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Newborn Puppy Growth


**Super_Dogs**
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Tuesday afternoon we welcomed 9 babies labradors. It was very exciting. The puppies are now about 2.5 days old. There was 2 puppies alittle smaller than the rest - about 100g from the biggest few and 50g from the rest - so not a massive weight different. However one of these puppies is not gaining weight. The first 24 hours she dropped weight and by 36 hours she dropped more. I contacted me vet and he suggested I start supplementing which I started last night.

Last night when I weighed the puppies the smallest (the one who has lost weight) was 344g, the next smalled (the other small puppy) is 440g. Most puppies are 530g and the the biggest is 610g.

I don't think the puppy loosing weight is sick as she does move to mum and feed. But she is not as vigorous as the others feeding - she is still feeding like she is just born - and she falls to sleep on the job.

Do you have any other suggestions I can try in addition to supplement feeding?

How long before I should see a weight gain?

Do these pups normally come good and catch up to the others?

Thanks for your advice!

Edited by buddy1
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I don't weigh my pups but weight loss after birth is considered normal.

I would be ensuring this pup gets the best teat (usually one of the back ones) and holding her on there so one of the others can't push her off. Supplement her if she'll take it, but if you make sure she gets as much as she wants from mum 10-12 times a day she probably won't need it.

Not at all unusual for one which has had a slow start to start catching up quite quickly and be the same as the rest by 10-14 days old.

If she's is still loosing weight at 4 or 5 days I wouldn't fancy her chances myself.

Edited by Sandra777
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Tuesday afternoon we welcomed 9 babies labradors. It was very exciting. The puppies are now about 2.5 days old. There was 2 puppies alittle smaller than the rest - about 100g from the biggest few and 50g from the rest - so not a massive weight different. However one of these puppies is not gaining weight. The first 24 hours she dropped weight and by 36 hours she dropped more. I contacted me vet and he suggested I start supplementing which I started last night.

Last night when I weighed the puppies the smallest (the one who has lost weight) was 344g, the next smalled (the other small puppy) is 440g. Most puppies are 530g and the the biggest is 610g.

I don't think the puppy loosing weight is sick as she does move to mum and feed. But she is not as vigorous as the others feeding - she is still feeding like she is just born - and she falls to sleep on the job.

Do you have any other suggestions I can try in addition to supplement feeding?

How long before I should see a weight gain?

Do these pups normally come good and catch up to the others?

Thanks for your advice!

I would give her a small amount of glucose solution.

If she is falling asleep and not feeding, she is not as strong as she should be and does not have the energy to feed properly.

I would also give her a small amount of antibiotic just in case she is unwell.

If the puppy is still losing weight either

her energy intake is inadequate

or she is unwell

or she cannot digest the supplemented food properly.

You can help with the first two.

The puppy should stabilise (ie not lose more weight) by next weigh in (if you do them)

The pup should really start to improve immediately ie skin texture, feel of muscles etc

What are you supplementing with?

ETA:

Sick puppies can still move to the mother but they may not suckle properly, which is what your puppy sounds like she is doing.

It is when she gets more sick that she will no longer crawl to the warmth of her siblings and dam.

Edited by lilli
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Thanks for your advice.

I am supplementing her with Boilac.

I am alittle concerned as I just weighed her and she has lost a few grams. I know it is only a few grams but I have given her 4 feeds in the last 15 hours. In addition to this she is feeding from mum (not sure how succesfully though). I would have thought she would have at least have remained stable.

All the other puppies look plump, especially after feeding - she does not.

The vet is calling me back, so I will see what he says.

Edited by buddy1
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Thanks for your advice.

I am supplementing her with Boilac.

I am alittle concerned as I just weighed her and she has lost a few grams. I know it is only a few grams but I have given her 4 feeds in the last 15 hours. In addition to this she is feeding from mum (not sure how succesfully though). I would have thought she would have at least have remained stable.

