Fading Puppy Syndrome

The term “fading puppy” is a lot like the term ‘cancer’.  It is also commonly referred to as ‘failure to thrive’ or ‘flat puppy syndrome.’   It is not a disease on its own, but rather caused a common non-specific name applied to many different problems.  The syndrome can occur from birth to 9 weeks of age but usually is seen within the first few days following birth. 

A fading puppy will generally die within a few days of first showing signs of the syndrome or after whelping.  Puppies can get dehydrated very quickly and go down even quicker unless you are watching for any signs of distress in the puppies. 

Signs to watch for :

• puppy is not nursing or appears to be nursing but is crying a lot and doesn’t settle after nursing

• stronger puppies are constantly able to push the puppy off a teat

• dam pushes puppy away

• puppy feels cool to the touch or too warm

• puppy doesn’t appear to have a strong suck reflex

• puppy lies away from the other puppies

• puppy appears to be restless most of the time

• puppy continues to lose weight after the normal after-whelp loss

• puppy doesn’t have any interest in rooting or appears too weak to root

• puppy feels limp when picked up

Problems that can cause puppies to fade can generally be divided into 3 groups: environmental, genetic and infectious.

Environmental problems may include:

1. hypothermia or hyperthermia.  When puppies are about 6 days old, they develop the ability to pant if too warm and shiver if too cold.  Neonates (newborns) that are too cold are not able to digest their food or nurse.  Their heart rate decreases and their circulatory and respiratory systems can collapse.  This will result in quickly causing death.  On the other hand, puppies suffering from hyperthermia will often cry relentlessly.

2. maternal factors - overweight or older bitches are more likely to experience neonatal losses.  Dam’s teats may be too large for effective suckling. Excessive “mothering” resulting in the puppies not getting enough rest.

3. maternal neglect - a dam’s reluctance to lie with the puppies and keep them warm or a dam’s refusal allow the puppies to nurse.  Stepping on or lying on puppies can accidentally crush puppies, causing internal damage. Lack of sufficient milk    production is another cause of a puppy to “fade.” 

4. Toxic milk Syndrome can be caused by poor involution of the uterus and thus production of toxins excreted in the milk.  This may or may not be caused by retention of placentas during or after whelping. Toxins in the milk cause stomach upsets in puppies or digestive problems for the puppies.  Symptoms of toxic milk syndrome are : diarrhea, green stools, crying, bloating abdomen, salivation, reddened anus. 

5. Environmental toxins.  A newborn puppy has very thin skin and chemicals can easily be absorbed through their skin. Breathing chemical fumes can also be very worrisome. Avoid using pine oils and phenols or any direct contact with bleach or Parvosol or other such cleaners.  Use gently cleaners with little odor. 

Congenital or Genetic factors may include:

1. Physical defects such as poorly inflated lungs, hydrocephalus possibly due to high nitrates in the water, cleft palate, imperforate anus, segmental aplasia of the bowel, heart defects, vascular defects, thoracic flattening with respiratory compromise (often referred to as ‘swimmers’), vascular ring anomalies, defects in any other organ system, immune deficiency, metabolic disease.

2. Low birth weight for breed. While puppies will generally lose about 10% of their birth weight within the first 24 hours, after that their weight gain should be 5 to 10% of their birth weight daily.  Also associated with low birth weight is transient juvenile hypoglycemia syndrome (low blood sugar).   A result of low blood sugar levels may be caused by the puppy not being able to maintain frequent feedings.

Infectious agents may include :

Intestinal parasites such as roundworms and / or hookworms as these are transmitted through the placenta and mammary glands.  They are not fatal, but can put a newborn puppy at higher risk of additional infection.

Viral infections such as canine herpes virus is common in puppies and signs can be constant crying to abdominal pain.  Type 1 parvovirus produces a rapid onset of crying, failure to nurse, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing and general weakness.

Bacterial infections.  Puppies have an immature immune system and are at risk risk for getting infection through the placenta, umbilical cord, or gastrointestinal or respiratory tract from a contaminated environment.  Signs to watch for are:

• vomiting, diarrhea, constant crying, fever, failure to nurse and sometimes

• sloughing of the ear and tail tips and toes.

Examples of bacterial infections could include:

• Peritonitis where the bacteria localizes in the abdominal cavity and usually originates through the umbilical cord at birth from contamination.

• Symptoms could include crying, bloating or splinting of the abdomen because of pain, refusal to eat.  Fluid retention in abdomen.  You may see some dark discoloration in the groin area.

• Septicemia spreads through the bloodstream. B-Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and E-coli are the most common forms.  It could be caused by contamination of umbilical cord or dewclaw removal or from docking or from the dam. Symptoms: lethargy, refusal to eat, crying, bloating, swelling of the umbilical cord area, dry anal area.

• Viremia (herpes virus) caused by exposure during whelping.  May cause abortion, stillborn or runted puppies. Occasionally can be seen in future litters however the bitch usually develops antibodies against it.  It only affects newborn puppies up to 3 weeks of age due to their low body temperatures as the virus is temperature sensitive.  Symptoms are : soft, odorless yellow-green stools, depression, refusal to eat, uneasiness, continuous painful crying.  Death usually occurs within 24 hours.  Internally it causes mottled kidneys and liver, lungs are firm, wet and mottled.  Any puppies that may recover may have kidney or liver damage.

• canine brucellosis can be another cause

• infectious canine hepatitis