hi can any one advise me please.  I  have a litter of pups, 6 in total who were born 4 days ago. Everything seemed fine, but ive noticed now in the last 2 days they have lost weight quite drastically. They are all suckling from mum and not whining or anything to suggest they are hungry. But after they have been fed their tummies still look empty. Im getting a bit scared now as they are looking skeletal. I have phoned my vet but he couldnt suggest anything. Im tempted to syringe feed, but im always scared they may get milk in their lungs. Boy was born 6 and a quarter ounces and now weighs 4 and a quarter ounces.  I really dont know what to do for the best Please help.....

Hi Diane hopefully someone with more knowledge will advise you soon.
I do know however a lady in our breed who had puppies losing weight every day and she was very worried. All puppies survived- she did top them up as well as feeding from mum.
Good luck with your babies. I guess just keep putting them on mum until you get more advice.

Fingers crossed for you

how much weight have they lost i dont know your breed and you cant mention it so cant comment on their weight but yes if you feel the pups need feeding up then i would certainly supplment them with lactol/whelpi i had to hand rear a litter from birth so if you need any advise i am here dunno if you can pm me and i could help you  let me know best wishes xxx

6 days after birth your pups should have nice little fat tums and without even weighing them just by picking them up they should feel nice and plump, if you say they are looking skeletal then something is badly wrong, your vet has no idea, has he even asked to see them?

Start hand rearing - something is wrong, start now, today! Use Whelpi or goats milk with egg yolk.

I syringe fed my pups with no problems at all, just do it very gently with the pups in a sitting position nestled into you.

Any sickness or diarrhoea? Any other symptoms from the pups at all? I can't believe your vet does not wish to see them. :-(

In our breed (large) I always use a premature babies bottle and teat (availale from most superstores), use whelpi or latol to top them up after feeding from mum, when they have had enough their stomachs will fill out and look like little hot water bottles.   All equipment should be sterilised (as for a baby).

I would be wanting my vet to check the dam and pups over for any problem that may be causing this.   Has he been out to her and pups?

Pups that size should normally gain around an ounce or so per day. If they lose after a few days (rather than the day after birth), I'd be worried and I start to supplement. But you also need to consider the possibility of infection of some sort -infections in newborns can happen easily as it can enter via the umbilical cords at birth. I've never had it happen with pups but have done with kittens, and then I add antibiotics to the bottled milk. So do get a vet check and definitely start topping them up. I top anything up if the puppy or kitten has either lost weight or not gained weight for 2 days in a row. One day can happen, and most will have gained again by the next, but two days in a row is my absolute cut off point.

In my litter I have now which are 2 weeks+ I lost one in first week that gained weight to start with and then dropped weight.  It was a big litter so we do not know whether this one was pushed out but tried hand rearing but was dehydrated. Vet gave fluids and antibiotics but was too late. Could try using nutri drops which i know some swear by but keep warm and give fluids but do not feed if chilled or overfeed. Warm them up slowly. It is so difficult to know what is the right thing to do but hope yours make it as I know what a worry puppies are as I am worrying all the time. In this current litter they seem to be coming along OK but I have one girl who is minute, refuses a bottle and puts on barely any weight while the others race on. I don't know what to do about her either but have decided not to find  a new owner for her if she keeps going until the vet has checked her out. Is Mum's milk definitely OK as that can be a problem I believe occasionally.
best of luck Diane

As has been said whelpi or Lactol today, good luck hope all goes well, it is so stressful rearing a litter.

Are the warm enough? Cold puppies often wont feed as often as they should.

like others have said you need to start hand feeding right now. you cant waste time with whelps this young and they lose condition drastically. Open that tin of RC milk or whatever is your usual brand, and start feeding now.

How are they? You will need to make sure the pups are warm enough are you using a heat pad / lamp.

Your vet should of come out to you to see your babies or let you go to to them after they have closed / before they open

As others have said a small loss the first day, or no weight gain for a day is acceptable but after that they should be gaining daily, even if a bit slow in the first few days.

For pups to gain and then start loosing something is very wrong.

If pups are suckling strongly then I would be worried the bitch has an infection that has raised her temperature/affected her milk supply, but then pups would be unsettled, unless they are too cold or weak to protest.

I would want to see an experienced vet, one experienced in breeding which most are not.

Are the pups showing dehydration, what happens if you pinch their skin does it bounce straight back?

Agree with Lois about pups being warm enough.  You do have them on a heat pad?

They won't digest food if the body temperature isn't high enough.

Any news re puppies?

hi and thanks for all your comments and concerns. Havnt been on here as been busy etc with the pups. Just an update, they are stil hanging on, theres 3 that are my concern i have started to give them some food by syringe was told to get welpi. i did take them to the vets, he didnt like the look of them but gave me some lactate granules to mix with water, which ive done and also i have been advised to buy puppy stim, its a paste that gives a boost to weak or small pups and it contains colostrum and gives essential fatty acids and glucose. dont know if anyones ever used it, but ill give anything a try. Given it to them today so we will see how they go in the next day or so. Also i have noticed that one of the dams teat was a bit lumpy so the vet checked that and he said there may be an abcess, but he tried to drain it but couldnt get anything. She is on antibiotics which were prescribed on saturday and hes also given me different antibiotics so ill keep her on them. he wants to see her again next week.  ive put the 3 small pups in a box with a hot water bottle and they are near the radiator so hope that helps.  Thanks again i will keep you updated.

I have used the paste its caled puppy saver, fit and fertile sell it, its amazing. good luck

>   ive put the 3 small pups in a box with a hot water bottle

The hot water bottle will go cold quickly.  They need constant heat and a heat pad is an essential that should be part of your kit.  Even healthy pups should have this as a basic. 

A radiator isn't the same as having contact with the heat.  I think it's in your interest to keep their temperature constant.

hi id just like to give an update on my pups. unfortunately i lost the little boy yesterday hes was much weaker than the two other smaller pups. he was the only boy in the litter.I had a gut feeling he wouldnt make it. poor little mite is not suffering any more R.I.P. The two other pups are feeding and are slowly gaining weight. It looks like i have 2 differnt litters as the 3 other stronger pups are double the size of the other 2. has any one ever used evaporated milk to feed pups as ive been told to try it.

sorry for your little boy pup, hope the others and mom pick up soon xx

So sorry to hear you lost your little boy pup.
I haven't used evaporated milk but I believe there are some members on here who have used it. I personally use whelpi which I just pick up at my vets.
I do hope your others keep gaining , I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

> has any one ever used evaporated milk to feed pups as ive been told to try it.

I use it on a regular basis for lactating bitches, as I find it encourages them to drink more, so ensuring a good milk supply.

But your pups would thrive better on welpi. 

I use Lactol , but have also given evap  to mum and a drop in the water once they are weaned to encourage puppies to drink water .

If they are gaining weight then I would stick with the milk you are using.

Were the pups all born the same weight?

Ah so sorry about your boy puppy, i use whelpi also if theres any problems, we had a puppy who was half the size of the others in the litter, i was concerned but he was feeding, now at 6 weeks old he has caught up witht he others and you cant pick him out the same, good luck with the rest of them. x