Hi Sam
Have you had any problems with constipation?
Particularly with hand reared pups and how is it combated OR am I panicing without need as he hasn't gone today.
He has put on 2ozs since yesterday (maybe he will lose that when he goes <G>)

Hi, not Sam but constipation can be a problem with bottle fed pups. The first thing I'd do is increase the fluid intake by giving glucose and water between feeds. You could also try a few drops of corn oil from a dropper. An old trick is to insert a little vaseline or KY on the end of a matchstick rounded off and smoothed with sandpaper and covered with gauze just a tiny fraction. Or you can insert a tiny shaved sliver of baby soap.

We have used cotton buds (Q-Tips) in the past
Sharon would these be to large for some pups???????
OUCH!

Never tried Q-tips Karl, for the reason you give. I used the matchstick trick once but it had such an effect on my sphincer that I changed to soap slivers pronto :).

I am no expert on new puppies by any means but I heard about the soap/vaseline being used on human babies in the past and that it was actually an old wives tale and quite dangerous to do. Seems logical as the problem is usually lack of fluids often caused by incorrect mixing of the milk formula. It was most common in bottle fed babies - and quite unusual in breast fed babes. Seems logical that the same would apply to other mammals too - such as puppies.

I would be very very wary of putting anything in the puppies rear end like that and would seek advice from my vet before doing it. It is very easy to damage the wall.

jmho

Pam n the boys

Hi Pam, people are advised against doing this to babies but the reason is risk from some people not the soap/vaseline :{. Its hard to believe I know, but unfortunate infants have had amazing things, including whole bars of Lifebuoy soap, completely inserted. The best way to do this to an infant is to use the tip of a lubricated little finger.

Sharon - yes I agree what the risk is - the fact is it is unecessary as it serves no purpose anyway as it does not make things any better.

Personally - I would never ever resort to such actions. Changing the diet and increasing fluid intake is the way to deal with constipation.

Have just posted again after reading what you said properly Pam :).

Hi again Pam, have just re-read what you said and you are right to say the anus and rectal tissue are easily damaged and to advise caution I woldn't advise anytone to try this unless they had the pup held firmly, preferably by someone else. If a matchstick is used it must only be inserted very gently and a only a tiny distance and with baby soap only use a tiny sliver. Unless the owner is confident they know what they are doing, best not to do it at all. I first saw these tricks done by my vet (was hand rearing a litter for someone else put on to me by the vet) or I wouldn't do them myself.

Agree too with you, Carole and Sam that the best idea is to weaken the formula but that may not be advisable with a very young & small pup like LDs. That's why I suggested giving more fluid in the form of glucose & water solution between milk feeds. But if the pup is very constipated (they can get that way quickly if entirely bottle fed) that may not be enough move things along.

Just a thought,...if you are using powdered milk be very careful to follow instructions exactly because if you make the milk too concentrated it can cause
dehydration and constipation.
I wonder if adding a little sugar would help as it does
with babies(or should I say did,it was 35 years ago
nursing prem babies I did this)I know a dogs digestive system dosen`t deal with sugars in the same way but it might be worth a try I don`t think it would do any harm.
Regards Carole

Hi Long, yes my little one had this problem, very distressing to witness. i reduced the concentration of the Lactol a bit...instead of 7 to a pint I made it 4 for a couple of days...plus I was lucky that the bitch was stimulating the pooing.....you may have to do this yourself by stroking pups tummy BEFORE feeding. Is your pup dehydrated? try smaller weaker amounts more often if so.

Powered milk can also block the digestive tract (don't know which bit so that should cover everything).

Since speaking to one of the puppy rearing experts a few years ago (I cannot remember her name but she specialises in raising orphan and problem pups) and she told me to use Lifeaid and condensed milk and water

For some reason I can no longer link to old posts but if you do a search for Lifeaid there was a thread started by Briedog on 8.8.02 called Puppy Milk which may be of interest.

Christine

YEEEEEEAAAAAHHHHHHH
He has been!!!!
Thanks to everyone for the advice, I remember giving my son molasis brown sugar and cooled boiled water when he was tiny as he was always constipated.

I feel like a first time mum with a new baby!!!!

Great news - it's such a releif isn't it;)

And the puppy more so ? :D

Glad he's 'moved' LD :)

What a relief he must feel!!!!!!
Carole