Some of you will know that I had a litter of 12 puppies last Sunday week. I lost one that just did not thrive after a few days and then another which looks like was crushed by my bitch. This was very sad as the puppies had all been gaining weight have glossy coats and appear normal. I have been supplementing with Skinners puppy milk ( only used Lactol before ) and in last couple of days their motions have been looser and have what I think others have described as little mustard seeds in them. They were all normal to start with. I have phoned the milk company ho said they had never come across this and my vet too. I have taken them off the puppy milk and am getting the bitch to feed them in shifts.
Does anyone have any advice over this. I'd be really grateful.
Diane

Someone suggested this was undigested puppy milk.
Diane

I have seen this in some of my litters (who haven't been supplemented), sorry dont know what the cause was but it seemed to sort itself out in the end. Maybe the milk is too rich?

Yes its little milk curds and normal.

Has your bitch got plenty of milk? Personally if the pups are doing ok I wouldnt interfere by supplimenting them, I had a bitch that had 11 pups so got some in some Whelpi just in case but never needed to use it she coped very well and had plenty of milk? The pups thrived, I used to put 6 on her first then the other 5 when they were done. If your bitch is coping ok and the pups are gaining weight then dont suppliment. 

Thanks for responding. She was feeding them well but I think now is looking a little nervous about them all around her. She is really worried about settling down so now I am worried that they will not get enough. I have had several litters over the years but never seen this. At first I thought it was worm eggs although she was wormed with Panacur before and after whelping. It was a breeder friend who came out with the words undigested milk. Does it mean that they are not getting all the vitamins they need. To be fair, all but one is gaining weight really well. We are terrified to leave her in there on her own with them since we lost the little boy dog. I have always supplemented a big litter with Lactol but as I said this is the first time I have had a problem.
Diane

Our last litter had the same little seedy type poo till about 3 weeks old, never supplemented as all were gaining weight well, and always worry that if too quick to supplement, milk production will slow down as it works on a supply and demand basis, the more the pups suckle the more milk is produced.  What a shame about one getting crushed, we have a giant breed and hate the first 3 weeks, it's so stressful, we're constantly doing head counts as mum very clumsy and it happens so easily

its undigested milk curds. prob the milk is too rich or if supplementing then it probably results from that. nothing to worry about.

It's a big litter but I'd try and give the bitch more fluid and she how she does, I have GSDs and shelties, far more worry over the shep crushing pups and she worries too at about week 3.  So far I've been lucky but try not to leave her for long partic for the first week and at week 3 move to huge pen to give her more room.  She feels it's my job to sort out the ones who get behind her.  She's had two litters, one of 7 and one of 9 (would have been 11 but 2 were stillborn).  I gave her what seemed like gallons of ewe replacement milk (cheaper than goats from the supermarket) and she coped with the 9.  I've heard that if you're supplementing you should take some away for feeding as supplementing and giving them two sources can have a detrimental effect - they're better on one or the other.  Your bitch should be able to feed them all, but to help, why not split them into two groups so she can spend time with both but doesn't feel overwhelmed...

Thanks. I am doing that. She is feeding 5 of them now and I will swap them over. I have had 8 litters and have honestly never worried about crushing as my previous bitches have been really careful. Now we have to be there. I took her to vet to-night for a check up as didn't want her to have a problem. She is fine. I also took some of the faeces to show vet and he said he had never seen that. I came away with some Pro-Kolin for the puppies to try and settle them down a bit. Heres hoping. My vet says he recommends that if supplementing, use the larger puppies as they can handle things better.
The remaining 10 are doing Ok except I have one half the size of the bigger puppies that I am giving special attention to although she is fighting her way through to MUm now. She is a real pain to take a bottle anyway. Perhaps she will turn out to be a bright girl!!!.
Diane