Hi, 5 day old pup with pneumonia..on antibiotics and having supplement feeds on vets advice..is losing weight slowly.
When she was born she was 345g, this morning she weighs 310g. She is put onto the best nipples, which are really good ones, she will suckle for a few mins and then lets go..doesnt matter what the owner does she wont latch on again. The other 3 pups are flying away with the weight.
The owner has spent the last 4 nights with her hands seperating the bigger pups from her so that she doesnt get pushed off. The bitch is still cleaning etc and is more than happy for the pup to suckle.
The owners question is, is it fair to keep the little girl alive or kinder to PTS even though shes feeding but obviously losing weight..she genuinely doesnt know what to do.

Hi toffeecrisp only the owner can answer that :( sadly enough! i know how hard it is i had the same problem with a little girl afew years ago she stopped feeding from mum ,mum still let her feed and cleaned her but she just stoped suckleing i took over for afew days i syringe fed every hour but she would make the movement of her drinking what i was trying to get into her i tryed everything i could after 7days i took her to the vets she was breathing propley they kept her over night because i still couldnt let her go i wanted them to watch her and see if there was anything they could do there wasnt and on the sunday morning i rang to see how she was they said to be kind to her and have her put to sleep :( so i did it broke me into but looking back now i wouldnt do it again id give it a few days and if no improvment id have to pts instead of a slow death ,now this is my own feelings here but i do feel so sorry for your friend i wouldnt wish it on anyone!
please let me know how she goes (((hugs))) to your friend and you xxx

Thanks WL,
I have passed this onto my friend and as you say its her decision:(
I did hand feed a girl from my litter last year..I couldnt bear the thought of letting her go...thankfully she did pull through and has turned out to be a beautiful dog...Im not sure I could go through that again tho.

She is taking her back to the vet tomorrow again.

i do hope she turns a coner xxxx

i think if pup is takeing the milk and weight is going on even if very slowly then you have a 50/50 chance of pup pulling though but for me no weight gain or weight loss over afew days is what makes my mind up now i have every thing crossed xxxx

how is the pup today ??? has she been to vets yet??? xxx

Hi WL,
Lil pup is still alive, is fighting for the nipples now..but still very small and the vet has recommended that she still has the extra feeds...I was there earlier this evening and she couldnt get the milk from the syringe fast enough. The vet did try and get her to take the bottle while he checked her over, but apparently she doesnt have a very good sucking reflex and the syringe is going to be easier (??) to feed her with. She is still on the antibiotics but the vet seems pleased with her today...only time will tell tho. The owner was glad she hadnt been pts as she wants to keep her...

Hope your pups are feeling better today aswell.

fingers crossed she carries on :) sounds a little fighter! bless her xxxx

Hope the little one is still thriving, Maybe she got a little breathless when suckling.

Hope its a good sign that she's hungry and wanting to eat, i don't know enough to other anything but a little encouragement.

Will keep my fingers crossed for her. xx