My puppy has severe birth defects. Is it safe to return to its mother?

Hello, & thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I am so sorry, but unless this puppy is seen by a veterinarian, it will die. Even if the intestines are placed back in the abdominal cavity, & the defect repaired, it does not have a great chance for survival, but only time will tell. I hope your mom can have the puppy seen very soon.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am so sorry!! It is very hard when puppies are this young. The most common cause of illness and death in puppies are infections and congenital issues. Common infections that can affect the respiratory system and or the neurologic system are: Herpes, distemper, bordatella, influenza. Sadly I recommend doing special testing on the next puppy that dies to find out the cause. I would request PCR swabs to send off for a respiratory panel and biopsy any abnormal tissues on autopsy. Sometime we can not save them when we do not know what the disease is. If you can not get to the Vet in town go to a specialist or local Veterinary school. It is important to know what is going on. I hope this helps and I am very sorry this is happening. I suggest that the 3 currently ill puppies be seen at a more specialized hospital. I wish you the best!

Hi and thanks for your request. Prognosis for these cases is unfortunately poor. If elected, treatment of cleft palate depends largely on the size and location of the defect, and the degree to which the affected puppy is currently affected. hat even after successful surgical correction, long-term complications as a result of the cleft palate defect are possible, even likely (like upper rspiratory tract infections). At the same time other concurrent malformations can occur and may affect the Daxy your are taking care of.

Hello, & thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This is most certainly a congenital problem, essentially a birth defect. Whether there are any treatments depends on how severe the problem is, does it involve all the long bones in the legs, it this mainly a problem with joint & tendon laxity, or are certain structures underdeveloped or missing all together. X-rays are imperative. Depending on what is seen, & how much time & money you wish to spend on this poor little guy would determine a treatment plan. Surgery may be an option, but leg braces & splints may be appropriate, too. In the short term, he will probably do fine, but with time & age, he may be very prone to developing abrasions & pressure sores, & most likely arthritis. If you decide to adopt this sweet guy, go in with the anticipation of higher than normal care costs, & unexpected problems that can arise. A special needs pet needs a very special owner. Thank you for considering adoption. Take care.

I would not recommend purchasing such a puppy prior to repair and full recovery. I would be concerned not only about surgical repair and recovery but where one external birth defect is present, additional internal defects are often detected as a pup matures also

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Since Ellie had siblings I do not think she will be negatively affected at all. It is singletons (only puppy in litter) that tend to have behavioral and social issues. Ideally all newborns should have colostrum the first milk produced for 24 hours after birth. This milk is rich in antibodies. Many orphaned animals do fine with out any medical issues being bottle raised. I wish you the best!

Hello. Without x-rays it is impossible to know what is actually going on in the paw. It is difficult to say if this will bother her more as she matures, but you really do not have too many options. Perhaps a surgery to fuse & stabilize the paw may be helpful, but will not eliminate all pain & discomfort & you certainly would not amputate the leg unless she began to self-mutilate the paw. So, unless you can have the paw x-rayed, I would take a wait & see how she does. If she over does it when you play with her, then make sure she rests the leg. Otherwise, I would try to avoid pain relieves in such a young dog. Perhaps, once her bones are finished growing & maturing, she may actually do quite well. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.