What to do if my 3-day-old puppy won't eat, move, and keeps gagging?

I'm so sorry to hear about your pup. First step is to warm him up. A Heating pad set on low with the cloth cover on will work. Other types of warm packs are ok too as long as there is a towel/cloth between the heat source and the pup. Keep heating until a rectal temp of 99 is achieved. Meanwhile, rub a small amount of white karo syrup or honey on his gums to help with low blood sugar. Between these two things he will hopefully perk up within 10-20 minutes enough to take the bottle/teat. Then feed as often as he cries. DO NOT try to syringe or force food until you are sure he is swallowing well as this can cause pneumonia if he accidentally inhales a little. Side note: I know it's silly, but be sure that you have poked a hole in the nipple of the bottle (many come with no opening which is weird). Sometimes, despite these efforts, a puppy will not respond and you will need to see the emergency vet for IV bloodsugar and fluids, etc. Even then, we sometimes cannot save them and they do pass. Many times these are the runts of the liver or we suspect there is something else going on (born with a congenital organ problem). Hope this helps and best of luck to you and the baby!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your puppy. I recommend placing some karo or maple syrup on her gums. Puppies can experience low blood sugar which will cause weakness. Then I recommend seeking emergency veterinary care right away. Her symptoms are worrisome and it is important to determine the cause so she can be treated. I hope this information helps.

Hi, so sorry to hear that the puppy is not doing well. If the puppy is cold to the touch try to warm him or her with a blanket and make sure the airway is clear by gently opening the mouth. In some cases, we have to use a bulb syringe to remove saliva or secretions from the airway. Then attempt to get the puppy to nurse. If the puppy fails to show interest in nursing you should purchase a baby bottle and formula (Esbilac) and attempt to feed every 2 hours using. Also, stimulate the puppy to urinate and defecate by gently wiping the anus with a warm wet washcloth. If the puppy fails to show signs of improvement contact your veterinarian.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on your description, I would recommend having the puppy examined by a veterinarian. He may have a respiratory infection that requires an oral antibiotic for treatment. The sooner you get him seen and treated the better so that the infection has less of a chance to spread through the rest of the litter. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help!

I would be concerned that there is a functional issue such as a cleft palate or other problem that is preventing him from being able to suckle, or that may be causing him discomfort. If he is losing weight, unable to suckle and has the symptoms of pneumonia, then it is best to seek out veterinary care immediately as dehydration and lack of nutrition can quickly kill a puppy. Once he has been checked out by a vet, you can return to trying to bottle feed him. Keeping him on his belly may help with aspiration if he has a hard time, however your vet can recommend additional options depending on their exam. Most puppy formulations will also have feeding instructions on the can so you know how much to give and how often (usually every few hours until they are older, and then decreasing as they transition to food around 4-6 weeks of age.)

Hello, sorry to hear about Bug. It is difficult to tell what could be going on from your description but likely associated causes could include infections with viral diseases such as parvo, congenital abnormalities such as an abnormal heart or a liver shunt, problems with his bone marrow, or even a low blood sugar. This could require further evaluation by your veterinarian. In the interim, a simple thing to try now is to rub Karo Syrup on his gums to treat for low blood sugar. If this helps, then you should feed Bug more often. If it makes no change, then he should be evaluated immediately. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that your puppy is not eating well and seems ill. Puppies need to feed approximately ever 2 hours when they are first born; if they don't, they can become dehydrated and also get dangerously low blood sugar levels. If the puppy is not feeding well and seems to not be thriving, I recommend bringing the puppy to your local veterinarian as soon as you can. Puppies can rapidly decompensate and even pass on their own when they aren't thriving. Bottle feeding is not the safest option for feeding puppies, as they can accidentally aspirate the milk into their lungs and develop fatal pneumonia. The safest way to feed newborn puppies is tube feeding, where you pass a feeding tube down into their stomach and directly deliver the food. This should be demonstrated by a veterinarian so you can do it safely. I hope this is helpful!