are started
before they begin to fail.
DEHYDRATION
PEDIATRICS • 493
Neonatal puppies should be weighed
on a scale that measures ounces or
grams.
Kidney function in the newborn is 25 percent of what it will be later in life.
These immature kidneys are unable to concentrate urine, and puppies therefore
excrete large amounts of dilute urine regardless of whether they take in
fluids. Thus, dehydration is a complicating factor whenever puppies become
too weak to nurse. This is another reason why it is important to begin supplemental
feedings as soon as a puppy stops nursing or stops gaining weight.
Signs of dehydration are lack of moisture in the mouth, a bright pink color
to the tongue and mucous membranes, and loss of muscle tone and weakness.
When the skin is pinched, it stays up in a fold.
Neonatal diarrhea is a serious cause of rapid dehydration and weight loss.
When diarrhea occurs during hand feeding, it usually clears up when the
strength of the formula is changed, as described in Common Feeding Problems,
page 502. In all other cases of diarrhea, the puppies should be seen and treated
by a veterinarian.