I have had people ask if it would be easier and less laundry if the pups were just kept on newspaper. The pups need a good surface that they can get traction on.
You should be able to see those little feet and toes digging in and pushing them along while they are trying to get to mom. Newspaper is to slippery and hard. At
this age you want to watch out for "Swimmer Puppies" (Pectus Excavatum) Here is a little bit about what a swimmer puppy is:The term swimmer is used to describe a puppy that paddles its legs much like a turtle but is unable to stand. A puppy should be standing and walking by three weeks of age. As a result of weak muscles in the rear limbs, swimmers are generally unable to stand at the normal age.
What are the symptoms?
The only symptom of a swimmer puppy is its inability to stand or walk by the normal age of three weeks. The puppy will instead lay on its chest and paddle its feet as if attempting to swim in a turtle-like fashion.
What is the management?
Slippery floors may worsen or in some cases may even cause swimmer puppies. This is not always the case because swimmer puppies are also seen when a rough surface is used for raising puppies. In any event, an affected puppy should be placed on a rough rather than slippery surface.
Puppies should not become overweight as this may further the weakness in the rear limbs. Most swimmer puppies will develop to normal functioning by eight weeks of age if treated early and placed on flooring with good traction.
They used to hobble the pups legs, but now it is recommended if you see this to Place
sections of orthopedic "egg carton" foam under the blanket in the box, raise one
end of the box 2 to 3 inches, or put lots of small soft toys in it so that the
puppies can find a place were they can get the weight of the stomach off their
lungs, and can orient with their head and chest higher than their abdomen.
Since there may be a hereditary component to this condition, dogs who were swimmer puppies would not be optimal breeding animals.
Factors which contribute to this are
Maybe Seger read this and that's why she wanted blue elephant in the whelping box with her ;-)
10:00am just some more puppy pictures
red boy and orange girl
green boy .... yellow girl
7:00pm Boy did it turn out to be a hot day! I ended up turning off the heat source in the puppy room for the first time since they were born. It was plenty warm
enough without the furnace cranking! Seger is still limping and trying not to put weight on her right front paw. She looks so pathetic! I feel so bad for her. :-(
She is getting the Clavamox twice a day. Hopefully she will start feeling and walking better soon. The pups are doing great. They don't seem to mind the fact that the milk bar has lost some of its mobility. Here are some more pictures.
Puppy Buyers
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One that doesn't shed, chew or pee on the carpets?
Please click HERE
4/17/2002 Day seven
