my 7 week old lab puppy has been very sick this morning and is listless. i got her last friday and she has had very loose motions some with spots of blood I contacted the breeder on Sunday and she said to give her less meat(tinned pedigree chum) and more weetabix. I substituted boiled rice for weetabix,but still was runny.For the las 2 days I have been giving her boiled rice with chicken,but still a bit loose and yellow colour.She has been sleeping a lot,although playful when she wakes up. This morning she has been sick 3 or 4 times and is lying in her bed. I have made an appointment at the vet this afternoon. She was due to go there on Monday for her first check up and jab,but now I am so worried about her.what could it be?

Hiya
surely she was too young to leave the breeder?
I personally wouldnt give her any pedigree chum. Keep on extremely bland food, pedigree is very rich and especially at her age, she is not likely to be able to cope with it.

Deffinatly get the vet to check her out...something like this shouldnt be left. Spots of blood can appear in stools when they are either very soft or very hard..but at her age, it would be advisable to get her seen.
Also, I wouldnt give rice really. Boiled chicken or fish is perfect, rice if very stodgy though.
The vomitting is a bit concerning...what is she throwing up? Is it actualy food, or bile anf froth? What time is her appointment? Might be an idea to see if you can get an earlier one.
Let us know how it goes at the vet.
steph
:)

It looked like scrambled egg the first time and she was trying to eat it,but it has got more watery and mucussy looking tried to get an earlier appt,but there are none. earliest is 2.40 this afternoon

Yes get her to the vets now. Let us know how you get on.

Lucy

Ditto...

Pam

As every one else says, get the puppy to the vet straight away. At that age their reservoir of strength is only very low.

7 weeks is young by present standards Steph but not that young. My first puppy, very many years ago was only 5 weeks old. Now that really is rather young although that was pretty much the standard in those days! I would be quite happy taking on a 7 week pup although I would not sell one at that age to any but an experienced dog person

Regards, John

Hi J/B, don`t offer her anymore to eat till she`s seen the vet. If I were you I would go to the vet now & sit & wait till he could see her. If you want to wait for your appt. just offer her little amounts of cooled boiled water with glucose or honey added.
Hope she`s better soon.

Christine, Spain.

Hi Just got back from the vets.hertemperature was normal,but she thinks she has an infection so she got 2 injections,one to stop the vomiting and one antibiotic. have to take her back in the morningShe also gave me Canikur to sprinkle on her food.Discovered she had ear mites too but will treat that later,and not too happy with her skin,seemed dry and flaky.Gods sake,and i thought i was buying from a reputable breeder.Poor wee thing,she screamed for ages after the jags.Thanks to everyone who replied. Good to know you are not alone in times of trouble

Jean

I have mailed you directly.

Lucy

Jean,

I am so sorry you have had this trouble with your new pup.

Fingers crossed she picks up quickly.

Pam

Dont feed her if she is still being sick often. Has the vet suggested a special diet or told you what to feed? If not ,then when she is ready for food I suggest you ONLY give her chicken that has been simmered for 30 minutes, I use "human quality" drumsticks or breasts and cook 2/3 at a time in a generous pan of water. Debone carefully and chop the meat up small and add twice the volume of freshly coooked plain boiled rice mixed togther, with a teaspoon of plain live yoghurt on the top. You can strain the broth and offer small amounts for a drink. They love it and its important for a sick puppy to drink lots. I'd start with a tablespoon of chicken/2 tablespoons rice for a small meal and see how it goes. If she keeps it down, repeat in 3 hours later. I'd offer tiny meals about 6 times a day - if she continues to be sick then you'll be back in touch with the vet anyway. Be very careful about trying to feed her "ordinary food" for several days after she is better.

Hi;Westie lover,
Yes the vet told me to keep feeding her boiled chicken and rice. I bought chicken breasts and boil them up with the rice. Will try the plain yoghurt. she still has bad diarrhoea. I have actually been feeding her this since Wed,but she seemed to be getting worse instead of better,so I think there is something going on in her tummy. Hopefully the antibiotics will clear it up,as the Canikur doesn't seem to have had any effect.The vet injected her with the antibiotic,so I am hoping tomorrow she may give me a course of them for her.She can't have her first inoculation till this has cleared up,and I am a bit concerned about that,although she is not in contact with other dogs.You never know what people might bring in on their feet,or am I just being paranoic?

