Someone help me!
 

The 2 new born pups are now 5 days old. They have been eating and looking fine, but loosing weight. I assumed it was because they weren't warm enough. Today I got a heat lamp and after about an hour, they started squirming around and panting alot. I just gave them a drop each of Nutri Drops.

What am I doing wrong? I don't want them to die. Help me please!!!

Kev, I pm'd you. Make sure you keep the heat lamp far enough away from them. Use a room thermometer to make sure the box they are in is about 80 degrees. You are better off to find a heating pad that does NOT have the autoshutoff on it. Most drug stores carry them or Walmart.

You don't want them to hot . Try a heating pad under a blanket not a heat lamp.

You may need to have the mom checked to see if she is producing sufficent milk. Are the puppies crying and weak? If not then they should be getting enought to eat. Unless there is a problem with mom they should get plenty od nurishment from her.

If they continue to lose weight take them to the vet ASAP.

So sorry you are having trouble. A heat lamp should only be put on short periods of time as I know from having numerous reptiles they can get really hot. I would assume that is why they are panting. I would use a heating pad under a blanket and towel instead. I would also look into supplementing as if they are still losing weight you need to do something. Hopefully someone with more experience than I will be here shortly..good luck with the babies.

That's the strange thing. The pups hardly ever cry and are always nursing. Tomorrow Me, Mom and the pups are off to the Vets as soon as they open.

There ya go........that's what I was thinking. If all else fails, see the vet. I sure hope your vet has some good advice to help you and/or some good news that all is well and no need to worry. I'll say a prayer for them.

It could be that they are always nursing because the mom doesn't have enough milk. You may have to suppliment them. The vet can tell for sure.
Keep us informed and good luck with your little ones.

How much weight have they lost? over what period of time?
What kind of scale are you using?

Are their bellies nice and round when they finish nursing?

Puppies at this age only do a few things...nurse and sleep!
That is about all they can do on their own.

Are they on a heating pad and with a heat lamp? I would use one of the other.
If you make the area too warm they will dehydrate which will cause weight loss.

Check their bottoms too to make sure they are nice and clean...if they are not there is a chance they have diarrhea.

You can gently take the puppy's temperature if you are concerned...normal should be 94-96 degrees.

Are these the pups who had their tails docked at birth?
This is a reason that is not recommended...we like to make sure they are thriving puppies before doing that. Check the tails and dewclaws to make sure there are no signs on infection.

Check them for dehydration too...when you pull up the skin on the back of the neck...does it stay in a little "tent" or does it spring back quickly? It should spring right back. The skin should not appear wrinkly...it should be taunt and the coat shiny.

Healthy 5 day old puppies should feel warm when touched, look pink, act twitchy and the area under their tail should be clean. They should be quiet but not still.

Their belly are round, coats appear to be shiny, tails are clean and dry, skin springs back, they twitch as they sleep. It beats me why lost weight. Yesterday and today their weight remained the same. But their not gaining.

What was their birth weight and what are their weights now.
I would really not be concerned from your last post...things sound like they are as they should be!

Their birth weight was 4.0 ounces. The Girl is now 3.6 and the Boy 3.3

Luna's pups were quiet and nursing all the time, but were no gaining weight, I had to supplement for a couple days... She did not have milk at all, and it is hard to notice... Hope that helps...

They should not have lost this much. i had a litter of five that will be five days old tomorrow. Only two of them lost weight the first 12 hours. BUT, they only lost one tenth. They have had a steady gain every time I have wiehged them which is four times a day. Are you sure mama has milk? You should start supplementing these babies.

If the Mom didn't have any milk these 5 day old pups would not be thriving at all....If their bellies are round and they are not crying they are probably fine...

The constant nursing is what they should be doing...Sucking is the way the moms body will know that there is a demand for milk

What kind of scale are you using?...Is it digital?...When weighing puppies this small the scale needs to be an accurate scale...I really wonder if your scale is correct because puppies that are not getting enough to eat cry!

I know she has milk. When I press on her teet milk comes out. I guess I will find out tomorrow at the vet. But I am supplementing them in the mean time.