My friend has a litter of 11, 4 day old puppies, large breed she has 1 small bitch who has only put on 1 ounce on the first day and has stayed the same last 3 days now weighs 11.5 oz half the size of her litter mates.
She took Mum and pups to the vets yesterday for check up, vet said her chest was clear no cleft pallet and supplement her with 5mls of whelpi every 2 hours and let her feed on mum as well, still no weight gain, she said she didn't think pup was weeing or pooing so I told her to ring vets again, she took her back to vets today they put a thermometer up her b*m there was poo on it vet said she wouldn't know if anything was wrong unless they open her up, which she doesn't want to put her through that when so small and young. She is active and suckles on mum alot.
Can she do anything else to help her? what do you think her chances are?

Lynn

Personally I'd put the small pup onto the bitch's back teats as often as possible as well as stimulate (the cotton wool with warm olive oil technique) it to urinate and defecate and give her the best chance, and see what nature decides.

Couldn't agree more, always get her on the back teat.  If it is any consolation I had a Golden puppy of 5oz, born with no fur on her head or on her feet, she looked like a little mouse. Is now a strapping girl of 5 years old with absolutely no health problems.  She stayed small compared to all the others but at twelve months of age was bigger (much bigger) than the girl that I kept.  Make sure she is cleaned with damp cotton wool on a regular basis in case Mum isn't cleaning her up and then you will always know that she has been to the toilet and make sure she gets the best back teats.

I also had a little but lively one. I plugged her on to the back teats regularly and supplemented her too (it was a big litter). She grew but never caught up with the others, so I kept her in case there was a problem lurking somewhere. Now she is a fairly small (but within the Standard), very healthy and lively 11 year old.

Thanks for your replies, the little one has gone down hill, she is now in the vets over night, she is on a drip to rehydrate her and on antibiotics, the nurses are going to feed her hourly over night, the vet has given her a 20% chance of survival, her temperture went down to 98c. She is in the best place and I've told my friend she has done the best she can, she's in gods hands now.

This is her first litter and I helped her with the whelping as her breeder moved down under and couple of months ago.

Good Luck little Angel, I hope you pull through.

Oh dear, I'll send you and her both love and best wishes, they will do the best they can for her and God willing she will pull through.
Karen

Had a call this morning to say Angel had made it through the night, she has taken 2.5mls every hour, she is still at the vets and still being fed hourly, my friend has to ring at 4pm for an update.
This little girl is a fighter.

Go Angel.....