Preface

Due to the presence of certain antibodies in breast milk, it can effectively protect newborn puppies from the danger of certain diseases. However, due to various factors, puppies may still have the possibility of contracting certain diseases. The impact of illness on puppies is undoubtedly enormous, as their immune system is not yet fully developed and there are certain difficulties in administering medication or using other medical methods on newborn puppies, which can easily lead to their decease.

1、 Septicemia in newborn dogs

Reason: Newborn puppies, especially premature puppies, have immune dysfunction and environmental factors during the perinatal period, which are related to the occurrence of sepsis. The central nervous system and various organ functions of newborn dogs are not fully developed, and their regulation and defense functions are poor; Weak immunity, various bacteria can easily invade the bloodstream through the skin, mucous membranes, navel, digestive tract, and respiratory tract, causing sepsis. In the uterus, bacteria can form sepsis by sucking contaminated amniotic fluid through the placenta or during childbirth.

Symptoms: There are no special symptoms in the early stage, mainly manifested as weakness, mental exhaustion, weak breastfeeding, vomiting, weight loss, fever, etc. Severe cases may present with elevated or below normal body temperature, bleeding tendency, skin rash, jaundice, abdominal distension, hepatosplenomegaly, shortness of breath, convulsions, and shock. Other parts of the body may also have metastatic lesions, such as pneumonia, deep abscesses, arthritis, osteomyelitis, meningitis, etc.

handle:

1. Strengthen nursing care to ensure that the puppy eats colostrum. If unable to eat, fluid replacement should be given.

2. Cultivate bacteria and select antibiotics with bactericidal effects based on their drug sensitivity test. It is recommended to administer them intravenously at the beginning to achieve effective blood concentration as soon as possible. Mild symptoms can also be treated with intramuscular injection.

3. Treatment of lesions: For patients with omphalitis, the navel should be cleaned and disinfected; Subcutaneous abscess patients require incision and drainage; Small pustules on the skin can be disinfected with 75% alcohol and then punctured with a sterile needle to allow the pus to flow out.

4. Maintain acid-base balance. Neonatal septicemia often has varying degrees of acid-base imbalance, mostly metabolic acidosis. Drip 5-10 milliliters of 5% sodium bicarbonate as intravenously as possible.

Always pay attention to the condition of the puppy to avoid being crushed by the mother dog

2、 Tetanus

Reason: Clostridium tetani is a Gram positive anaerobic bacterium. When puppies are born, incomplete disinfection of instruments, contaminated hands or dressings are used to treat the umbilical area, which is invaded by tetanus shuttle vaccine. The pathogenic bacteria produce a large amount of exotoxins in the body, which spread to the central nervous system along the nerves, lymph nodes or blood flow, bind with nerve tissue, damage the spinal cord and medulla oblongata, and cause increased stress in the motor nervous system and sustained spasms in skeletal muscles.

Symptoms: After being infected with Clostridium tetani, the disease usually occurs within 4-6 days. Infected dogs may feel uneasy, unable to open their mouths, have difficulty sucking milk, and subsequently have limb stiffness and closed teeth. In severe cases, they may experience systemic spasms, such as kyphosis, rapid heartbeat, and increased excitability to external stimuli. Shallow and rapid breathing can cause spasms in the throat and respiratory muscles, and even suffocation and respiratory pauses.

handle:

1. Place it in a quiet environment. If sucking is difficult, artificial breastfeeding can be used.

2. Umbilical treatment: Effective anti-corrosion and disinfection treatment should be carried out on the navel to remove pus and necrotic tissue. Then, 0.1% potassium permanganate solution or 3% hydrogen peroxide or 5% iodine tincture should be used to disinfect the surface to inactivate Clostridium tetani in the tissue.

Puppies have a weak constitution, so it is important to pay more attention to their health issues. Do a good job in environmental hygiene, be careful and cautious in many operations, observe the feeding situation of the puppies, and be careful not to let the mother dog press on the puppies to avoid suffocation.