Pups With Low Blood Sugar And Salts

[Chinook]

I have a litter of 3 week old pups at 3 weeks & two days mum got Eclampsia and we had to take the pups off her. We have been feeding them the Carnation milk new puppy formula that has been used with success in the past. They had also started to lap & things were going great. They lapped up their milk and we also started them on very dilute Advance rehyydration. They have become very constipated & I have been syringing in as much water as possible. One little one was grunting in pain and had a distended tummy. To try & cut this as short as I can they just fed and this little one rushed out of the crate gasping with milk coming down her nose. I quickly pointed her head down rubbing her back and I thought i had lost her at one point. I even gave 2 tiny little breaths & she was with us again. Her lungs were a bit gurgly I called vets office right away and they had closed. They said I had probably allowed her salts & sugars to get too low or she may have an obstruction. She still has not had a bowel motion.

I was told to feed them more often say every 2 hours because mum is not with them and I have done any toileting. The little one I put back on mum for a very short time but of course I don't want to risk her I did give her 5ml Calcium sandoz.

My question is they said to get some electrolytes from the pharmacy. I do have nutri drops here which they have all had and I also put some Gluchogen powder on their tongue off my finger on their tongues.

Can you please tell me how much I should be feeding them & how often please. Any other advice would also be very appreciated. They are pugs. It will be a long night but hope I may get some helpful advice Thank you very much Chinook

[Christina]

Are you using the Advance rehydration dry food & adding water ?

If yes I would stop using it & get some canned puppy food. Advance make one.

As they can lap they should be able to manage to lap some canned food mixed to a sloppy paste with their milk.

Less concentrated & less likely to constipate.

Divide the recommended daily amount of milk feeds into say 3 hourly to start & see how they go

Cut the amount of milk if they have some canned food but offer a small drink regularly.

http://www.bonchien.com/feedingschedule.html

Above link may help

[periannath]

If puppy has aspirated you will need vet assistance ASAP.If They will deal with the constipation as well.There are methods of dealing with the constipation at home but I think the combination of aspiration and constipation warrant a vet visit.Have the puppies access to fresh water? If not they need it.Pick up some electrolytes and make up as directed.Puppies are not very resilient to pain so you need to act.

A lot of people I know feed their pups solids and fluids separately so the pups are less likely to aspirate.Hope your little one is ok.

[Chinook]

Are you using the Advance rehydration dry food & adding water ?

If yes I would stop using it & get some canned puppy food. Advance make one.

As they can lap they should be able to manage to lap some canned food mixed to a sloppy paste with their milk.

Less concentrated & less likely to constipate.

Divide the recommended daily amount of milk feeds into say 3 hourly to start & see how they go

Cut the amount of milk if they have some canned food but offer a small drink regularly.

http://www.bonchien.com/feedingschedule.html

Above link may help

Hi Christina,

Thank you very much for that very helpful advice. I am about to go & read that site now.

We are on our way soon to the vets. I will keep you posted.

Much appreciated

Chinook

[Chinook]

If puppy has aspirated you will need vet assistance ASAP.If They will deal with the constipation as well.There are methods of dealing with the constipation at home but I think the combination of aspiration and constipation warrant a vet visit.Have the puppies access to fresh water? If not they need it.Pick up some electrolytes and make up as directed.Puppies are not very resilient to pain so you need to act.

A lot of people I know feed their pups solids and fluids separately so the pups are less likely to aspirate.Hope your little one is ok.

Thank you I spoke to them last night while this was happening but they had left I said I would pay for them to return and they are a hospital. They did say to stay on the line. The pup finally calmed down I am just so glad we were in the room. Her lungs sounded clear. We are on our way to the vet now. I have sat with them all night making sure they have plenty of fluids.

They tried to tell me that you cannot give a 3 week old puppy food they cannot absorb it. I have weaned early in the past on really big litters and they coped quite well.

I am not happy and I know they are going to tell me I should be on Divetalact but I am happy with what I am on and raised pups from day 1 before.

Thanks you have really helped the way I feel.

Chinook back later

[Chinook]

I just thought I would fill you in & thank you also. We took mum & pups back first thing to the vets. Thank goodness the little girl that aspirated was ok and her lungs were nice & clear. I am just so glad I knew what to do. It scared us half to death. I was sure she was gone. I have increased the tin food and added quite a lot of water and have water down all the time now. Mum is allowed back in with a couple of pups and I took the risk of letting the little girl on her last night to try & get her blood sugar levels back to normal. She is happy now she is able to feed one little girl for a short time.

Thanks again.