⏳ Your post is pending review, it will appear publicly once a moderator approves it.
Found an approximately 6-week-old puppy near our building yesterday. She was alone for 4+ hours with no mother in sight. We've taken her in for now. Vet appointment is tomorrow morning.
In the meantime, she's eating (we gave diluted cow milk, now realise that might have been wrong — she's had no vomiting though), moving around, seems reasonably alert. But I want to know what to look for overnight that might indicate she needs emergency care before the morning appointment.
Also: what are the most common serious conditions in young street puppies that require immediate attention versus things that can wait for the morning appointment?
Stop the cow milk immediately — it will likely cause loose stools and can be hard for a puppy to digest. If she needs feeding overnight, plain water is safe. If she seems hungry, puppy milk replacer (sold at most pet stores, sometimes pharmacies) is the correct food. If you can't get that tonight, diluted plain curd (one part curd to three parts water) is better tolerated than full milk.
She's 6 weeks old so she can eat soft puppy food or puppy wet food if you can get any.
The puppy milk replacer recommendation is so important. We made the cow milk mistake with our first rescued puppy — the loose stools started within 2 hours and she was dehydrated by morning. PetSmile brand is available at most chemists in cities now.
Drools puppy wet food is available at most pet stores and is a good option if you need to feed her tonight. Even a small tin will keep her going until the vet visit tomorrow.
Emergency signs that need tonight attention, not tomorrow morning: continuous crying for more than 30 minutes, visible bloating of abdomen (taut, tight belly), gasping or laboured breathing, blue/pale gums (check by lifting her lip — gums should be pink and wet), unable to stand or very wobbly beyond normal puppy clumsiness, temperature below 35°C (cold to touch on belly and paws).
If alert, eating, moving, and pink gums — morning appointment is fine.
The pink gum check is the most important health indicator for young puppies. We learned this from our vet — blue/pale gums in a puppy is a genuine emergency. Pink and wet = adequate circulation. Easy to check.
Gentle assessment: does she respond to sound (clap near but not at her ear)? Do her eyes appear bright or are they sunken, crusty, or half-closed? Does she cry when you gently press on her abdomen? Is she walking with her spine rounded/hunched? These observations will be very useful information for the vet tomorrow.
Keep her warm above all else — 6-week puppies can't regulate body temperature. A heating pad on the lowest setting under half of her bedding (so she can move off it if too warm), or a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel. Hypothermia kills young puppies faster than most diseases.
Check for visible external parasites: run your fingers through her fur looking for ticks (small, dark, attached to skin) and fleas (you'll see fast-moving specks or flea dirt — dark specks that turn reddish when wet). Don't treat tonight with chemical products at 6 weeks — wait for vet guidance. Just note what you see to tell the vet.
The cow milk thing: you'll likely know in 2-4 hours if it causes problems (loose stools). If it does, it won't be dangerous at the volume she probably drank but stop it. One small amount of cow milk won't harm a puppy — it's regular feeding of it that causes issues. She's probably fine overnight.
Markdown formatting is supported. Replies are reviewed before going live.
Replies are reviewed before going live. Medical advice needs a vet source. Undisclosed promotion is removed.
Senior dog adoption — what care needs change when they are 8 or older?
Adopting an adult rescue dog — what first-timers should realistically expect
When to spay or neuter a mixed-breed Indie — age and weight recommendations for India
Rescue dog with severe separation anxiety — what actually worked for you?
