Hi All

please help.... I am hand rearing a 3 week old Pekingese puppy, on Friday he seemed to be gasping for air and we rushed him to the vets - she thought he may have fluid on the lungs, gave him antibiotics and we bought him home, we have noted that he does this when trying to poo so took him back to the vets on Saturday and she gave him some liquid parafin which we have been giving him but it doesn't seem to help - he went OK yesterday morning but really cried and hasn't been since - he does try but then starts crying and stops.  His bottom really swells up when he pushes but nothing is comes out - Please advise...... he is due back at the vets tomorrow but I'm really worried about him.  He is being fed with Lactol and is currently on 10 - 15ml every 2 hours, we also give him a little water

Thank you
Peke1

Hi Peke

Do you mean a three day old pup rather than a three week old as by three weeks he can go longer than two hours and eat more?

If you are really worried about him then ring your vet - they will ask you questions and assess whether they need to see him tonight - sounds as if they might.

Are you assisting him with his defecation, ie using a soft tissue to mimic the bitches tongue movement this can still work at three weeks.

If he was my pup and I was satisfied with his condition otherwise I would stop the Lactol and give a weak solution of water, condensed milk and a rehydration mixture instead.  The milk powders *can* bind a pup up - the liquid gets squeezed out of them and just the powder remains.  I would also get a cotton bud and dip the tip in in some zinc and castor oil or vasaline and gently rub about the pup's bottom - do not insert it at all, just enough so that if he is going to "go" then it is better lubricated on its way out.

Speak to your vet first before you try anything else I have suggested, they should be on call over the weekend.

Hi there

He is 3 weeks old, we tried giveing him more every 3 hours but he won't take any more so we feed him every two hours, sometimes he takes 20ml but no more, we wanted to start him on solids but are worried that with his tummy like this that it may make matters worse.

The vet doesn't offer a service this weekend and has told us to take him in tomorrow.

We are still assisting with defecation after every feed with cotton wool and baby oil but his bottom just bulges and he cries, I will try the water solution.

thank you

You really should not be feeding this pup every 2 hours it cant take it try giving some live bio yogurt and then try giving some scraped beef just a small amount at first let the pup lick the yogurt off your finger :-) just let it eat when it wants dont force it

Hi Peki 1,

In the Betty Bloomfield's book on nursing & hand rearing newborn puppies she says;
This occurs when a puppy does not pass a motion, so that faeces accumulate in the rectum and colon. This can result in the puppy becoming toxic.

Signs
This frequently occurs secondary to dehydration, as the motions become hard and lumpy.
If left untreated the abdomen will become distended and feel hard. The discomfort may make the puppy cry.
If the puppy is allowed to strain without passing a motion easily prolapse of the anus can occur.
Puppies MUST be stimulated to pass a motion after each feed.

Treatment
If the puppy is dehydrated this must be rectified without delay. A small plug of warm vaseline can be worked into the anus, which will frequently act as a gentle suppository.
NEVER give liquid parafin as this can badly irritate the intestine.  It is not suitable for young puppies.
It may be necessary for the veterinary to administer a glycerine enena.

Hope this helps, I tried it once on one of my puppies and it was very sucessfull.
The book mentioned is like a Bible when one breeds pups.

Pat.

Thank you very much,

I've just got some Bio yoghurt and will now feed him that with the mince then will apply the vaseline, just hope tomorrow comes quickly so we can get him to the vets and ask for an enema as it is now a day that he hasn't passed - he looks healthy and is playing but I am aware that that could change rapidly and I'm worried about the toxic....

Thank you all very much
Peke1

Peke1

Hello, Just wandering how things are going.

Pat

Hi Pat

Great, thank you - he had an enema on Tuesday and has been fine ever since... he is on solids now and drinks water.  he is 4 weeks old today and a few teeth have also come through.

Thank you for your advice

Peke1