Hi all

Our Weimaraner pups are coming up to 8 weeks old now.  This morning I came down and found that (at least) one of the pups had left a pale mucusy blood stained poo.  I have no idea which one it is at the moment (there are 11 of them) but none of them appears the least bit ill.  They are all running around like lunatics tormenting the big dogs, playing, eating well and sleeping well.  Obviously this isn't normal, but should I be running to the vets now (remembering I don't yet know which pup it is) or just keep an eye on them and see how they go?  Should I stop their puppy food and just maybe give them rice for a couple of days?  HELP!

Hi, have you wormed them recently, or given them a new food?  Until you know which pup it is, there isn't really much you can do, other than watch them like a hawk.  Don't let them get chilled, don't overfeed them, let mum go in and feed them if she wants to and keep an eye.  If it was me, I would keep them on the food they are used to but be very vigilant.  Also, I expect they will be leaving home about now - I wouldn't let anyone go until all poos are back to normal.  Hope all is well.

Thinking about it, when the pups are running around the house they sometimes have a go at the big dogs food (we free feed the adult dogs).  It is the same brand (Supa dog) but is obviously different in its make up, even though it is for 'sensitive' stomachs.  Perhaps is could be this, or something they have picked up in the garden.  I will move the big dogs food and keep them indoors for a day or two and see if this helps.

Hi Louise/Chris

When did you last worm them and what with?  I had a pup which had this at about that age, and after lots of trips to the vets and ABs and chicken and rice to no effect, I wormed with Drontal + and it cleared up instantly.  At the time I thought maybe that was a coincidence.  But then she got the same thing a few months ago, and again after lots of trips to the vets and ABs, I wormed her with Drontal and it cleared up instantly again.  So now I don't believe it was a coincidence.  I can't believe it but my vets never suggested worming - the pup had been wormed quite recently but with Panacur, which isn't as comprehensive as Drontal.  I'm not sure whether you can use Drontal + on 8 wk old pups - you may have to use Drontal Puppy Suspension and then I'm not sure if that's as comprehensive as Drontal +.  Ask your vet whether you can use Drontal + on them.

The pups are due to be wormed this weekend.  We use panacur (Sp?).  Perhaps I should give my vet a ring and see if I can get Dontral.  Thanks onetwothree!

It could be that one of the pups has just eaten a bit too much, with being able to access the other dogs' food.  I prefer Panacur for worming pups, have never had an adverse reaction but have seen very upset tums on my friend's litter of RRs that were done with Drontal.   But I'm sure other people will have had the opposite experience.  Maybe worth asking your bitch's breeder or the owner of your stud dog what suits your breed best? 
Hope all is well - any more bloody/mucusy poos or has all returned to normal?

I agree Ridgie - I was told by people in my breed that I should use Panacur until they were min 16 wks old, and then switch to Drontal, for the reason you mention.  So I did that - and I had a v sick puppy with loads of blood and mucous from about 10-16 wks.  :(   At 16 wks, I wormed for the first time with Drontal and it stopped.

On balance, I think I would routinely use Panacur below 16 wks, but I would definitely think very hard about using Drontal earlier than 16 wks if I saw the blood and mucous again in another pup.