Animal life saving first-aid?

[Jennings]

Among us posters there seems to be a lot of animal lovers so here is a problem that requires a resolution. My wife and I have Norfolk terriers one of which is a bitch from whom we breed but we are not 'breeders' as such. The bitch's name is Jenni. Two days ago she gave birth to 4 pups one which failed to survive. Of the 3 remaining, there is one bitch but she is poorly and has almost given-up on life. She is the runt, the smallest of the litter, and while Jenni has good mothering instincts and places her next to the teat and stimulates her physically the pup does not take the teat yet 2 days later and she is still alive but is often left in the cold by Jenni which I am certain is due to the lack of the pup's suckling response! My wife obtained the services of the Vet but she was not much help saying that the pup had a weak heart beat. She did provide some colostrum to feed it then departed. My wife's natural mothering instinct is to save the pup and she is fully committed to this challenge so anyone able to provide guidance to support the good lady with her efforts would be appreciated?

[messenger]

I have done this before but the miles apart can make it difficult, but I'll try.

By now the puppy is most likely too weak to suckle. Knowing your level of concern and intelligence, I'm sure you or your wife have opened the puppies mouth and put the teat into the puppies mouth to try to encourage it to suckle. The teat needs to be depressed while the puppy is in place and not much will go into the puppies mouth but long hours of dripping in does help.

However Jennings, if this just isn't possible, call a doctors office or vets office and ask if you could come by and pick up an IV tube. If none is available, find a pet store that sells fish and fish keeping products. Purchase the tubing (silicone)that goes on the fish filter in the smallest diameter you can. Also purchase a syringe that can be used in the end of the tube.

You or your wife should depress the milk from the mothers nipple into a clean small container. After several cc's have been removed, cut the tube about 5 to 6 inches from the end. Open the puppies mouth, and in the corner farthest side, slide the tube down the puppies throat about 3 inches down. This should be far enough to by-pass the trachea. Going further puts it into the stomach, but this too is fine. This has to be a clean, steady motion without hesitating. The gag reflex only happens in the beginning and as soon as it bypasses the trachea, all is well.

Your wife will need help from you to hold the puppy still and tube in place. While you hold, she will fill the syringe with a small portion of milk (about 10 to 20 cc's per feeding. She will need to put more in for the length of the tube to force it down into the stomach. Or blow into the end to force the milk down.

After the feeding, she will need to remove the tube until the next feeding. She will need to do this every 2 hours for the first 12 hours. After each feeding, she needs to "burp" the puppy (as a with a child) with holding it in her hand, head up, bottom slightly down. After burping, she needs to rub it under the tail on its rectum to have it void. the mother might even do this for it too, but not if she feels it will die. Your wife needs to keep it warm while feeding and might need to place a heating pad on very low, wrapped in a small towel or blanket under the area where the puppy is sleeping ... especially if the mother is making sure it isn't close to her. A puppy that is weak, can't keep warm and dies faster. Heating pad should be turned on and off by hand and your wife should feel the towel to ensure it is just barely warm, but not too warm.

Heart rate decreases when dehydration sets in. Milk has to be given, even if forced or the puppy will die from heart failure.

I know this is long, but I hope it helps. I'm so sorry. GOOD LUCK

[messenger]

Jennings ... if you do go to the pet store, ask for the powdered milk sold for this purpose to help ease the work on your wife. This is easier for her rather then depressing the mothers milk. To re-warm the refrigerated milk, with the milk mixed in a different container, place the container into a coffee cup of hot water to warm.

Good Luck and please let me know how your wife does with the puppy

[Jennings]

Thank you Messenger for that excellent piece of advice; it was exactly what my wife Lesley needed. The pup when born was unable to suckle although was otherwise okay. Regretfully it succumbed about 2 hours ago having just managed to survive for a little more than 2 days. It was however a loved pup so in its short life it was not just occupying space. Its passing upset Lesley who had tried so hard to give it life but I guess her sadness gives value to its existence. Out of a litter of 4, 3 dogs and 1 bitch, two failed to survive, one being the bitch. The remaining two are doing very well with lots of spare milk to guzzle. With your excellent advice (much better than what the Vet provided) and that little bit of experience Lesley, if I know her, will be acting in the future as if she is an authority on dog breeding. Thank you for the effort in proving help; it is much appreciated.

[messenger]

Originally Posted by Jennings

"....a loved pup so in its short life it was not just occupying space. Lesley who had tried so hard to give it life but I guess her sadness gives value to its existence. The remaining two are doing very well with lots of spare milk to guzzle. With your excellent advice (much better than what the Vet provided) and that little bit of experience Lesley, if I know her, will be acting in the future as if she is an authority on dog breeding."

Jennings, I am truly sorry for you and your wife, but the thank you doesn't belong to me ... but to you Sir, for allowing me to be a part for a moment in time.

In the end, I guess the miles between us really don't matter , people who care matter and I thank you for allowing me to try to help.

The credit goes to you and Leslie Sir because he didn't die alone and as you said, was much loved. Leslie was successful giving it something that isn't easy to find ... warmth and love.

You said "...better than the vet provided...", but sometimes when we aren't paid to do a job, we can extend our caring nature instead and end with a job well done. Leslie gets all the credit! After this space in time, I think she might find a "calling"... she has what it takes to see the job done! She IS an AUTHORITY on seeing this task to the end (despite the trials) and you both have two beautiful puppies to see grow.

Jennings please tell your wife I'm very PROUD of her! She did good! What I said to do wasn't easy by far and thank you for giving her help and support through this . If you ever need me, you might know where to find me.

[MichelleM78]

Your wife sounds sweet. Sorry the pup didn't make it. Let me know how the other 2 are doing ;-)

[Jennings]

The other two pups are doing exceedingly well but the bitch Jenni is very anxious especially each time either of us goes near her pups as she evidently feels that we stole the one that just died! If anyone considers animals as not intelligent then have another think!

[MichelleM78]

Of course you know. Animals are extremely intelligent....especially dogs. She is probably just a little confused. I am sure she will be just fine. I think my dog is extremely smart. I imagine that I will always have a dog. I like the fact that dogs understand the other realms too....always handy when spirits may live among us!