Ann.without.an.e Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 (edited) We are babysitting a 5 week old puppy for ten days. He has very watery diarrhea. I gave him pumpkin with probiotic and that seems to have helped some? Any other thoughts? Thanks :) ETA: I know that a puppy isn't supposed to be adopted until 8 weeks. This is a rescue puppy that was surrendered at 3 weeks to a friend who is a foster mommy for the rescue. The mom had an unusually large litter and this little guy was the runt. He never had a chance to eat and he wasn't thriving. Edited July 24, 2016 by Attolia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 Was he de-wormed right before you got him? That sounds like typical 5-week-old puppy diarrhea after de-wormimg. If so, I'm mot sure if there's anything you can (or should?) do about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 ????a 5 week old puppy should not be away from its mom yet. This could also be parvo which is deadly. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 ???? a 5 week old puppy should not be away from its mom yet. This could also be parvo which is deadly. I was wondering about that too. I'm not a dog expert, but isn't 6 weeks the minimum weaning age? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 I will say, however, that we got our puppy from the shelter. They claimed she was 2 months old, but there was NO WAY she was that old. I personally think she was pre-weaning age, but we got her anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 I agree with Hornblower all the way. Puppies should go home at 8 weeks. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 They may be weaned by 6 weeks but they shouldn't be away from mom yet. Critical learning is still happening. Reputable breeders do not let them go until 8 weeks and some wait longer. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 Way too young to be away from mom. I'd get him to a vet ASAP. Parvo is a worry, but even a normal GI upset can cause a puppy that young to dehydrate very quickly. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 ???? a 5 week old puppy should not be away from its mom yet. This could also be parvo which is deadly. Its illegal in my state to sell a dog younger than 8 weeks. You can give it away for free before then, or adopt, but not buy. NO dog should be taken from the mother before 6 weeks MINIMUM, and really, 7 to 8 weeks is better. 5 weeks is way way way too young. And fragile. Parvo is a definite possibility, as the dog is too young to have been vaccinated, and was obviously separated from mom early so may not have the proper maternal antibodies. This dog needs a vet, ASAP. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 What kind of puppy is it? Smaller breeds can get critical even faster than normal. A small breed 5 week old puppy with diarrhea is an emergency for sure. Larger breed, I might wait until tomorrow. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ann.without.an.e Posted July 24, 2016 Author Share Posted July 24, 2016 ???? a 5 week old puppy should not be away from its mom yet. This could also be parvo which is deadly. The mama had a huge litter, he was the runt, and he wasn't thriving. We are actually watching him for a foster mom for the rescue that he was surrendered to. He was surrendered at 3 weeks and she bottle fed him at first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ann.without.an.e Posted July 24, 2016 Author Share Posted July 24, 2016 What kind of puppy is it? Smaller breeds can get critical even faster than normal. A small breed 5 week old puppy with diarrhea is an emergency for sure. Larger breed, I might wait until tomorrow. He's a mutt. We think he may have some pit or boxer in him. Not sure? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ann.without.an.e Posted July 24, 2016 Author Share Posted July 24, 2016 I don't think it is parvo because his appetite is HUGE - he seems super hungry all the time. They sent him with the cheap, corn based dog food (Pedigree?). I did switch him today to fresh chicken and veggie food and pumpkin. He seems to be doing a lot better tonight. His poop looks like pumpkin :ack2: Seriously, I will never eat pumpkin again, haha. But last night and this morning it was completely watery so this is progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 Ok, gotcha. So, no need to be angry at a breeder somewhere, lol. Bottle fed means his digestive system may be not up to par, the probiotics should help. honestly, some plain chicken, rice, pumpkin, and probiotics would be easiest on his tummy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 Puppy could also be infected with intestinal parasites coccidia and/or giardia. http://frontiervet.com/2012/07/30/coccidia-and-giardia-the-non-worm-parasites/ This possibility is another reason to take the puppy to the vet. We recently had thirteen 8-week old puppies in rescue, and over half of them were infected. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 Mine is a small breed (rescue) and was probably younger than the 8 weeks they "estimated". The day after we brought him home, he had diarrhea, and we went straight to the emergency vet. After a round of de-worming and IV fluids, he was much better. I would not flirt with dehydration in any puppy, let alone one that's that young AND a runt. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 Agreeing with Hornblower, and so glad you changed his diet to a healthier one. ROUGH COLLIE!!!! Hi!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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