How to Care for a Fading Puppy

Nothing is more heartbreaking than a sick puppy. Unlike an older child, a puppy can't tell you where or how it hurts or even whether or not your attempts to make him feel better are doing any good.

However, as with a sick child, there are some things you can do besides sit and worry. The following tips should help you care for a sick and fading puppy, and give you some hints to determine when it's time to admit you've done all you can do.

Things You'll Need

• blankets
• cleaning supplies
• puppy formula
• appetite enhancing vitamin gel, i.e. NutriCal
• drinking water
• rice
• ground beef or turkey

Instructions

1. Keep her warm. Make sure the puppy has a warm, soft, draft-free place to rest. Line the box, crate or the dog bed with newspapers, then cover with old blankets, towels or anything machine-washable.

2. Have cleaning supplies on hand. Make sure you have lots of paper towel, a bucket, a mop, and floor-cleaning materials available.

3. Encourage your puppy to eat. You can get a tube of NutriCal from your vet or a similar product from a pet supply store. You're looking for stuff that is full of vitamins and stimulates appetite. Don't force your puppy to eat more than he wants, but let him lick what he can from the end of the tube.

4. Make him a bland meal. If your puppy shows interest in eating, cook up some plain rice and plain ground beef or turkey and mix them together. Feed him a small quantity and see if he can keep it down. If so, offer him a little more.

5. Know when to call the vet. If your puppy hasn't eaten--or kept anything down- for 24 hours, it's time to call the vet.

Tips & Warnings

• For your own sanity, place your puppy's resting box or crate in an easy to clean place like the bathroom or laundry room, anyplace with a linoleum or tile floor; not in a carpeted area. If your puppy is very young, have a supply of puppy formula (available at any pet supply store) on hand.