Hi,

I have noticed that one or two pups are a little loose at the moment. Is there anything I can do to regain firmer stools with them at all with them being only 9 days old? I know in an older pup you can give a little natural yoghurt but not sure about a younger pup. In previous litters I have only ever had a pup with a bit of constipation but not the other way round! Also does anyone have any ideas as to what may have caused it? They are on 8 meals a day at the moment, thought about cutting to 7 as the ones affected are the biggest, greedy ones. Could it perhaps be that they have just gorged on too much milk maybe.

Any suggestions will be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

You need to be a little more specific, i.e. colour etc.

my pups usually get loose at this age, I always put it down to overindulging from mum -mum's nearly always have load of milk.   So long as it is not like water and no blood, and they are still feeding and not being sick, I would just monitor them.   Have they been on antibiotics? because this can cause it.

Sometimes it can look like scrambled eggs, which usually rights itself.  And as long as they are not going all the time.

> They are on 8 meals a day at the moment, thought about cutting to 7 as the ones affected are the biggest, greedy ones. Could it perhaps be that they have just gorged on too much milk maybe.

Can you just clarify this point please? At 9 days old I would have thought they would be feeding from Mum on and off 24 hrs a day. I don't understand "8 meals a day"?! Is Mum not with them all the time?

Mum is a type of breed that is short nosed and notoriously extremely clumsy and heavy. Breeders of this breed generally cannot leave the pups with mum unattended we have to put them on and off every few hours to feed. The rest of the time they are asleep on a heated pad in a box. Their motions are a yellow mustard colour, not too watery. They are feeding fine and not being sick. Hope that helps

They sound okay, normally you would not see their motions if the mother was in all the time with them.  As I say to everyone if you are really worried then have a chat with your vet.

I have often found they go through a spell like this and firm up when they are starting to wean at 3 weeks.

Hope this puts your mind at ease,everything seems such a huge worry when they are so tiny x

all sounds normal to me :-) ,the ones with it loose are maybe being little piggies and drinking more then the others, also you may notise it more if mum isnt with them all the time has mum would smell pups ready to poo she would stimulate and clean right away so you wouldnt see it! but at this age if you want to give goats yogart with probiotic in it you can ,mine was having it on the end of a spoon with antibioics mixed in and LOVED IT :-) twice aday x

I agree with others that it is totally normal to have liquid poo at 9 days old.  Most breeders wouldn't even see the consistency, as they would never see the poo.  My breed is still keeping pups clean at 6 weeks.

Many thanks for all your replies, that has put my mind at ease a lot more!! Thought it would probably be OK but you know how pups like to get you worried!