The "Fading Puppy" Syndrome

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The "Fading Puppy" Syndrome

One of the most common causes of newborn puppy deaths is what has been named as the "fading puppy syndrome." Many of the unexplained puppy deaths that fall into this category would undoubtedly go elsewhere if only an accurate diagnosis could be made. Unfortunately, many of these poor little pets die so rapidly that no diagnosis can be made.

The fact is that whether or not the fading puppy syndrome is actually a distinct disease is still questionable. Many believe that it is what happens to any puppy that is unprepared, for whatever the reason, to face the stress of living in the world outside of his mother's womb. Whether or not the failure in preparation occurs before or after the pup is born depends on the reason for the puppy's fading,

Successfully saving the fading puppy that can be saved depends on recognizing the condition early enough and implementing proper remedial action. As a dog owner, you have to be very perceptive in order to recognize early enough the signs of a potential syndrome puppy. Below are some of the things to look out for:

1. An absence of the flight reaction: When normal puppies are taken from their mother and released, they will usually make every effort to scurry back to her. On the other hand, the syndrome puppy will not attempt to go anywhere.

2. Abandonment by the mother: A healthy, normal puppy is licked and protected by his mother. The syndrome puppy is left out of the litter and left in the corner to die.

3. "Slow-motion" activity: A healthy, normal pup is always busy and does not move slowly to do anything while a fading puppy makes slow, deliberate movements, almost like in a slow-motion picture.

4. Hypothermia: Most puppies can survive considerable hypothermia, and normal puppies in a litter usually feel warm and have ample supply of energy to keep their bodies from getting cold. The syndrome puppy does not like to eat and feels cold to the touch.

When you have recognized a puppy that is in the early stages of the fading puppy syndrome, you need to take him away from his mother and littermates and handle him just as if he were an orphan. In order for him to survive, you will have to raise him and feed him yourself by means of either bottle or stomach tube.

The “Hurry Diarrhea” Puppy

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The “Hurry Diarrhea” Puppy

Every puppy must, eventually, be taught to depend upon something besides milk for his food. This process is called weaning and constitutes the changing of a pup's diet from liquid to solid. Most dog owners consider weaning to be that instant in time when one takes a pup from his mother. But the fact is that weaning actually takes place both before and after a pup is separated from his mother. During that time his digestive system is learning to digest the foods he will be eating for the rest of his life. Just like all learning experiences, the steps of weaning must be taken slowly or the pup's digestive system will rebel, and "hurry diarrhea" or dysentery will be the result.

An improperly weaned puppy often finds himself with nothing but strange food to eat, strange people pawing over it, and a strange environment surrounding it. As a result of this physical and psychological trauma, he will likely develop anorexia. As the puppy adjusts emotionally to his new environment, anorexia is followed by an enormous hunger. The hunger becomes so great that he will even eat the strange food that he has not learned to digest yet. If he is allowed to eat such a diet, the pup begins to suffer from alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation.
These constant bouts with diarrhea and constipation lead to poor food absorption and injury to the lining of the intestines. Finally, the degenerative changes progress through the entire wall of the intestines. The intestines become sluggish and may stop their movement altogether. Ultimately, there is a disappearance of the intestinal lining. The intestinal wall may become as thin as tissue paper. The pup then rapidly becomes emaciated and dehydrated. He will eventually die unless proper remedial actions are taken immediately.

The secret to preventing hurry diarrhea is a full understanding of what it is. The "hurry" is used because the dog owner tried to push the puppy too fast with a food his intestinal tract was not yet ready for. Food which might be perfectly suitable for an adult dog was fed too soon to a puppy that has just been weaned.

When you have gotten in too big a hurry and hurry diarrhea occurs, you need to back up and start all over again. Return to the bland, simply digested foods that should be fed to a pup just learning to eat solid food, and then train his intestine to handle each new food in succession. At the same time, you must contend with an irritated, perhaps diseased intestine, which complicates your efforts considerably. There is no fast cure for hurry diarrhea. What your puppy needs is a little slow and easy treatment as well as a patient owner.

Diarrhea Associated With Changing Your Dog's Diet

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Diarrhea Associated With Changing Your Dog's Diet

In some dogs it is not unusual to notice a mild diarrhea following a change in food. This is particularly true in younger animals. In most instances it persists only until the dog's intestinal tract adjusts to the new food. In rare instances the diarrhea resulting from a change in diet lasts longer and may precipitate more serious forms of diarrhea.

To prevent diarrhea from developing during a dietary change, make the change gradually. A gradual change allows the intestinal tract to make a slow transition from the ingredients and physical characteristics of one food to those of the other.

Should diarrhea develop despite the precautions taken, reduce the amount of food being fed by one-half for a day or two. If this fails to correct the upset stomach then return to feeding the old food until the stool is normal again. Should the addition of the new food a second time also precipitate diarrhea, it is probable that the new food does not agree with your dog. If a third food is available it may be best to try an alternative method rather than to continue to subject your dog to a food that fails to agree with it.

Understanding Your Dog's Hearing

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Understanding Your Dog's Hearing

Dogs hear a lot better than people do, partly because their ears are incredibly mobile. They have 15 different muscles that can move the ears in all directions. This helps them detect and understand sounds no matter where they're coming from. Head cocking is a tool they use to hear clearly. Dogs shouldn't be doing it all the time, however. When they are, they may need some extra help to hear. Speak in a higher voice.

One way dogs decide what's worth listening to and what isn't call for help is by the sound frequency. High-pitched sounds get their attention, probably because they resemble the sounds made by traditional prey such as rabbits and chipmunks. Pitching your voice upward will get your dog's attention and let him know that he needs to listen carefully to what you're about to say. Stand where he can see you. Even though a substantial portion of a dog's brain is devoted to sound, a dog always uses his other senses to augment what he's hearing. Standing in front of your dog will allow him to watch your face, eyes, posture, and body movements while you talk. Even if your dog isn't hearing clearly, he'll be able to gather a lot of information from your body language about what you're trying to tell him.

Trim the ears. Dogs with unusually hairy ears may hear a little better if you remove some of the fluff. You can use blunt-ended scissors to trim some hair from the outer part of the ear flaps, but groomers usually prefer plucking. However, dogs don't enjoy having their ears
plucked and will often put up a fight, so you may want to pay a groomer to do it for you.

Dogs may cock their heads to the sides often. Even though it's normal for dogs to cock their heads in order to hear (and see) better, they shouldn't be doing it too often. A dog whose head seems to be in perpetual tilt mode probably has an ear problem that isn't going to get better on its own. A damaged eardrum or an inner ear infection can make it hard for dogs to hear. In some cases, ear problems can throw off a dog's internal sense of balance, which will also cause him to tilt his head. Any time a dog carries his head tilted for more than a few minutes, he needs to visit his veterinarian.

Lastly, dogs with ear infections often shake their heads as well as tilt them. Use a flashlight to light the inside of your dog's ear. If you see redness or a discharge, or if you smell an unpleasant odor, he probably has an infection and is going to need antibiotics to knock it out.