Vet is even Puzzled.. Can you help ?? - Page 1

OK nothing to do with GSD's but I am very puzzled and would like to know if anyone has any input. A dog brought into the shelter had puppies, We have been ever so careful in trying to raise them and keep them healthy, So far so good UNTIL about 3 weeks ago. We noticed that one TINY female is "failing to thrive" Pups have been dewormed a couple of times and both dewormings did not produce a mass shedding of dead worms, a couple of worms were noticed but that's it, They were dewormed with praziquantel and Pyrantel pamoate. Covers all. They have been given flea baths and are treated once weekly with small amount of drops we put on our fingers then apply to arm pits, flanks behind ears, and along the back. No Flea, Tick issue. No Parasite issue. This puppy is not lethargic, is quite a happy little thing, no fever, NO Appetite, and does tire quickly. When we weighed the pups one male weighed in at 13.3 1 male at 12.4 2 females at 11.7 and one at 10.9 and this tiny little girl at 5.5 I asked the vet to do a blood panel on her, they agreed to help us out with her as she has become very precious to the entire staff here. The bloodwork came back much to be expected. Low protein (she does not eat well at all and is often force fed) bloodwork came back enemic, (despite that we have supplemented her with RedCell) She came back low hemoglobin, but normal platlet size. I expected the bloodwork to come back much as it has, However we still have no diagnosis on this pup, There is no Murmor, we checked. But I am at a complete loss here, Does anyone have any ideas ?? She is such a precious little thing, and is very sweet, But I can not in good concious allow anyone to adopt her to find out that she will have ongoing health issues due to something weird. the something weird I can not even seem to figure out even with the help of the vet, We have scheduled to go back in for another blood pull this next week, to get a recovery on the bloodwork as well. But even still we will have no definative answers. Anyone have any ideas or similar events ever ?? and if so what was the problem ? and what was the outcome ? I will eventually have to make some sort of decision if her condition does not improve, I am definately wanting some input and ideas as I don't want to make a bad decision. No hurry as her condition at this time is as stable as it can be, she is thin, But still very happy little girl, If that were not the case I would have let her go already.

has she been checked for megaesophagus? And you might try her on canned Green tripe from Solid Goldor from Tripett. (Trust me the Tripett smells MUCH better than Solid Gold!) I have never seen a dog or puppy turn down the tripe!

EchoMeadows, there have been threads here in the past about "fading puppy syndrome" and there was a supplement identified that would work in many cases. You may do a search and find the information that you need. Best of Luck, Bob-O

what are u feeding the pup?

Hello Echomeadow, i am not a Vet but i am a physician and has been breeding sheperds. In humans we find a lot of metabolic conditions especially in neonates which presents as failure to thrive. Conditions like mucopolysachridosis, glycogen storage diseases and offcourse a congenital heart disese has to be ruled out using an echocardiogram as piking a murmur in a pup will be difficult as it will have very fast heart rate. i have a few more questions to you, does the pup vomit after taking food, is she pasing urine normally, have u done a urine protien analysis, and is the pup getting fatigued even with minimal effort. I hope my little knowldege is of some help to you.

It's called a "fading puppy". Best to let nature go its course.

Yes , let nature take its course.....Its obvious human nature is to save a life, but this one is doomed by survival of the fittest., and that is not gonna happen;;;

Yes , let nature take its course.....Its obvious human nature is to save a life, but this one is doomed by survival of the fittest., and that is not gonna happen;;;

vom mawhsiv I believe you are absolutely right i have seen this in gsd pups. I think many people do not or have not bred long enough to see the condition. And this should be ruled out first. Vomiting / regurgitating during the weaning is a very common sign. Congenital heart disease may be it.The pups always are stunted

vom mawhsiv I believe you are absolutely right i have seen this in gsd pups. I think many people do not or have not bred long enough to see the condition. And this should be ruled out first. Vomiting / regurgitating during the weaning is a very common sign. Congenital heart disease may be it.The pups always are stunted