Just wondered if anyone had any experience with fits, seizures in puppies just a few days old?

One of my litter keeps going rigid and when this happens poos. She only a few days old. Her sucking reflex seems to have gone - however she is taking syringe feeds.

Vets are being useless...basically they say i should expect a few losses and it's too difficult for them to diagnose and treat problems in puppies so young.

Anyone seen this before in any of their litters.

Yes, suspected Liver shunt (not a breed that is prone to this, but shit happens).

This was largest pups born, first did this at 4 days and stopped breathing upset the bitch , got him going but it kept happening after each feed.

Vet said this was because toxins were building up as the liver wasn't cleaning the blood, and it was typical for it to happen after feeling.

It was the worsts infant mortality as by teem we put him to sleep at 12 days his eyes were open.

He had fallen behind his littermates weight wise to be the smallest, gaining very slowly.

The bitch was much happier once he was gone.

The Vets are right re not being able to diagnose or do much.  Puppies are born very immature with various major changes and developments needed, and sadly some of it fails to happen.

Thank you...

I'll keep my eye on her then. I'd love to have the experience to know these things....without having to go through them first!!

Thanks again xx

You may have to accept this pups is not going to make it and I'd advise put to sleep sooner than later to avoid suffering, and more heartache for you, and upset/distraction for Mum

> You may have to accept this pups is not going to make it and I'd advise put to sleep sooner than later to avoid suffering, and more heartache for you, and upset/distraction for Mum

I sadly have to agree with this - but you may like to take a second opinion before calling it with this puppy.   Liver shunt is serious - I knew of one in my breed which was sold to new owners, and finally what was going on was diagnosed with this.   The puppy went back to his breeder, who did fight for him, but in the end had to have him put to sleep.    And it will definitely be better for mum, and you at the end of the day, if this puppy was quietly put out of it's misery really.   IF there's nothing more to do for him.  Heartbreaking.

I do have to say some vets are all too quick to say losses happen.   It's true of course, but not helpful.   With our bad whelping experience when the delayed Section (on the part of the VET) meant 5 of the 9 puppies didn't survive, at one point I was told 'well at least you have 4'!!    How I stopped myself hitting him, I don't know.   Of course losing some, in the past, was why multiple births, but in general these days, breeders don't need to be losing any puppies other than when there is no alternative.   I've had to have 2 put down, separate litters - the first suffering anoxia from a delayed and lengthy birth, and the other with a deformed front paw the former given to 18 weeks before we called it, and the latter, put down more or less straight away - C.Section and the deformity was immediately seen.

In the end with healthy dogs being put to sleep,  rearing any puppy knowingly that is unhealthy is unethical,  unless you keep it yourself.  

The potential for reduced quality of life even then makes it a poor choice.

When we choose to breed we have to accept and keep the heartache for ourselves.

The puppy died last night and is now at peace. We have now lost 3 in 3 days all with different symptoms. The rest of the litter are on antibiotics and 24 hour watch. Vet offered to do a postmortem on the puppy but as all 3 have died from differing symptoms i felt this wouldnt be helpful.

All i can do now is hope and pray for our remaining litter. My heart is broken for the puppies we have lost, I am sick with worry and lack of sleep and the vet bill is huge. Who ever these people are that say breeding is easy money i hope they read forums like this to see what can happen.

So sorry to read this, very sad.

Hope all settles down now and you can start to enjoy the remaining pups,  and hope there is a super bitch for you to keep to continue forward with.

So sorry to read this.   If the others are on antibiotics, you might consider putting a tiny amount of yogurt (probiotic), natural and preferably goats yogurt if you can source it, on their tongues to counter the antibiotics.

I think I'd have a necropsy done on the puppy you've just lost - what got him may differ from the others, but you may find there is a basic reason for these 3 losses although putting them on antibiotics may be the best your vet can do at this point.

http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/reproductive/c_dg_neonatal_mortality

So sorry to hear. Prayers sent for the remaining puppies to thrive

Fingers crossed .