[SOLVED ] Q. 4 week old puppy no mom in picture is constipated and pear shaped in belly area need help

Experienced and professional animal trainer provide their insights in answering this question :

A. You can try to make a gentle massage of the belly and anus area with warm damp cloth. See a vet as soon as possible because it can be life threatening for your pet

How to Identify Common Pet Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced pet care professionals :

Poor diet: A diet that`s too low in moisture or has inadequate fiber can lead to hard, dry stools, which can be hard to pass. Stress: Leaving their mother and moving to a new environment can be a lot for a puppy. They might feel too stressed to eat, drink water, or poop, which can snowball into constipation.

You can give your orphans complete nutrition by buying a commercial puppy milk replacer (such as Esbilac), which can be purchased through your veterinarian or a pet supply store. Commercial milk replacers have feeding directions on the label and should be given at the puppy`s body temperature (about 100 degrees).

The signs of constipation are reluctance to drink (or eat), moaning and groaning, and a very hard and enlarged abdomen. Most constipated puppies will have bouts of straining around a rigid abdomen. Give them plenty of stimulation to the abdomen.

Puppies usually poop about 30 minutes after eating until their 4th month of life. It is similar to what happens with human babies. Pooping many times a day is a physiological need marked by a digestive system that is not yet fully developed.

Increasing your dog`s water intake can help to soften their stools and make it easier for them to pass. Dehydration can worsen constipation, so it`s important to make sure your dog is getting enough fluids.

As they mature, they learn to control their bowels, both instinctively and with training cues, and they`ll poop less often. Here`s a basic guide for how often puppies will need to poop by age. A puppy between the ages of 2 and 10 weeks will generally poop straight after feeding.

Poop Eating Is Normal for Dogs and Puppies

Poop eating, however, is a normal, natural canine behavior at some life stages. Mother dogs will lick their puppies to urge them to eliminate, and clean up their poop by eating it, for about the first three weeks after birth.

Puppies should not leave their mom and littermates before eight weeks of age. The mother dog has so much to teach the new puppy; lessons that will affect him all his life, and his littermates teach important lessons as well. If the mother dog has passed away, the littermates need to remain together.

Puppy milk replacer should be the sole source of nutrition until 3-4 weeks of age at which time the weaning process may begin. The transition from formula to solid food is a gradual process, so be patient. Use a high-quality food formulated to support growth and reproduction.

Stools should be formed, light brown with a yellow–seedy appearance. Urine color should be assessed on a cotton ball at least once daily to monitor for adequate nursing and dehydration.

Your dog`s poop is hard and pebble-like.

Small, rock-like stool, or no stool at all, are signs that your dog is constipated. It could be related to your dog`s food – like eating too much insoluble fiber, not drinking enough water or low-quality food.

Puppies under three weeks are going to need your help to go to the bathroom. This is how you do it. Newborn pups don`t have the control to pee or poop on their own. Without their mom around, they`ll need your help.

Milk. Because many dogs are lactose intolerant, some people claim that milk is a good at-home treatment for dog constipation by acting as laxative. However, milk can cause diarrhoea and is not advisable, since it can cause further health problems in itself.

The first at-home remedy for dog constipation is to encourage canine water consumption. Some dogs drink more if there are ice cubes in their water while others will drink a whole bowl of water if a couple of drops of low-salt chicken broth are added. Give your dog high fiber foods.

If you`re wondering whether human foods, like milk, would help your dog`s constipation, Dr. Bullen doesn`t recommend going the dairy route. “Milk may help with passing the stool, but that`s because some dogs` lactose intolerances result in diarrhea and that, in turn ,can lead to dehydration,” Dr. Bullen says.

Newborn puppies need to eat every 2 to 3 hours, but as long as they get four to five full-sized meals in the course of the day, nighttime feedings are generally not necessary. A 2 to 4-week-old puppy feeding schedule should consist of feedings every 6 to 8 hours.

A small amount of olive oil added to your dog`s food can help lubricate their digestive system, making it easier for your dog to pass stool – like a DIY stool softener! Only use a small amount of olive oil, however. Using too much oil or giving it too frequently can lead to diarrhea in your pup.

When your dog isn`t pooping as much as they usually do, or at all, they are probably constipated. If they do poop, the stool will be small, hard, and dry, and it will be painful as your dog struggles to pass it.

Typically, the fiber in the banana should help your dog have healthier bowel movements. However, too much fiber could cause constipation in dogs. Only give your dog bananas occasionally in small portions as a treat.

Newborn whelps cry when they have trouble passing stool. Mothers usually lick their newborn`s bottoms to stimulate them to eliminate. However, if the puppy is orphaned, then it is possible that they are struggling to excrete.

AFTER MEALS

Most puppies eat three to four meals a day while they`re growing and they`ll have to pee and poop after each meal. For younger dogs, wait about 20 minutes after a meal to take him outside to potty.

