Four-Day old puppies with skin disease

[gerbit]

Our German Shepard gave birth to 13 puppies four days ago. One became so weak after a few days that even vet intervention could not help. That puppy and all of the rest have a skin infection that is currently located on their feet and nose. The skin on the bottom of their feet is sloughing off. The skin on their noses is peeling off. Some have small pustules on either side of their genitials. The vet is currently stumpted. These puppies will bring $300-400 each. More importantly, I wish them good health and no suffering.

I am currently bottle feeding them 2-3 teaspoons of formula every eight hours to help suppliment what little they can obtain from their mother Sally. This is her second litter ( 11 in the first). She is not the best of mothers but is trying.

Any information will be deeply appreciated.

[bernicesmama]

have you taken the pups to the vet? that would be my first step. they are very young to try home remedies from people on the internet, imo.

good luck, i hope they get well soon!

[Dax]

Please check out page 2 of this article. It describes the symptoms you are experiencing.

http://www.vetmedpub.com/vetmed/data...91/article.pdf

I'm surprised your vet can't identify it.

Good luck & welcome to ProDog. I hope these pups get better soon.

[GSDNewbie]

or is hereditary mange....or mange from poor litter conditions........ a vet should be able to scrape and identify the issue no problem if they have seen a vet............

[pung-yo]

Sounds like some kind of mange, but so hard to tell without seeing the pups. The mom would have had to be a carrier of some kind of mite. could be impetigo. Was the mom checked regular by a vet during pregnancy? By doing microscopic study the vet should be able to identify, I'm puzzled that he can't.

[BassetWonders]

To me it does sound like some form of mange, and your vet should know. If they have been to the vet and he doesn't know, then switch vets ASAP!

[gerbit]

Thank you all for some great information. I found a vet who determined that they have a bad bacterial infection likely passed on via mother or birth area conditions. They are to be brought in the house and allowed with mother every four hours. Meds are being given daily. hand feeding is also necessary. Mother cannot successfully feed the remaining 12.
Grateful to you all-Paul

[southern_girl09]

Do you have any pictures? I hope they all get better.

[gsdjordyn]

Is this the mommys first litter???
I hope they get better, good luck and post pics for us

[fehu1331]

Wow I feel for you on the handfeeding good luck with that. Don't take this the wrong way but if she's not making a good mommy it may be best to spay her. I'm sure she's a lovely dog, but having to handfeed a litter is very straining and like I said please don't take this as an attack its not whatever you do its your descision