Water (Walrus) Puppies     (Anasarca puppies)

 Puppies born with severe Edema (swelling, water retention)

A water baby is NOT caused from the dam drinking too much water. Pregnant dams need lots of water, as the amniotic fluid is constantly changing. Water babies are like babies who become anemic (low blood) in utero. They get severely edematous. Usually due to parvovirus or an immune response (blood group incompatibility).

Water puppy syndrome:

 Edema: an abnormal accumulation of serous fluid in various organs, cavities, or tissues of the body.

We can learn a bit from "people" medicine - water babies (hydrops) is usually from lack of red blood cells in the baby as a result of an infection or immune reaction.

It can effect only one pup in a litter or the entire litter. Water puppies are impossible to deliver naturally, they are huge, swollen, waterlogged puppies.  A c-section is a must, as these puppies are generally  2 - 4x  the size of their littermates.

These pups range from mild, medium to severely effected.

They do not get STUCK in the birth canal, they do not get that far, as they block the birth canal.

 If your dam is pushing on a single puppy, contractions for 2 hours, without puppy presentation into the birth canal, especially after delivering one or two normal pups, you should seek veterinary assistance, as the remaining pups can die, along with the dam.

This is a Medical Emergency!

There are many opinions on why these water pups develop, some say it is congenital or environmental, some say diet, trauma to the dam, or even a virus.  There is no evidence to show it is hereditary, but it does effect some breeds more than others. Especially the Bulldog & flat faced breeds including, Boston Terriers, English Bulldogs, French  Bulldogs, Shar Pei, Bullmastiff, Basset Hound, Chow Chow, Wire Fox Terrier, and Pugs.

It has occurred in crossbred dogs, and pedigree dogs, such as the Borzoi, Maltese, Labrador Retriever, Schnauzers, Bichon Frise, Chihuahuas, German Shepherd, Old English Sheepdog (Bobtail), Poodle, Great Dane, German Pointer &, in a wolf from zoo/wildlife -park.

An x-ray does not always show the larger size of these puppies, as the weight is mostly fluid. An ultrasound is thought to detect these puppies.

Water pups are usually  born alive, limp, and weak, and they look like someone blew them up, like a balloon. The dam was supplying the needed oxygen and nutrition  through the placenta and cord,  but soon after birth the medium to severely effected pup will suffocate by the pressure of the fluid.

The mildly  effected pups that survive the first 2 - 3 days, have been reported  to become normal, and others say there were other underlying problems and they died within the first week.

The choice to try and save, or to let the pup go without suffering, will be between you and your vet,  how much experience you have behind you, and if you are willing to put in the time PLUS be prepared for heartache. Trying to save these pups at this time, is considered experimental.

The cause or treatment of this condition is un- known at this time.

Treatment:

Treatment needs to be given right away for a mildly effected pup. 

--  Elevate the head and extend the neck for a more clear air way.

--  To encourage urination run one or two fingers over the genitalia.

-- Some veterinarians have recently had great success using Lasix in saving water puppies. Lasix is the brand name of the chemical Furosemide. Furosemide is a diuretic-saluretic, which inhibits the re-absorption of sodium (salt). The drug is administered intravenously immediately after birth of the water puppy. Administer furosemide (Lasix) .1 to .2 ml intramuscularly, to increase urination, this can be repeated every 30 to 45 minutes for three injections. Caution: more than three could cause dehydration.

--   Keep the pups warm and stimulate urination as described above every 2 - 3 minutes.

--   Elastic bandages have also been used to push out fluid (not too tight).

Mildly effected pups can take 1 to 2 hours to breathe normally. Moderately effected pups take 90 minutes to 4 hours to breathe normal. Medium to severely effected pups are difficult to save, they usually drown within 30 minutes. Severely bloated pups, have been known to split open at the abdomen, just from handling.

Some signs for you to watch your pregnant female for are: drinking large amounts of water, nipples and surrounding tissues have a shiny look, nipples produce a fluid, very early in pregnancy.

Autopsies have shown, that the organs are saturated in fluid and the life sustaining organs, cannot function, causing the pups to drown.