I hope so too Pam . Still a touch of yellow diarrhoea,but no more vomiting.(fingers crossed). We have only had her for a week,but we love her so much.She is a quiet little dog with a beautiful face. I would love her to be tearing about the house causing all sorts of mischief,believe me.its 100% better than seeing her lying listless in her bed. She has been a bit more active tonight,grabbing trouser legs etc.,and was really pleased when my grandson and his friend popped in,so maybe she is feeling better now Hope so.Will see what the vet has to say tomorrow. Thank you for your concern

Jean

Hi Jean,

Glad there is a little improvement.

Have you talked to the breeder yet? I would suggest this also. A least to let them know what has happened in case any of the other puppies have been ill.

The puppy should be fine without her vaccine as long as you keep her away from other dogs. If it is just you and your family around her in your own enclosed garden and house she will be fine. Best to get her on her feet first.

The food you are feeding and the diet WL suggests sounds the best, don't be tempted to over feed her to compensate she will catch up when she is feeling better.

Any doubts at all phone the vet right away but you know this..

Thoughts are with her..

Pam

Hi Pam,
Took her to the vets this morning,and she has been given a course of antibiotics,have to take her back on Tues ,and if this has cleared up,she will be able to have her vaccination. She also noticed a green pus on her vulva and asked if she had any difficulty weeing. i hadn't noticed that.She said if she was a bit dehydrated the wee is stronger,and that could cause it,but I think she has got an infection which is causing all this. However,she is a lot brighter today,thank goodness,and no more sickness.She also did a skin scrape and looked under the microscope,and she saw some lice eggs,but she thinks they may be dead.She was treated with frontline before we got her,so maybe that has killed them. I know she had had fleas as i saw the brown specks on her,and the breeder said she had asked her vet if she could treat them again and he said No not for a few more weeks,so they must have had quite a bad infestation.As the vet said,with all that going on on the outside,its not surprising that her insides are upset.They are going to treat her again when she has her 2nd vaccination,and treat the ear mites too.
PS she doesn't seem to be weeing so much today,so maybe she did have an infection there.
I am glad we called her Star,as she is a wee star for putting up with all this and still wagging her tail when she sees us.

contact the breeder again. sort it out. Surely there is something you can do. did you get yer pup from a breeder using the puppy list? if so, jet the person in charge of the list to investigate. try contact outher peeps that boutht a pup from the same person. have they had any trouble?

Do try and tempt her to drink - chicken broth - water with a spot of milk in it - its really important. Poor pup, she has had a rough start, I do hope she is better soon. Did the breeder insure her for you? - I do hope so. I think you should contact the breeder too, and list the problems you have had so far? I would want these vets bills paid or partly - there not much hope for that but you can try and at least they should be informed. I'd make 'em squirm!!!

There is no excuse for selling a flea/louse ridden puppy - let alone the other problems she is having. A heavy lice infestation can make them feel "lousy"and lower their resistance to other things. If they breed a lot I would contact the local council and find out if they are licenced or not.

Hi. they are advertised in the yellow pages as a licensed breeder of labs and CKCS,and also advertise in the ad trader.They run a farm in Ayrshire,and have cattle,sheep etc. The adult labs all looked in good condition and the premises looked clean enough,so i don't understand where all these infestations came from. They have a very good hip score and eye test and she has several champions in her pedigree.There were lots of ads in the ad trader for labs,but we thought as they were also a bona fide kennels with an ad in Yellow pages,that we would go there.She is a lovely little dog,and I am sure once she gets over this she will be fine. She has a great appetite,it just came out faster than it went in!!But Hey How sad is this? My husband and I were delighted tonight when she did her first solid poo!!I will phone the breeder tomorrow and tell her what's been happening,and will keep you posted. She will probably say that none of the other pups have had any problems,and make me feel as if it's all my fault.Thanks again everyone for all your replies.The vet gave me a sachet of rehydrating powder to put in her water,and she has been drinking that

Jean,

Pleased she has picked up, You seem chirpier yourself.

Just a thought , some may disagree but If she is fine on Tuesday I may be inclined to wait till the end of the week at least for her vaccine she is best to be tip top. She will be safe without it as long as you take the steps to keep her away from other animals apart from any you may have and in your enclosed garden.

Keep us posted.

BFN Pam

Do keep the liquids up, I cook a chicken breast in a lot of water and the liquidise and pour the result, 3 tablespoons at a time into a bowl for the pup, about once an hour. If 3 Tsp is to much adjust and feed more often. They can manage without solid food but they need liquid.

I agree with Pamela, :-) I would wait a good 7 days after she is completely better until you get her vaccs done. I know its annoying - yet another weeks delay until you can get her out and about - but its worth it.