As they are being weaned and starting to eat solid food, they will need a fresh supply of water. Generally, young puppies need about one-half cup of water every two hours. You`ll want to monitor your puppy to make sure he`s drinking enough . . . and not too much.

Puppies will lose far more body heat per kilogram of body weight than an adult dog. Puppies rely on their mother for radiant heat to help maintain their body temperature. Orphaned puppies will require alternative methods of warmth such as incubators, heat lamps, heating pads or hot water bottles.

They should eat every two to three hours from the time you wake until you go to sleep. Thankfully, overnight feedings are usually not necessary if you stick to this schedule, and the frequency of feedings can be decreased gradually as the pup gets closer to four weeks of age.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Q. How do I get my dog to stop chewing on things? I kennel her when I leave for a few hours, but I can’t go to the mailbox without her eating something.

ANSWER : A. If she’s young, then this is just normal puppy behavior. Don’t worry about it. The thing about puppies is, they explore using their mouths. If your puppy grabs a coat hanger, or a slipper, you should roll up a newspaper, and smack yourself on the head with it for leaving those things out.. your puppy is going to explore things, that’s normal! It is 100% up to YOU to keep those things away from your puppy when your puppy is unsupervised… even for just a moment.

Remember to never scold your puppy for grabbing these things. They are just curious little cuties, and they don’t chew things up to bother us.. Dogs do not have intentional thought, so they aren’t ever doing anything ON PURPOSE to us.. The most important thing you can do when your puppy is chewing something you don’t want her to be chewing is TRADE her the inappropriate item with a toy of hers, so she understands “no honey, that isn’t what puppies chew on… THIS is what puppies chew on!” and then begin playing with her using her toy to show her that TOYS ARE FUN.. Way more fun than a boring ol’ coat hanger.

Another helpful thing you can do is have two bags of toys. In each bag is many different kinds of toys. Lots of chew toys, lots of soft squeaky toys, lots of rope-type toys, a bunch of balls.. All kinds of things! For one week you have bag#1’s toys out for your puppy to play with.. At the end of the one week, you collect those toys, and you bring out bag#2! The toys will be more interesting/feel like new to your puppy, which will in-turn, make her chew less inappropriate things. Her toys are too fun to care about that dumb Wii-mote that you left laying around.

Hope this helps!

Read Full Q/A … : Stop Dog Chewing – Put A Stop To Your Dog's Or Puppy's …

Q. How do I know if I am losing my cat. She is 8 and weighs about 20lbs. She is having issues breathing and I don’t have any money to take her to the vet

ANSWER : A. Your cat really should be seen by a vet. Her weight may be the only thing causing her breathing problems, but without an exam, there’s no way to know for sure.

If you are in financial difficulty, there are ways of still getting your pet treated by a veterinarian. Ask if they take Care Credit and apply online. This is a credit card specifically for medical, dental, and veterinary expenses.

Call a local animal shelter or college of veterinary medicine in your area and ask if they have a low- or no-cost veterinary care program.

GiveForward and Youcaring.com are crowd funding websites that help you raise money to help take care of your pets

Harleyâ€™s Hope Foundation is an organization that ensures low income pet parents and their companion or service animals remain together when issues arise.

Many breed rescues and groups have specials funds available for owners who need financial assistance, such as the Special Needs Dobermans, Labrador Lifeline, and Pitbull Rescue Central.

Banfield Pet Hospital has its own programs for owners that canâ€™t afford their petâ€™s care.

Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance (FVEAP) works with seniors, people with disabilities, people who

have lost their job, good Samaritans who rescue a cat or kitten who may need financial assistance to save a beloved companion.

The Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization that provides financial assistance to cat and kitten guardians who are unable to afford veterinary services to save their companions when life-threatening illness or injury strikes.

God’s Creatures Ministry helps pay for veterinarian bills for those who need help.

IMOM is dedicated to insure that no companion animal has to be euthanized simply because their caretaker

is financially challenged.

The Onyx & Breezy Foundation has many programs including helping people with medical bills. They are a good resource for information.

Brown Dog Foundation provides funding to families with a sick pet that would likely respond to treatment, but due to circumstances, there is not enough money immediately available to pay.

Some groups help with specific disease, such as Canine Cancer Awareness, The Magic Bullet Fund, Helping Harley Fund, and Muffin Diabetes Fund.

The Pet Fund and Redrover.org are great sources for help to care for your pet.

The Humane Society website has many links to other organizations that help with veterinary expenses.

Read Full Q/A … : Vetinfo

Q. Can you put your sick 16yr cat down with pills, cannot afford a veterinarian.

ANSWER : A. If you are in financial difficulty, there are ways of still getting your pet treated by a veterinarian. Ask if they take Care Credit and apply online. This is a credit card specifically for medical, dental, and veterinary expenses.