Theories:

A inuterine reaction to sodium, or an inability to process proteins. Hypothyrodism, as well as an inability of the lymphmatic system to drain effectively due to the anatomy.

None of these ideas have ever been proven.

Water puppies are  often seen associated with a combination of vertebral column defects and  often have further abnormalities particularly cleft palates

Some Findings on causes :  (still not proven)

--  Congenital anasarca (congenital generalised subcutaneous oedema). The aetiology of congenital anasarca is not well defined (prenatal cardiovascular anomaly)

 --  A traumatic origin (with disruption of the placenta) as a  foetus suffering from anasarca is usually  the sole occupant of a uterine horn   filled with a large amount of haemorrhagic fluid.

 --  Could be caused by a virus, it has been attributed to the after-effects of the mother's  oronasal infection with the minute virus during the last trimester of  pregnancy associated with myocarditis. In the latter case, elasticity of the foetus' skin allows extravasation of  transudate that is compensated for by the immediate supply of fluid via the umbilical cord.

--  malformation of the lymphatic drainage system

Words from a vet:

Congenital anasarca- There is no possible treatment for puppies suffering from congenital anasarca. These puppies usually die within less than 36 hours.

Prevention:

Low salt diet.

Reduce potential Trauma (isolate pregnant dams)

Autogenous minute virus vaccine in the case suspicion of minute virus (anarsarca en-zootic within the same breeding facility).

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According to doctors, human babies can be born with this too.

Human version:  

Fetal Hydrops (the cause is not yet known, but there are many theories)

In humans, edema is considered a congenital syndrome, that happens in utro, and doctors  figure, it is most often caused by a virus (slap cheek, virus, and a human parvo type virus B-19) or it can be caused by a liver malfunction.

In the US: Widely varying figures have been quoted, but 1 case per 600 - 4,000 pregnancies is the estimated frequency. Figures from Thailand suggest an estimated incidence of 1 case per 500 - 1,500 pregnancies.

It is not a labor induced issue, it happens prenatally for unknown reasons.

There is a genetic syndrome that will cause swelling, including (chromosomal abnormalities) and one called in-Turner syndrome, and babies rarely make term, and have dwarfism. Shorter bodies, and extra neck skin.

There are photo's of dwarf looking puppies, that may fall into this category.

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If you suspect your dam may deliver water puppies consult your vet.

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One breeder of Pekingese states, "I have been a breeder of Pekingese for several years. The last two litters had water babies and each a c-section. Each litter had one water baby and the closest baby was dehydrated. We lost both water babies. In the first litter, the water baby was huge and had been dead about 1 week. I'm surprised the dam was OK. It's body was starting to decay- no fur, no skin- really gross. We lost the dehydrated baby next to it in the uterine horn. The 2 babies in the other horn were born first, without c-section and were fine. A similar experience with the second litter, though the water baby was smaller and still alive. The adjoining pup was dehydrated. A simple sub-Q of fluids and he's fine. Again the first 2 from one horn were born regularly and were fine. The effected horn had the c-section. The only similarities between these litters is the newly used sire (same sire both litters). I'm afraid to use him again! In both of these litters both dams were unrelated, but both litters were from the same sire (a first time sire). My Vet and I suspect a correlation with the use of this sire. I've been checking on this condition and it appears to be more common in brachiocephalic breeds (flat faced breeds)"

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A Breeder of Wire Fox Terriers states, "I raise and breed show quality Wire Fox Terriers. My dam of 4 yrs just delivered her second litter. She was carrying two water babies one also had a severe cleft palate. Her first litter was normal no complications. I have never experienced anything like this before it was so disheartening. She was carrying a total of 5 puppies and 3 were normal."

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If a male passes something on, to a pup in a litter, and it is a congenital defect. I don't panic, as things happen. If he does it again, to a different unrelated female, I neuter. If it is the same female, I use a different male. I neuter faster than some breeders, but I am very selective. I feel there is a lot of good dogs out there, so why take the chance.

If you have additional information / photos on water puppies you would like to share, in order to help others with this issue Contact Us.

Courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese

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