Taking care of newborn puppies is an amazing experience – there are so many happy moments and feelings. However, it is also a responsible one. After all, there are so many things you should consider. For example, newborn puppy poops – what is normal and what is not?
Newborn puppy poop is green – what does it mean? Green poop in newborn puppies is considered a red flag and requires further examination. The green poop can stem from various reasons such as milk allergies, overeating, and intoxications caused by viral and parasitic agents. It is paramount to contact your trusted vet if you have a newborn puppy that poops green.
In this article, we will talk about newborn puppies pooping green. We will cover the most common reasons and discuss why pooping issues are a life-threatening situation in puppies. We will also give tips on what to do and when to call the vet.
Why Is My Puppy’s Poop Green?
There are several reasons newborn puppies may poop green. Some of them are more benign and relatively easy to solve, while others are severe and require urgent veterinary help. Here is a short overview of the most common reasons newborn pups my poop green.
Reason number 1: Milk allergies
Although rare, it is possible for a puppy to be allergic to the mother’s milk. Dogs supplemented with milk formulas are more likely to develop allergic reactions to the added formulas. Milk allergies are an individual issue, meaning not all littermates will have them.
Reason number 2: Overeating
A puppy that tends to overeat is likely to develop green poop because of one simple reason – the digestive tract gets overloaded and cannot process the entire milk leading to rotting processes. If there is only one puppy from the litter with green diarrhea, overeating is possible.
Reason number 3: Viral infections
Puppies have underdeveloped immune systems and are prone to a plethora of viral diseases. The top three most common viral conditions in newborn puppies are canine parvovirus, canine distemper, and adenovirus. If left untreated, all three can be fatal.
Reason number 4: Parasitic infestations
Puppies are born with parasites (intestinal worms) from their mothers. Depending on the number of parasites, the puppy may exhibit an array of symptoms, with diarrhea being the most common one. Heavy parasitic infestations in newborn puppies can be lethal.
Is Green Poop Normal for Newborn Puppies?
No, green poop is not normal in newborn puppies. Well, to be more precise pooping green is not normal in all puppies regardless of age. To get a better understanding of the green poop issue, let’s first explain the normal defecation process in newborn puppies.
During the first days of life, puppies are incapable of pooping on their own. Instead, they depend on their mother. Namely, the mother dog will lick the puppies’ genitals to stimulate urination and defecation. Usually, the mother performs the stimulation ritual after every meal.
Considering that newborn puppies feed solely on their mother’s milk, the normal puppy poop should be yellowish and free from smell. The mother cleans after the puppies, so unless there is an issue, you are unlikely to find poop inside the crate.
Therefore, everything that stands out of this normal process is considered a red flag. This includes the potential green poop. Regardless of the consistency of the poop – normal or more diarrhea-like, the green discoloration is not normal and requires more thorough examination.
What Do I Do if My Newborn Puppy’s Poop Is Green?
If your newborn puppy is pooping green, it is imperative to call a trusted veterinarian and seek professional help. It will be useful if you can provide the vet with more detailed information. However, do not take the wait-and-see approach prior to calling the vet, as things can progress really quickly.
Just call the vet and explain everything you have noticed. The more information you provide, the easier it will be for the vet to establish the underlying problem. Even some simple information can be very useful.
For example, if only one puppy from the litter is experiencing green poop, it may be overeating or allergic to the mother’s milk. On the other hand, if all of the puppies are having green diarrhea, chances are you are dealing with a more general situation such as bacterial or viral infection or maybe even parasitic infestation.
How Dangerous Is Green Poop in Puppies?
Green poop can be a dangerous and even life-threatening issue in newborn puppies. This is because poop discolorations are often accompanied by consistency changes. In other terms, a puppy producing green poop is likely to have diarrhea.
Diarrhea is a severe problem because newborn puppies are small and prone to dehydration. Another issue with green diarrhea is that it could indicate fading puppy syndrome. Let’s take a closer look at these two dangers.
Danger number 1: Dehydration
Dehydration is a progressive condition that in small puppies can easily go from bad to worse and even have lethal outcomes. Therefore, dehydration is classified as an emergency, and as a responsible dog parent, you need to be aware of the signs of dehydration in puppies.
Here is a list of the dehydration signs:
- Decreased skin elasticity
- Panting or fast breathing
- Lethargy and weakness
- Dry mouth with sticky and thick saliva
- Decreased appetite
- Dry and rough nose
- Sunken eyes.
The skin elasticity test is also something you should be familiar with. The test is simple and easy to perform, yet it will give useful information. All you need to do is pinch the dog’s skin and check how long the skin needs to go back to its normal position. The faster it goes back, the more hydrated the puppy is. On the other hand, delayed return indicates dehydration.
Danger number 2: Fading puppy syndrome
Fading puppy syndrome is another life-threatening situation. The exact cause of the syndrome is unknown. It is believed that there are various contributing factors, including low birthing weight, environmental issues, underdevelopment of the body systems, inadequate levels of milk production, etc.
Here are some of the signs and symptoms of fading puppy syndrome:
- Low body weight at birth
- Inability to gain weight
- Continuous crying
- Abdominal pain
- Pronounced paddling movements
- Excessive salivation
- Vomiting.
Also, a puppy with fading syndrome is likely to be ignored by the mother and stand-alone or separated from the littermates. Depending on the underlying reason, it is possible to take proper care and help the puppy survive.
However, this is a rather challenging process that would require the owner to keep the puppy warm at all times, bottle-feed the puppy, and also stimulate it to pee and poop. Basically, the owner needs to take all of the responsibilities of the mother.
Summing Up: Newborn Puppy Poop Green
All in all, a newborn puppy producing green poop is considered a potentially life-threatening situation. Newborn puppies are fragile creatures with underdeveloped body systems and are prone to an array of diseases and conditions.
Therefore, even slight changes in their routines and habits should be seen as red flags. If your newborn puppy has green poop or diarrhea, you need to call the vet and arrange a meeting. The sooner you get proactive, the better the chances of saving the puppy.
