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3 day old puppy, wheezing

Howdy

We have just had a litter of Minuture Daschunds. There are four in the litter and one was a runt. (only 1.8 oz.) I have been feeding him formula and he has been doing great and is up to three ounces!! I noticed this afternoon that he was wheezing, It comes and goes, and almost sounds like when a baby needs suctioning. It this just maybe he's got some puppy formula in his nose? I can't think of anyhthing else. The top of his mouth looks good, My aunt told me to check to make sure the roof of his mouth was completly formed before I started feeding him.

•   Allison Williams, DVM says:

  January 05th, 2009 at 11:00 PM

  He may have aspirated a small amount of formula.  Make sure that when you feed him you do not flip him on his back and cradle him like you would a human.  This will cause milk to run down his trachea and cause aspiration pneumonia.  Feed him sternally - which means imagine the way a puppy lays on his stomach and feeds on his mother naturally.  Try to mimic that position.  If the nipple hole is too big, they may be drinking too fast (milk comes up his nose) and they run the risk of aspirating.

  Try patting him gently on the back while holding him with his nose pointing down (work with gravity).  This may help to expel whatever may be causing the wheezing. 

  Make sure his gums stay nice and pink and that his breathing isn't labored.  If any of these happen, bring him to a vet immediately.

  Please let me know if I was able to help you.  - Allison Williams, DVM

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•   Allison Williams, DVM says:

  January 05th, 2009 at 11:31 PM

  Please roll your cursor over the "Current Rating" stars and click to rate how helpful I was to you.  1 being "not helpful" and 10 being "very helpful"

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