Fading puppy syndrome refers to newborn puppies who appear healthy and normal at birth, but usually fail to make it past the first two weeks of their lives. The early stages of a puppy’s life are very crucial as they are most vulnerable. Newborn puppies are easily prone to illnesses since their immune systems are still too weak and are incomplete to function at their full potential. Several remedies can be used to treat sickly dogs suffering from fading puppy syndrome, one of which is liver water. This article will show you how to make liver water for puppies.
How to Make Liver Water for Puppies?
Liver water can be a crucial supplement to nurse a puppy back to good health. Below are the instructions on how to make liver water for puppies.
- Take a large piece of beef liver and add a bit of water. (Note: how much water you add might vary depending on how much liver you use)
- Boil your liver in a pot for 5 minutes to get rid of the blood.
- Once the blood is gone, use a strain to drain the liquid.
- Add the liquid into a dropper. Make sure you use only four drops per dropper.
- Keep the remaining water and store it in the freezer for later use.
- I recommend that you use this remedy every 2 hours for 12 hours. The liver water will help the puppies absorb the different nutrients they were unable to attain from their mothers. This will slowly ease them back to good health.
- Watch them closely to see the effects of the liver water on their actions, and once they show signs that they’re doing okay, you may start to give them their drops every 4 hours instead of 2.
Alternatives to liver water for puppies
A great alternative to liver water is Halo Chicken Liver dog food. Similar to liver water, it has a lot of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids that are great for a growing puppy. Your pup will certainly love the taste. You can buy it here from amazon for under $20.
What is liver water?
Liver water is known to provide many benefits in helping fading puppies. The liver itself is incredibly rich in nutrients, such as vitamin A, iron, zinc, B vitamins, essential fatty acids, and many more. Moreover, each of these nutrients provides a function that can help nurse our puppy’s back to good health.
The essential fatty acids improve the condition of your puppy’s skin and coat, as well as boost their immune system to become fully functional. It is also a good source of protein which increases a puppy’s energy and provides them with a properly balanced diet.
Newborn pups rely heavily on passive immunity to gain suitable antibodies to help them fight against diseases. However, sometimes their mothers may not have had a proper diet while pregnant, so she lacks the essential nutrients to care for them. Sometimes, mothers can also pass worms to their puppies.
Puppies depend on the ‘mother’s milk’ called colostrum to provide them with these necessities to survive. In some cases, where the mother cannot provide the proper colostrum, liver water becomes the perfect alternative to this problem.
Using liver water is an easy and convenient method for dog owners to maintain their puppy’s health. It can enable them to make it past the crucial stages of infancy. Newborn pups do not have strong teeth to eat the liver meat on their own, hence why liver water may be more beneficial to them. The nutrients absorbed by the water can be easily transmitted to a sickly pup through droppers and makes it more suitable for them to take in. It also keeps them well hydrated.
Related: Raw Diet for Dogs with Kidney Disease
When should you give a puppy liver water?
Pet owners should use this remedy when their puppies show any signs of weakness or restlessness. Symptoms that indicate that your puppy is fading include weight loss, vocal loss, irritation, or continuous crying. This stage in a puppy’s life is crucial to their development as adults, so follow their behaviors and actions closely.
Liver water has worked wonders for dog owners and breeders whose puppies have suffered from the fading puppy syndrome. The nutrients provided by the liver have greatly assisted in nursing many puppies back to health and ensuring they grow into healthy dogs.
Apart from the lack of proper nutrients in the colostrum, there are various reasons why fading puppy syndrome occurs. The negative implications during birth may also cause the young pup trauma. Their lack of a complete and healthy immune system makes it easier for them to contract infections and bacteria, such as E.coli and herpesvirus, etc. These bacterias are highly contagious and can infect other newborns around the sickly puppy. Another thing worth mentioning is the factor of temperatures; chilling commonly occurs in newborn puppies and can negatively affect their body systems.
Alternatives to liver water
Other ways to help a fading puppy, besides the liver water, are to take care of their hygiene and make sure they are receiving enough warmth, fluids, and proper nutrients. It is vital to provide puppies with their personal space and provide a heating pad to help them when they are experiencing chills when their bodies are at a low temperature.
By preventing the chilling problem, their immune system is kept stable, which allows them to eat and drink properly. During this time, it is essential to consult with your local veterinarian to provide the proper medication needed for your fading puppy. If you puppy has a bacterial infection, your vet might prescribe penicillin for your puppy.
Maintaining a close watch on your newly born pet and following all these steps will ensure a healthy future for them.
