Trouble with litter

[pung-yo]

My friend just phoned to tell me she had a new litter of german shepherd pups, all nice and healthy, easy birth. So tonight she calls to tell me she has one of the littlest ones that doesn't stay by the mom, doesn't feed much, so she's been bottle feeding him. Her opinion as a breeder of long standing is that she should let nature take it's course and if the pup doesn't make it, it wasn't meant to be. I, of course don't totally agree, but there seems to be no reason for the pup to act this way. My friend lives a day from here, so I can't just run over and see or help. I've contacted several vets that say they can't figure it out. Some say to let nature take it's course, other's say that she should do everything to help it. Does anyone here have any ideas of what the problem could be? It's not fading puppy syndrome, no abnormalities were found by her vet either. any hint would be appreciated.

[GSDNewbie]

some are weak and just dont thrive it may have trouble that is not detectable yet sometimes they can be hand reared

[frankie]

Let us hope with a lot of TLC and hand rearing the pup makes it.

[GermanShepherds]

Buddy was like that. We almost lost him. He was very weak and couldnt get anough milk. With lots of praying and TLC he is now a Great Looking GSD and one of the Best Dogs we have had so far.

[pung-yo]

Thanks guys, all the prayers in the world couldn't save her...she died this a.m. around 6:00. What a real bummer, she had sent me pics of the first day and I felt like they were mine. I feel so bad for my friend that I can't be with her. She is devastated, even breeders come unglued wih something like this. Thanks for the hints though ...appreciated.

[GermanShepherds]

Originally Posted by pung-yo

Thanks guys, all the prayers in the world couldn't save her...she died this a.m. around 6:00. What a real bummer, she had sent me pics of the first day and I felt like they were mine. I feel so bad for my friend that I can't be with her. She is devastated, even breeders come unglued wih something like this. Thanks for the hints though ...appreciated.

Did she try to save it or did she just let "nature" take it's course?

[SalemsMom]

Sometimes there is a hidden cause, that you just don't know about, and they die no matter what you try to do for them, we had several like this, and for a few days they did good, but then died, we also had one that we did save, and the little guy,at four weeks, couldn't hardly walk, and we still had to help him eat, but soon was doing it on his own, we found out that he was mentally disfunctional, and soon after he was playing with the rest of the pups, and his mother killed him. She never acted aggressive, toward him, so we was shocked that she did this.

[barnjess]

Thats sad I agree with helping them but there is only so much you can do and if it was meant to be then they will survive, if not at least you know you did everything you could

[pung-yo]

German sheperds.....no, she didn't let nature take it's course, she was bottle feeding and even that was too much for the pup, she was always on her back flailing around until she was so weak she just stopped breathing. I checked all my books and it would seem it had to be neurological, but who knows. Maybe it was better if it was defective in some way.