All the other puppies look plump, especially after feeding - she does not.

The vet is calling me back, so I will see what he says.

Is your vet experienced with neonates? ie: reproductive specialist

If the puppy has lost weight and the above is her feeding schedule then she is not sucking effectively from her dam.

This could be because she does not have the strength/energy

How are you supp feeding her - bottle or tube?

Pinch the skin behind her neck - does it go back immediately?

Edited by lilli
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I just checked myself - I am pretty sure she has cleft palate. :thumbsup:

I am sure there are levels of severity and I don't know if this makes any difference. I would love to save her, but it will be hard to do 2 hourly feeds and maintain my day job. Also I could not go through loosing her after a trying longer. I have called the vet so will see what he says.

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Ok - get them all vet checked, as it seems they have not been yet ... I hope the bitch has been .... and perhaps also contact your bitch's breeder for advice ?

Cleft palates do happen...and if the vet confirms it , then you have a decision to make. For me, I prefer to not let them suffer any longer than I absolutely have to.

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If she has a cleft palate I would not persist with her myself. Her mother is most likely to reject her if this is so, especially with so many robust puppies.

If not then up the supplementation and/or make sure she is feeding from mum if you want to continue keeping her with the litter - don't just assume.

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I just spoke to vet and I am taking her in for a check in a few hours. He recommends if she has it not to persist.

However he was telling me that usually they have the split in roof of mount (I know this is not the technical term) and also a lip/gum defect. However I can not see any problems with her lips or gums. The vet said he has not seen one without the other before.

Has anyone had this before?

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The vet said he has not seen one without the other before.

Has anyone had this before?

perhaps your vet has not seen many - I have seen cleft palates with, and without a harelip.I hope the rest of the litter get the 'all clear ', and that the bitch is also OK :thumbsup:

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I am not sure why this was not picked up. I am very glad I picked this up before she kep loosing more weight and was rejected and isolated. Mum is doing great and so are the rest of the pups. I did not have one puppy that was not gaining much weight for the first 48 hours (not loosing though) and he has gained 50g in the last 12 hours and is now feeding great and holding his own with th bigger pups. He was the last puppy, so is just catching up. I have checked the rest of the puppies for cleft palate and no signs. They are all gaining weight consistently so luckily it seems it is just the one.

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I am not sure why this was not picked up. I am very glad I picked this up before she kep loosing more weight and was rejected and isolated. Mum is doing great and so are the rest of the pups. I did not have one puppy that was not gaining much weight for the first 48 hours (not loosing though) and he has gained 50g in the last 12 hours and is now feeding great and holding his own with th bigger pups. He was the last puppy, so is just catching up. I have checked the rest of the puppies for cleft palate and no signs. They are all gaining weight consistently so luckily it seems it is just the one.

Hi Buddy 1 - I haven't read the whole thread but you may need to consider bottle feeding just to top up your babies. 9 is a fairly healthy number and sometimes first time bitches simply don't produce enough quality milk early enough to meet the needs of their new family. My wife and I have been breeding and exhibitting Labs for 31 years - if you need a hand please PM me - I am always more than happy to assist new breeders either via telephone or a quick call in if you live handy.

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I just spoke to vet and I am taking her in for a check in a few hours. He recommends if she has it not to persist.

However he was telling me that usually they have the split in roof of mount (I know this is not the technical term) and also a lip/gum defect. However I can not see any problems with her lips or gums. The vet said he has not seen one without the other before.

Has anyone had this before?

So sorry for your loss.

I had a puppy born last September with a cleft palate (CKCS much smaller than a labrador). It was not picked up by the Vet on the day of his birth at his mums Post-natal check as it was a line down the back of his throat and not a hole in the roof of the mouth. There was no hairlip either. It was only when he failed to thrive that I took him back to the Vets on day 3 and he was PTS on the advice of my Vet as this type of Cleft palate was definitely inoperable.

Edited by LizT
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