Possible constipated 3 wk old shiba inu.

Question
QUESTION: My 3 wk old shiba inu, Rosie has been off and on with bowel movements. I got her just a little over a wk ago and she's been eating fine. Except I believe that she may be constipated. She has only gone poop once in the mornings the past few days. And her belly looks rather large. Im fearful for my baby. Any suggestions other than takin her to a vet would be appreciated.  
Thanks in advance.

ANSWER:
Hi Stephanie,

At three weeks old, Rosie is a tiny baby, and shouldn't be constipated.  She is much too young to be eating solid foods or to have been separated from her mother!  If her belly is distended, and you think she is constipated, you should not be treating her as you would an older puppy or an adult dog, and you should not put off having her examined by a vet. If Rosie is acting lethargic then that goes double!

Best of luck,
Patti

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello Patti.

While I'm very aware that Rosie is a tiny baby, the truth of the matter is that her mom passed away just a few days before I got her. So there really isn't anything the owner could have done. He mentioned he was gonna give away the puppies but I decided to keep one.
I had looked up some info online regarding this issue and read that there's a possibility she may be dehydrated. So I gave her water with very little milk today and she finally had a very nice and big bowel movement. Her stomach went down dramatically in size and is no longer whining in pain.
I will however have her looked by a vet, since this is my first puppy and wouldn't want to lose her no time soon. I appreciate your advice. Thank you.

Answer
Hello again,

I'm glad to hear your puppy is doing better. With a puppy as small and as fragile as a 3 week old, something that sounds as simple as dehydration, is actually quite dangerous, it can lead to organ failure and even death. When in doubt, you should not put off having your puppy examined by a veterinarian, or at least calling your vet's office for further instructions.

It's also very possible that your puppy needs to be wormed. Many pups are born with them, they get them neonatally from their mom. In the future if you think your puppy is dehydrated, or if she ever has a problem with vomiting or diarrhea, try using Pedialyte. It replaces electrolytes and minerals your puppy is lacking.

Best of luck,
Patti