4 week old pups I rescued now haveing diarrhea....how do I get rid of it? How serious is this?

Question

Hi everyone and thanks to the responses that I have gotten about the abandoned 4 week old puppies that I rescued! I now have another question. I have been feeding them puppy food mushed up with water and giveing them puppy formula also. I have been giveing them the mush about 3 times a day and the formula with it because they won't take a bottle or syringe of any sorts but will lick it out of a bowl. I know when it comes to diarrhea you should give more water. Should I cut back on the mush food feedings? I am not sure what to do. How many times should they be getting the formula and mush a day? I have had them since Monday and they were just sleeping and eating every once in a while for a couple of days and now today they have been very active wakeing up about every couple hours to play and want to eat. I feel like if I feed them every time they want to eat they will be overfed. I have gotten many different answers to the feeding questions. I need more feedback please! Diarhea problem?

Answer 1

I used to have a business raising orphaned puppies. You are doing very well. By the fourth week, the mush should be fed 4-5 times a day ..By four to four and one-half weeks, the orphaned puppy can consume enough moistened solid food to meet its needs.

It is better to avoid starting a puppy on a baby food regimen. This creates extra work and can also create a finicky eater. Many such foods will not meet the nutritional needs of a growing puppy.
Pan-feed a thin gruel made by blending good-quality puppy food with puppy's milk formula. Gradually thicken the gruel until no milk substitute is used by about 6-7 weeks of age. At this time, the pups should be offered good-quality puppy food 4 times daily.
This site has the guidelines of what to feed and when> http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1651&articleid=863

Answer 2

The diarrhea is caused by what you are feeding
I hope you are using Esbilac Powder Formula for puppies, you can purchase it from Petsmart or some Vets carry it (Do not buy the second step formula by Esbilac). It is the only formula that's the closest to mom's own milk. If you use anything other than that, the puppies can develope MBD, (Metabolic Bone Disease) which is fatal. They are too young for regular puppy food, Use Gerber Baby Rice Cereal Mixed with the Esbilac Powder (Follow the mixing directions on the can). Along with the Rice/Formula mix you can leave plain Dry food for nibling free choice. The best puppy food for this is made by "Royal Canin" called Baby Dog or you can feed Puppy Dog, also available at Most Petsmart. Baby dog is made for up to 6-8wks & Puppy Dog is Over 8wks. Now, how to treat the Diarrhea, go to your Vet and get some Albon Medication, its a great medication to combat the Diarrhea, its a good tasting liquid most dogs/pups love, plus puppies can take it with no problems. Your vet may want to see them before dispensing it, but they may just let you pick it up, you need to know their weight, so your vet can tell you how much they need. Usually its a twice a day med. for severe diarrhea, or once a day for mild diarrhea.
Puppies can die from dehydration from diarreah, so don't wait to seek help. Feed them 3-4 times a day the Rice/Esbilac mix and leave the Royal Canin Baby Dog down as free Choice all day also leave a shallow saucer/bowl with water. Just remember fluid is more important than food when diarrhea is present. I'm glad you rescued them, it's a lot of work. I hope this is of help to you.

Answer 3

Don't use Hartz products again- they're junk and any flea product is too harsh for a pup this young. Watch her closely to make sure she doesn't have a reaction to it- trembling or seizures. Don't use the heating pad- a towel or baby blanket around her is fine unless the temperature drops drastically, down to 40-50. DO put a thermometer in the bed to make sure the pup is retaining body heat- if not then you might need a hot water bottle. Yes, feed her right side up- it sounds like you are feeding often enough. I doubt feeding her upside down once hurt her, but keep an eye out for any respiratory distress. Check her skin to make sure she isn't dehydrated- pinch a little between your fingers and make sure it rebounds quickly- if it stays tented you may need to go back to the vet for fluids. Keep stimulating her to go to the bathroom and watch out for either diarrhea or constipation- you'll need the vet for that, too. I always prepared a fresh batch of puppy/kitten formula every time I fed because bacteria can grow in the bottle. If you prep a fresh bottle for your sitter just leave it in the fridge and have her warm it up with hot water (NO microwave) the same as you'd do for a human. I'm kinda weirded out by the vet not wanting to chart her progress before 6 weeks- is there another doc you can consult?

Answer 4

I've never cared for orphaned puppies, but I do have lots of animal and one human baby experience.
First, I wouldn't worry about overfeeding them. They're acting on instinct. They don't know to ask for food just cuz it tastes good yet. This is the same in the animal field as well as with human babies.
I would back off of the puppy food. If their mom was there, they'd only be on her milk. Puppies aren't usually weaned off mother's milk until they're about 8weeks old.
As for the diarrhea, their diet is part of it, I'm sure. It's also possible they have intestinal parasites. Have you had them to a vet yet? Make sure you have a fecal test done to rule out parasites.
Is the poop watery/runny or just mushy? To check for dehydration - grab their scruff (not too hard, obviously) and watch how long it takes to go back to normal. If it stays up, they're dehydrated.If it goes down within 2-3 seconds, they're not. You could also check their gums. Touch them with your finger, if they're dry and sticky, they're dehydrated.
They should definately see a vet within the next couple of weeks. Get them in sooner if they stop acting like puppies or eating/drinking. Get them in now if they're dehydrated.

Answer 5

This could be a combination of things, it could be parvo...if there is no blood in the poo your probably okay...but get them check by a vet to be sure. Puppys are milk feed primarly untill they are about 6 weeks old thats when thier stomachs are able to digest more complex foods...if they are able to lick milk and food up out of a bowl then give them only puppy formula (if your uesing cows milk thats your problem stop right away) You can buy the powderd foumula that you mix with water...by the way if you cannot afford to buy it I have almost a full can...my vet recomended it for my puppy who was the runt and then when sh gained enough weight discontinued the use...I am willing to mail it to you if you need it. ([e-mail]) get them on a strictly puppy formula only untill 6 weeks and then only supliment one meal a day for a week with the milk and mash and at seven weeks wean them off the milk and by eight weeks you should be set.

Answer 6

Whenever u change a dogs diet they will have Dia..., It will stop when stomach gets used to the new food. No big deal.Or it could be something. If they havnt been to vet u better get them their shots and tested. ASlso, I dont think they should or could eat puppy food tat young. Milk or formula or cereal, but Im not sure Mine were never that young. Give them as much as they want. they need to grow, their not going to get fat,

Answer 7

Most puppies (especially strays) have some form of intestinal parasite. You need to take him to the vet right away and get him "wormed".

Also you need to be feeding them formula, not dog food until they're at least 6 weeks old.

Answer 8

Have the puppies been vaccinated for Parvo virus?

Also, are you giving them dry puppy food? I would recommend getting a dry food specifically for puppies and add a few drops of formula and warm water, let it soak into the food to soften it. That shouldnt give them diarrhea.

Answer 9

You might need to get some medicine from the vet for scours. It usually comes in an injection.

Answer 10

Could be parvo....get them to the vet in the morning and keep your other dogs away if they are under 2 yrs. old
Or, it could just be a parasite. Better to be safe than sorry.
Good Luck.