Fading Puppy Syndrome is a life threatening emergency in which a puppy “crashes” and begins to fade away. If not dealt with immediately it can result in death. If you are fostering puppies 6 weeks or younger, it is a very good idea to familiarize yourself with this handout so you know what to do if it happens. 

Symptoms

• Extreme Lethargy - not getting up, unable to stand, not responding when pet

• Gasping for breath

• Whining/Crying out

When this happens, it is vital that you take these immediate steps!

FPS is caused by 2 things : 

• Hypothermia (being too cold) 

• Hypoglycemia (not enough blood sugar)

You must combat both of these things or the puppy will die.

Treatment

Step 1 - Get them warm

• Create the “burrito” towel. 

  • Immediately wrap the puppy up in a towel like a burrito leaving their face exposed only. 

  • Their whole body, tail, ears, and paws should be in the towel, only nose and mouth exposed. 

  • Do not take the puppy out of the towel to adjust them, check on them, etc. - this is very important! 

  • Every time you take them out you will make them cold again, even if it is only for a second.

• You must apply an extra source of heat (listed below). 

  • The puppy's body can’t warm itself up with just a towel alone, you have to apply extra heat. 

  • Your body temperature is much lower than what a puppy should be, so trying to warm them up with your body heat won’t work either.

  • If you have a heating pad - Then wrap a heating pad *turned onto low* around the towel - duct tape it or secure it around the towel so it stays wrapped around them. 

  • Don’t let the heating pad touch them directly, it can cause burns, make sure the ‘burrito’ towel is between their skin and the heating pad.

• If you don’t have a heating pad - you can either

  • keep your dryer running full of towels. Grab a new hot one every 5 minutes and wrap this new hot towel around the “burrito” towel. After 5 minutes, trade that towel out for a new hot one. Don’t remove the “burrito” towel.

  • Fill 2 socks full of rice, tie the ends of them so it doesn’t spill out. Throw them in the microwave for 3 minutes. Keep them next to the puppy on the outside of the burrito towel. Every 30 minutes reheat one sock and leave the other next to the puppy so she doesn’t cool off.

Step 2 - Get their blood sugar up

• Heat them up first!

• Get a bowl or Tupperware and a few tablespoons of sugar in some hot water. 

• Stir it up so you get a sugar water solution

  • you don’t want it super syrupy like pancake syrup, but you do want it to be as strong as possible while still pretty runny. 

  • Undiluted Karo syrup, or agave nectar can be substituted. 

• Using a syringe or your finger, give 3 drops every 3 minutes into the mouth. 

  • If they aren’t swallowing, try not to get it down the throat, try to get it on the tongue or gums. 

  • Set an egg timer or use the stopwatch on your cell phone to make sure you are doing it at least every 3 minutes. Every 5 minutes or 10 minutes will not work, it must be every 3 minutes.

Step 3 - Contact us immediately

• Call the foster phone number at 502-366-3355 ext 2260, or email us at fostertech@kyhumane.org. 

  • If you do not hear back, please bring your puppy into the shelter. If you do not have a second person who can continue to treat the puppy, please wait until the puppy is stabilized.

  • If it is after hours, call the after hours emergency line at 502-515-3135.  

• Don’t leave your puppy to make this call or forget to do your sugar every 3 minutes. 

Prognosis

We generally have very good success with these puppies if you follow the above steps. 

It is best if YOU start treatment rather than rushing them into us. Your puppy will continue to be cold/hypoglycemic on the way to the shelter. Many puppies won’t last long enough for them to start the treatments here.

These protocols are based on what would be done if the puppy was in a vet clinic or here at the shelter.  

Keep in mind, it can sometimes take hours for them to come out of it and start acting normally again. Once they do come out of it, if you have not already done so, contact us  to discuss what could have possibly caused them to fade in the first place and make sure we have the puppy on all the right medical treatments for any illnesses they have that may have caused it. An exam may be necessary.

Also keep in mind, even with all the love and attention and perfect treatment of this condition, some of them still won’t make it. Try not to blame yourself during this difficult time. Remember, if it wasn’t for you, every puppy you’ve ever fostered would have been killed at another shelter and never given a chance at life.