At the vets instructions we are mixing a bit of the nutrical TO his food. Is this not safe?

At this point I am scared to death of a step in the wrong direction with him. So I want to do everything RIGHT.

He is still doing awesome today, eating well, playing well. EVERYTHING :) not going to celebrate just yet though.

I'm not sure why the vet would recommend doing this. Does your vet specialize in small breed dogs? If not, I think I would try to find one that did. Vets need such a vast array of knowledge to treat so many various animals that sometimes it's best to find one that specializes. Lot's of people think if the letters "nutri" is in the label it means "healthy" nutri actually means "calories." So that's why any sugar of fat substance can be called "Nutri" or even nutritious.

The advising vet from the University of Missouri does specialize in small animals and does not like how little weight Thor has gained so maybe that is why he has me doing it. Thor was 1 pound when I got him and has only gained one pound since then. He is now at 2 pounds. This may be why they want him on it like that.

So glad Thor has improved - I'm impressed with his use of the pad! He is just a darling boy & I'm glad he is being a true puppy. As you are trying to figure out food & what is going on, I would strongly recommend talking with a pet nutritionist - I know it was suggested earlier to consult with Susan Davis -- I know many are so impressed with her assistance and she will even do a joint phone consult with you & the vet.

Hi, my Jemma is 4.5 months. Two scheduled feedings. 6 or 7 am. 1/4 cup.
4-5 pm 1/4 cup and she does fine. She now leaves no food behind so it is time for me to increase it a bit. She sleeps in bed with me and holds it for 8 hours without needing to go. This is something I think only you can decide. However if he is having many movements, then I might think he may need that food because he is eliminating so much. But it's your call. :o)

Omg>>
 

1st I would try today if you have any is to put karo syrup in him water. And get him to a very good vet. I had a puppy that did that and in 2 days he was very sick, put him in the vet for almost a week (big vet bill) and we still lost him. They never could find what was wrong. All the test would come back ok. Get your vet check for coccidiosis, this I know is a diarrhea disease, but puppies can get it when they are overstressed. That was the once test that showed up anything, and he never had diarrhea untill he got very sick. Could have been the pain when he was going potty. I bought this puppy from a very good clean breeder and my vet knows her very well, so this disease can start showing up when other things are going on. Good luck, but please get it checked again.

This seems like a reasonable explaination to me, and I would do what the vet asked, I'm the type that always wants to know why.

I think as long as he's eating his food in addition to the Nutrical...it's ok. If you were giving him the Nutrical and he wasn't eating it would be a problem. He is still very tiny, he needs all the nutrition he can get...so he can grow. Do just as your vet has advised...he does seem to be improving, and in the end, that's what's most important. Do you have an appointment to see the GI specialist yet?

No we don't have that appointment or consult worked out yet. The vet is away for the weekend at boyscout camp (he is a leader). He is going to be back in his office on Monday and Tuesday and we will go from there.

We are having issues now with his poop being too soft. It is making him a very messy puppy. It isn't runny, but not formed either. does that make sense?

At least he isn't hollering :) It is so nice to see him playing and hyper now. We had company tonight and she saw Thor and was like "wow he is a PUPPY now".

He is certainly living up to his name now :)

Wow, this thread and that video had my in tears. I'm sooo glad Thor is doing better and being the puppy that he should be. And you are an awesome mommy. I can tell by your posts and everything you have done to get him help that you love that little boy very much. I wish all dogs could have such loving mommies.:)

Did the vet check him for an anal fissure? If he had that it does take awhile to heal, and it hurts and burns like the dickens when they try to Poo. He could have had that because he was so constipated at first.

Sudden and severe pain in or around the anus is the main symptom of an anal fissure. The pain often occurs during or shortly after a bowel movement, but may also occur at other times. This pain can be severe - and is often described as like passing razor blades. As a result, a fissure sufferer is likely to dread opening their bowels.

Hi again.

The crying has returned but NOT AS BAD.

They DID mention anal fissures (sp) They are going to be doing the test for that as soon as we can and then IF that is what it is they can fix it during his neutering and it will be less traumatic for him.

He is still acting great, still eating well, drinking well, and still puppy-like. The crying is not half as bad as before and he "voids" a lot quicker now, like he isn't as afraid anymore.


We went and got some Wellness Puppy today and some Wellness treats and are starting the gradual switch to that. We will still give him the Iams canned food but only like a tablespoon each time he gets the Nutri-Cal.

I should be hearing from the vet by Wednesday and we will be able to decide the next step.

I do know that he has gained about 5 ounces since that vet visit. So things are looking up.

We went to his breeders house today (like I said she is a family member) and she said he seems to be about like his dad. His dad was also a very small puppy and didn't gain much weight until about 6 months and then shot up to 3-4 pounds very quickly. She checked him over and said that he looked great to her size-wise.

I will just keep mommying him :) and doing the best I can. He is our little fighter and he won't have to fight alone.

I can think of exactly why her vet said to do this...first of all Nutracal has cod liver oil which is Omega fatty acids, these are broke down into a form or proteins, it has several vitamens and minerals and calories which comes from the oils in it...adding this to the food will raise this babies blood glucose higher and give him more "stores" of fats to later break down and use for energy and glucose..since the food has more protein than the Nutracal..this will level the glucose and sustain it for longer. All in all hpefully allow the baby to put on some fat and prevent him from running out of stored energy...thats a nutrition fact that doesn't take a specialist to figure out...The oils Thor is getting in this recipe will do the above and help his stools stay lubricated...Look up the ingredients in Nutracal and the nutritional information...

puppy
 

butorphanol is a very strong pain med that can make them sedated and out of it i wouldnt use very much of that at all and has anyone tried mineral oil and warm water enimas for this poor babys constipation? i hope hes better!

Well, I am thrilled to hear that Thor has put on a few ounces, he's growing up. I think from his impaction early on...he has some type of anal injury, such as a fissure...or possibly scar tissue which has narrowed his rectum and/or colon. I do think this can be fixed, but he has to get bigger first. We won't know what it is until he sees the specialist. So keep doing what you're doing...give him a great big kiss from Winston and I...we hope and pray that Thor gets well quick.