Hi all,

I am concerned about my pups.  They are 8 weeks old and they totaly went off their food, they have had diarrhea for the last 3 days. I have been feeding them an alternative puppy food which they have eaten but they still have Diarrhea.

Their behaviour is fine and they seem to have energy, some of them do seem a little different and rest a little more. But they all play lots.

A fox has been on the conservatory roof, looking at the pups but I havnt seen the fox in the garden itself, every time I go out the fox is gone. If the fox has been in the garden and in the soil, I have been told the pups could have gotten Parvo? 

Any advice on what to do about the Diarrhea? Should I be concerned and take them to the vet?

I would be extremely concerned.  Dehydration in a pup can be fatal.  Have they been wormed regularly since day 14? 

They would benefit from some rehydration therapy while you are getting an appointment, but I would be making the appointment fast.

How bad is the diarrhoea?  Have they just been wormed again (they should be done again around this time), this can make some pups loose and also loose their appetite, the heat can also make them listless.

If we are talking splatty poos as opposed to projectile stools then some bio yogurt (live yogurt) a table spoonful for each pup will help their tummies.

Check for dehydration by picking up some skin and seeing if it snaps back or tents.

If more than minor looseness seek the vets advice.

Re Parvo I am told there is a very specific smell to parvo stools, but have never smelt it than God.  Might be worth taking a stool sample to vets.

Unless there s an outbreak of Parvo local to you I seriously doubt the fox or you have brought it in.

> Re Parvo I am told there is a very specific smell to parvo stools,

I smelt it many times whilst nursing in London. It is hideous to the point of making you heave. Cannot really describe it as smelling "like" anything, but much more distinct and pungent compared to having the normal runs. Also often has blood in.

I have been through Parvo with a 7 week pup and the smell is so awful it fills the house, I have never experienced a smell like it. My pup had the runs with blood and she was not lively at all. Luckily the vet worked fast and with the help of a very expensive course of injections ( over £1000 but that worked like a miracle ) she recovered and is now healthy. If your pups are still active you should still see the vet asap re the dehydration but if it was Parvo I think you would know by now as your pup would be very seriously ill.

Hi,
I am going to the vet in an hour.  Their noses are still wet and we are making sure they are drinking water.

Their stools are very liquid, and I don't see any signs of blood in it.

Thanks for the live yogurt tip Brainless.

I will let you know what the vet says.

Many thanks.

Hope all went fine at the vets.  What are you feeding them on?

How are your pups? how did you get on at the vets?
hope they are ok.

Pups are ok!
We went to the vet and he was happy with them all, he said it certainly cant be Parvo as they would be on the brink of death if it was.
They are all happy and playful.

The vet thinks it could be something they got from chewing on the plants and flowers in the garden.

He has given us some clay to help firm up the stools and more worming tab's.  He checked their weight and says they are about right (the smallest girl is 6.5 Kilos, they are 8weeks and 3days).

We were feeding them barking heads puppy food, they used to love it but recently wont touch it, so we changed it to a food that is sensitive on the stomach which the vet recommended and they are eating it fine.

I will update again tomorrow, hopfully their stomachs will be a bit better by then.

good news, excellent

Glad to hear the good news, pups get into everything and like kids don't know when to stop; more than likely they have been having a good munch in your garden!

Yep, the flowers and plants are getting destroyed! They are much better now. 

Now I gotta work out how to stop them going Mad and barking when im not around!  My neighbours complained that they are making too much noise and they are right!

The only thing to do is apologise to the neighbours and explain that it's only for a few more weeks, then they'll be going to their new homes. A nice bottle of wine might help!

Jeangenie - bottle of wine is a good idea. Thanks!

> Now I gotta work out how to stop them going Mad and barking when im not around!  My neighbours complained that they are making too much noise and they are right!

This is the main problem with breeding when you have close neighbours and is the stage that I feel like I am on a knife edge.

By the time you can teach them that yelling like demented seagulls will not get them attention, they are off to new homes.

It is another reason Back Yard breeders try to get rid of puppies before they reach this stage.

Assuring the neighbours that it won't be for much longer with a sweetener is the way to go.  you should bring them in when they are noisy and let them out again when they quieten and they will get the idea, but it is really hard work.

Thanks Brainless. Hope we get some serious people come to see them. So far we have had phone calls and emails and a few people come to look, but they all seem like time wasters!

I won't let them go to just anyone, o want them to have good homes.

You have to accept that only one if five people are likely to be good enough.  The more local and general your advertising the more timewasters you get.

Good luck and fingers and toes all crossed, for your babies, after all the effort you have put in.