The 'fading puppy complex': an assessment of a paraimmunity inducer as a means of control
Blunden, A.S.
Veterinary Record 113(9): 201
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 6636494 Document Number: 209010
54% of all puppy deaths within the first five days of life were estimated to fall within the fading puppy complex (FPC). Histological examination revealed no specific lesion, but the growth plate at the costochondral rib junction showed arrest in 75% of puppies dying by day 3. In addition, the main constituent of surfactant, a diphosphatidylcholine (lecithin), was lower in FPC. In a cross-over study over two consecutive whelpings of 60 bitches in 50 kennels with a history of FPC, 1 ml of Pind-AVI (an avipoxvirus preparation) or placebo was injected s/c into each bitch 7 days before expected parturition, and each puppy received 0.5 ml within 24 hours of birth and again 24-48 hours later. Of 475 puppies, 123 died within five days, 67 of which were categorized as FPC. Only 5% of immunostimulated puppies died, against 18% of puppies given placebo.