Puppy - Fading Syndrome

What is fading puppy syndrome?

This describes a condition in which puppies are apparently normal at birth but fail to grow and die up to fourteen days later.  This occurs despite the fact that the bitch appears to be healthy, to have a plentiful supply of milk and is mothering them satisfactorily.

Pre-weaning losses in dogs can be up to a third.  This includes stillborn puppies.  Fifty percent of losses can be in the first seven days of life.

Why do puppies fade in this way?

Puppies are very immature when they are born, e.g. neither sight nor hearing is developed. They cannot regulate their own body temperature and have very poor mechanisms to regulate both fluid and energy balance.  They also have no disease resistance (e.g. immunologically incompetent) and this lasts for several weeks after birth.  For resistance to disease they rely solely on the immunity conferred on them from the bitch.

How does this work?

This so-called passive or maternal immunity is conferred on to the puppy initially in the womb by the bitch, via the bloodstream but the majority is acquired from the colostrum (foremilk) during early suckling.

What signs does a fading puppy show?

Due to their immaturity neonatal puppies have only a very limited number of ways in which they can respond to illness.  These are at best vague.  Puppies likely to 'fade' usually:

• have a low birth weight or a failure to gain weight at the same rate as their litter mates
• have decreased activity or total inactivity
• have inability or reluctance to suckle
• have a tendency to remain separate from the dam and the rest of the litter
• vocalise with a strange, high pitched noise, often likened to the cry of a seagull 'seagulling'
• have loss of muscle tone
• are found dead

What are the causes?

There are many possible causes:

• lack of mothering
• lack of milk
• defects present from birth (congenital defects).  Some of these may not be immediately apparent, e.g. heart abnormalities
• low birth weight, i.e. weakness
• infectious causes

Some of these causes are interrelated, e.g. a lack of mothering instinct in the bitch coupled with poor environmental hygiene can often result in neonatal septicaemia and death in a very short time.

Lack of passive immunity

The puppy may lack passive immunity due to lack of essential colostrum.  In these cases the puppy is more vulnerable.

Common canine bacteria can result in overwhelming septicaemia and death in a very short time in a neonatal puppy.  Due to the limited means of response there are usually few clinical signs observed.

Virus infections

Viruses can play a part.  Canine adenovirus, (canine hepatitis), canine distemper virus and canine parvovirus were all responsible for loss of neonates before their widespread control by vaccination.

Today Canine herpes virus (CHV) is an important virus involved with fading puppy syndrome.  Adult dogs may be carriers but show no signs.  A bitch may acquire infection from the sire (dog) at the time of mating or be previously infected and subsequently pass the virus to the unborn litter, some or all of which may fade subsequent to birth.  Today a licensed vaccine, Eurican Herpes 205, is available.  One injection is given at the time of oestrus (season) or up to 7-10 days after the presumed date of mating, and a second injection 1-2 weeks before whelping.  Unfortunately this does not give the bitch protection in respect of future litters and the vaccination has to be repeated at each mating.  It has proved extremely useful in those cases where canine herpes virus is known to be responsible for the fading puppy syndrome.

What can I do if I think I have a problem with fading puppies?

• It is important to ensure the puppy receives adequate fluid and warmth.  Litters should never be allowed to become chilled and an environmental temperature of approximately 39-40°C (103-104.5°F) should be maintained.
• If the bitch is not licking and cleaning the puppies ensure you do this with dampened tissues/cotton wool to stimulate urination and defaecation and also to prevent low humidity.
• If the cause is due to bacterial septicaemia, antibiotics may be of help but equally important are scrupulous hygiene and good management procedures.  We will be happy to discuss these with you.
• It is also important that you check the bitch, particularly for any discharges and possible mastitis, metritis, etc.

If you are at all worried, do not hesitate to consult us.  Ensure that any puppies that die are preserved in a chilled state and inform us as soon as possible.  Laboratory examination is often essential if the problem is to be overcome.