Tube feeding a weak puppy to help it get enough energy to nurse properly is one thing. Tube feeding puppies because a mother died and it takes a LONG time to hand raise (bottle feed) a whole litter is also understandable.

Tube feeding a lone puppy for three weeks because it will *not* eat on its own is delaying the inevitable....heartbreak.

If this puppy is three weeks and will not lap up formula on its own at this point, humane euthanasia at the vet would be the right choice, IMO.

When I wrote yesterday, I did not realize the puppy would not eat. This is not good.

Tracy

He nursed in the beginning and stopped. If he does not survive at least she tried.

I am curious as to the breed or type of dog as I know toy breeds will not respond as other larger dogs. Like it or not some toy or smaller breeds will be a PITA to raise. At three weeks I would guess the pups sugar is low and it may not have the energy to nurse and thrive on it's own. Has she been weighing them all daily...twice a day? This would help catch troubles immediately. I have raised smaller breed pups (my vet enables me) and often it is a fight for longer than you would think before the puppy 'clicks' and becomes a dog. I have had 1# dogs at 12 weeks old that seizured and collapsed from hypoglycemia for four or five days...even at the vets, until they were syringe fed and raised by hand. Heck, I have two that I own (after putting two months of sleepless nights into a dog it is tough to rehome it) that were handed to me by the vets for collapse and all the symptoms of a liver shunt except they didn't have it....they just got stressed and forgot to eat. One weighs 12#s, another 8#.
Likewise three weeks is a critical time as moms tend to cut back on nursing. Is the pup being kept warm? Wasting energy to keep warm will kill an iffy pup. Expecting some smaller breed pups to wean at three or four weeks is simply NOT going to happen. Aim to the needs of the pup. I have had toys that nursed til 6 to 8 weeks and didn't totally wean til then, even nibbling. And often it is a matter of a lot of human help. Giving up at three weeks is premature in my mind unless some diagnosis by an experienced vet has said that the pup has a defect.

Fox terrier,not the toy variety. Have not heard from her today.

Sonya,

Thanks for chiming in with another perspective....very educational.

Tracy

 Quote: Cheryl Gee

He nursed in the beginning and stopped. If he does not survive at least she tried.

If you have already answered, I'm sorry I missed it. But I'm curious if your friend took the pup to the vet for this problem and what the vet suggests?

I started in dogs breeding border collies....breed like coyotes and whelp and raise them all very easily. Then years later someone dumps a hypoglycemic puppy on me and I can not believe a healthy pup will starve itself to death....but they will. Head cases.

The little fox terrier survived. The puppies had hookworms and after treatment did a lot better. Here is an image of the puppies. I hope this works.

Those are some pretty cute pups!

April 1 they started to eat canned puppy food. Rescue has been very busy with them.