I have 5 x 4 weeks old boxer pups who are all thriving and gaining weight well but over the last 24 hours 4 of the 5 have had a slight coughing fit/urging but only 2 were sick  (the whole thing lasts less than a minute) and then they have all gone on and played, fed and potty'd as normal. There are no signs of ill health (touch wood) with any of them and I was just wonering if it might be as I've started to wean them (on soaked puppy food) and the four that have done this have all gorged more than the one that hasn't so perhaps they have over eaten? or may it be to do with the mastitis my dam has (she is on antibiotics again) Any ideas or suggestions would be very welcome thanks.

Have/when did you worm them?

yes they have been wormed over a course of 3 days 18th, 19th & 20th of this month, with a paste (more like a foam to me) I got form the vets.

I'm not familiar with this worming regime so don't know how effective it is but in my experience, I have heard puppies with what my mentor always described as a 'wormy' cough.  I worm at 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks etc and don't always wait for the full 14 days to pass before worming again if I think they need it.  If you are happy that the worming has been effective then I wouldn't worry too much if they are eating and gaining weight but personally, I would be worming the minute puppies are two weeks old.  Everyone has their own thoughts on worming.

Thanks for the advice. My vet told me I couldn't worm until 3 weeks that's why I waited. I was told I need to do it again at 6 weeks now. Perhaps I'll seek a second opinion then.

I always wait until the eyes are open and they've started to focus.  I worm with Drontal at 3, 5, 7 and 9 weeks, avoiding the 8 and 10 week vacinations as I feel it's far too much to bombard pups with - I would advise fortnightly worming.

I agree PennyGC.  I do my vacs btween the 8/10/12 week worming sessions for the same reasons.  I think waiting until pups are at least 3 weeks old before starting and then not doing again for another 3 weeks is not enough.  If they are going to their new homes at 8 weeks they will only have been wormed twice.  At 8 weeks, mine are being wormed for the fourth time (same breed as OP).

ah Drontal sounds about right is that available in a paste form? in a syringe?. I have just fed pups and they ahave all gone to sleep again after a play so not too worried about them but was just wonering what it could be.

I've just spoken to my vets who have said the wormer is called panicure and that it could be a womring cough as the wormer takes a few ays to take full effect but not to worry as long as they are all lively, feeing and gaining weight. Thanks guys

Glad you have got sorted.  I tried Panacur paste once but wasn't as happy with the results so went back to my tried and tested first choice which is Drontal Puppy suspension.  Hope the pups continue to make good progress :-)

yes, but I'm paranoid over their eyes having had an issue with optic nerve development in a pup - so like to wait until they're formed really... so I start at 3 weeks, but like you like worming to be every 2 weeks, it's def not enough to only do them twice...

as for drontal, yes it is a liquid which you use a syringe to give to the pups, it's fairly easy at least the first time and you only give one dose at a time - the bigger breeds are more troublesome at 7 weeks though!  although my last small/med breed one pup was very tricky... it's a good idea to have help holding!

I've always used puppy drontal solution at 2,4,6 & 8 weeks, I don't quite understand your regime, I thought even panacur was every 2 weeks, as the cycle of the worm from egg to worm is 2 weeks so you will have worms in your pups if not done again until 6 weeks old, very strange.

>I thought even panacur was every 2 weeks

I use Panacur 10% suspension, and I believe the reason that it is not every two weeks is regarding the regime.  It's not a one day dose like Drontal.  It's a much smaller dose, given over 3 days.  I do my toy breed pups at day 14, 5 weeks, 8 weeks and 11 weeks, which is the rate shown on the box.

>I have 5 x 4 weeks old xxxxx pups

Nikki - you are not allowed to put breed down, as it's advertising, and against the terms of service.