Before weaning, 50 percent of puppy loss occurs within the first seven days (Dr. Peterson, Small Animal Pediatrics). If we are going to make an impact in saving these first-week babies, we have to prevent the causes of loss. Respiratory issues, GI issues and malnutrition are found to be the big three!

Newborn Puppy Respiratory Problems

Respiratory prevention is getting these newborn puppies on the ground quickly. We have come far in getting these babies born in a timely manner, which is important for two reasons:

1. Babies shorted of oxygen from birthing tend to be more lethargic, more congested and ineffective at nursing. Both malnutrition and respiratory issues from aspiration of amniotic fluids are of concern. Slow birth makes the baby prone to inhaling amniotic fluid. Babies that nurse well keep their energy up. When they are not eating, they have little backup energy to fight with. Babies often have some aspiration, which is not an issue when eating and getting good nursing care from mom. That brings us to number two!
2. Slow to whelp causes tired moms. Twenty-four hours is too long to whelp; six to nine hours is the goal. Exhausted moms are recovering, not doing puppy care. The need to get babies on the ground and in a timely manner seems obvious, but is often overlooked as a cause of first-week puppy loss. Two products have the biggest impact on labor:
   • Calcium gel – Needed for effective contractions and better puppy movement in the uterus. Timely delivery is the goal. Low calcium at this stage often leads to Uterine Inertia, puppy loss and C-Sections; all undesirable.

• • Raspberry extract – Eases ligament spasm post-contraction, which eases labor. It is especially helpful with early labor spasms in first-time moms who have no idea what labor means. Breeder’s Edge^® Oxy Mate^™ Prenatal has red raspberry extract in the vitamin or you can add the red raspberry extract concentrate to your water three weeks before birth.

GI Issues and Diarrhea in Newborn Puppies

GI issues and diarrhea is the second major cause of loss in the first week. To prevent first-week puppy diarrhea, we give probiotics to the mom two weeks before and two weeks after whelping; most just keep giving mom probiotics in the food while she is nursing. Puppies are born with sterile guts and by day three, the gut is populated with bacteria from mom. Mom gives them good bacteria (and bad) when cleaning and caring for them. Giving probiotics to mom ensures mom only gives good bacteria to her pups when cleaning. This has been quite effective during this stressful time!

When stopping puppy loss, let puppy have only colostrum the first 24 hours, allowing colostrum to manage the issue. Day two through seven, start D.E.S. Health-Gard liquid or Doc Roy’s^® GI Synbiotics Gel probiotic once daily. Giving puppy a probiotic once daily will hasten population of the gut with good bacteria. You don’t want to give bad bacteria a place to live. Use caution here as puppies don’t swallow well – just wipe gel on tongue and it will be swallowed.

Use the newer probiotics that bypass the stomach, or you will be disappointed with the results! The majority of live bacteria are killed in the stomach acid and enzymes, which is the body’s first line of defense against food poisoning. They need to be coated bacteria or spores, which bypass the stomach and set up house in the small intestine. The newer probiotics have that. When populating the gut, you need all bacteria to make it to the small intestine, not just to the stomach.

When treating active diarrhea, you may need antibiotics with the probiotic gel. Probiotic gel dose: Tiny-breed puppies get ¼ cc, and large breeds 1 cc/3 pounds, given three times daily until diarrhea is resolved, usually in 48 hours.

Puppy Malnutrition

Puppies should not lose their life to malnutrition. Respiratory and diarrhea overlap here, but being sure puppies are born fighting to live and moms are dripping milk at birth (rather than five days with a limited milk supply) ensures puppy survival. Get them growing, and keep them growing!

Get mom as healthy as possible. If we want mom birthing timely and having puppies that fight to live, we need adequate iron and prenatal vitamins; no arguing here! Puppies are born with all the red blood cells (RBCs) they will have until six weeks old, and mom has a 25 percent increase in RBCs during pregnancy so they both need iron. If born anemic, babies stay anemic and weak until six weeks. You will fight to save them. That is why human moms take prenatal vitamins and why dog moms should have them, as well!

Milking involves a complex process of glandular development in late pregnancy and prolactin telling the gland to start milking at birth. Moms that don’t go through labor won’t get the trigger to start milking; they usually have plenty of glands but nothing told the gland to start milking! Reglan will give that “prolactin trigger” when milking is a problem, but you can avoid the issue altogether.

Breeder’s Edge^® Oxy Momma^™ is a prenatal vitamin designed to stimulate milking. It contains Fenugreek and Chaste tree fruit – both herbs used to promote milk production. Starting Oxy Momma one week before due date will get them dripping milk at birth. It’s that effective! Don’t use more than one week before birth, or you may end up dripping milk before puppies are present; mastitis is the worry when babies are not nursing. If you are an herbalist, you can use 200 mg of Fenugreek, one week before birth and get similar results.

Puppy loss in the first week is manageable. If we are going to save first-week puppies, we have to get moms as healthy as we can and newborns fighting to live. Getting puppies growing and keeping them growing is an achievable goal!

If you need help with how to care for a sick newborn puppy, call us at 800.786.4751.