Fading puppy syndrome

Fading puppy syndrome is the phenomenon of puppies dying within the first few weeks of life. Similar to crib death in humans, the actual cause of death and any clinical signs of impending death may not be apparent.

General 
Like other species of mammals, canine puppies are very vulnerable during their first weeks of life, partly because they have no ability to regulate their own body temperature and their immune systems are not yet fully developed.

Contributing factors 

Some of the more common causes of fading puppy syndrome are:
 Lack of adequate care from the mother
 Congenital defects, which may not be readily apparent
 Low birth weight
 Infection or disease

After birth, the majority of the puppy's immune system is gained through the colostrum, or first milk. If the puppy is unable to nurse sufficiently of this milk, they may be more susceptible to infection.

Mitigating the risks of fading puppy syndrome 

During their first few weeks of life, puppies are unable to regulate their own body temperature, and require a source of heat to stay warm. Due to their lack of an independent immune system, strict hygiene is beneficial, as is examining the mother for disease, such as mastisis or metritis, and viral infections such as Canine parvovirus or adenovirus.
If the puppy is unable to nurse independently, supplemental colostrum replacement may help, as well as antibiotics in the case of bacterial sepsis.

References 

Category:Dog diseases