This litter is my girls third and final litter, her first two were very successful and healthy litters and she's a wonderful mum. This time round we have been so unfortunate as she had 3 pups (2 chunky and 1 runt) we lost one of the chunky ones on day 2, and the second chunky one faded away on day 6.. they were both feeding off mum but her milks dried up and we have hand to bottle feed.

The runt is our remaining puppy currently 9 days old and been on formula from day 2. She's active and feeds well but she is losing approx. 2-3grams in weight a day. She started 120g and now down to 97g.. I'm really worried for her.. she's feeding every 2 hours, mum still licks her to go potty.. she's vocal and moves around. I just can't understand why she's losing weight every day!

She's been to the vets and they were pretty unhelpful saying she seems fine and to keep doing what I'm doing as there's not much they can do??

I've been reading up on this and wondered if it's worth worming her early ? I normally wait 2 weeks.. but I'm worried I don't have until then? Or should I try antibiotics?

She's being kept very warm and has round the clock care and attention. I just want to see if there's anything we can do before it's too late

Im not a breeder nor a vet but I think maybe try and find a vet with an interest in reproduction.  I am very sorry for your sad loses

Unless you're certain this pup has a heavy worm burden I'd definitely not worm early. Did the vet check very carefully for a cleft palate? Sometimes it can be just a small hole far back which you can't see easily. Otherwise if it was my pup, I'd ask the vet for antibiotics. That's saved many a pup and kitten for me. Newborns can catch infections via the umbilical cord and it's always best to play safe.

Has the pup been thoroughly checked for a cleft palate? Even a small hole can be very problematic. I wouldn't worm her, but antibiotics might be needed.

Any update?

Pup has been checked over and no cleft pallet. Her weight did go up to 108g but now back down to 103g and has remained this weight for a couple of days. She is 2 weeks tomorrow so thinking it's time to worm her but honestly she still looks like a newborn she only looks a day old

Glad she's stilll with you but it's odd she 'only looks a day old' especially as she has the run of the milk bar.  Is she quiet after a feed?  Are you making sure she's feeding from all the teats (mum could develop mastitis?).  We had to do this with our singleton.

Yes it's usual to do the first worming at 2 weeks, and then every 2 weeks (with mum being wormed when the first pup worming is done) but I'm not sure I wouldn't wait until she's more established before worming....

What a worry!!

Edit - I've just realised she's being bottle-fed because mum's milk dried up.   Did she take mum's first milk, so she has the protection she needs until she can be externally vaccinated?

Yes she had mums milk for the first two days then been on puppy formula ever since. She looked quite under developed when she was born and so she's only just started to look as she should if she was a newborn. She has grown more fur but other than that, still as tiny as day one. I've never experienced this before with a pup and no idea if she's got a chance of making it or not. She's bottle fed every 3-4 hours and mum will lick her to stimulate toileting. Feel like I'm doing everything right but with little progress I'm not sure what else I can do for her to gain weight

> Feel like I'm doing everything right but with little progress I'm not sure what else I can do for her to gain weight

I think, with respect, you really need to forget focusing quite so much on weight and hope she's going to be happy and eventually maintain her overall health.  Do you intend to keep her because that too should be your bottom line.    Where would she go?

We had an oh so pretty lemon/white bitch (the one I'd hoped for as dad had a lot of that colour behind him even if he was a blanket tri).   Very sadly she had a slow birth and suffered as a result, oxygen starvation, leaving her very challenged - no feeling re peeing or poohing and she wasn't really coordinated when standing/moving.  We kept her to 18 weeks at which point we had to make a decision about her future.   I couldn't really keep her as another passenger in my ever growing pack and equally couldn't think about sending her off to a family who'd get frustrated with her short-comings, making her life potentially miserable.   So we all felt enough was enough, we'd given her time.  So our vet gently gave her peace.

I hope things with your wee girl will become more apparent as time goes on, so you can make a decision about what's best for her.

Sometimes breeding isn't all fun!!

Yes although we never planned to keep a pup back, I can't help the attachment I've formed over the past two weeks and will be keeping her with me, I can't imagine ever parting with her.
I've got the wormer ready for tomorrow, just desperately hoping she keeps up the fight and pulls through