The best thing you can do is care for the runt or fader with the veterinarian’s help or advice. Fading puppy syndrome is a term used to describe puppies that are apparently normal at birth but gradually fade and die within the first two weeks of life. There are two distinct categories: True fading puppies where the cause of the demise is unknown. Affected neonates can decline quickly and die, so immediate detection and treatment are key to sur-vival. Fading Puppy Syndrome is a “ used to describe puppies that are apparently normal at birth but gradually “fade” and die within the first two weeks of life. Rather, it is a description applied to puppies that appear normal at birth but do not grow or thrive during the first few weeks of their lives. Hypothermia is a primary or contributing cause of many neonatal deaths. The syndrome can occur from birth to 9 weeks of age. True fading puppy syndrome: Approximately 55% of pups which die have no identifiable cause. Sadly, this syndrome isn’t exactly uncommon. There is no one cause of fading puppy syndrome. Fading Puppy Syndrome. Canine parvovirus, adenovirus and canine distemper have all been implicated as causes of fading puppy syndrome. Failure to thrive in nursing puppies is often referred to as Fading Puppy Syndrome. Birth defects and severe traumas are difficult to treat with a good outcome. Be sure you know what to look for and what to do if you see any warning signs. Hypothermia and hyperthermia. Causes The causes of fading puppy and kitten syndrome are divided Normal pre-weaning losses in dogs, including stillborn puppies, can be up to thirty percent (30%), with about half … Finding the cause of the fading puppy syndrome helps to determine if any treatment is possible. How to help a pup with fading puppy syndrome. Before you consider that a puppy is suffering from fading puppy syndrome, be aware of a few specific issues. Fading puppies where there is a known cause of neonatal mortality. Fading puppy syndrome is thought to be caused by bacterial or viral infection, inborn metabolic problems, or physical causes (such as renal or cardiac anomalies). Puppies that die soon after birth are frequently termed fading puppies. This is not a specific disease. It is a term used to classify most deaths of young puppies that cannot really be explained. Bacterial and viral infections can be treated, and with aggressive care, some of these puppies can survive. A healthy, vigorous litter of pups is born. Fading Syndrome (Neonatal Mortality) in Puppies . Because of their immature body organs and systems, puppies are prone to various insults, including infections and environmental, nutritional, and metabolic factors. ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES. Margo Carter, Phoenix Rising Toy Fox Terriers, 2005. Environmental causes include factors affecting the dam as well as those due to poor mothering. It can have many underlying causes, many of which lead to rapidly declining health, or even death, without immediate intervention. Newborn puppies are born with an immature immune system that needs to be built up over time, starting with their mother's milk. Viral infections can cause fading puppy syndrome. The causes of “Fading Puppy Syndrome,” where puppies inexplicably begin to fail and die within a few days of birth, is still poorly understood. Fading kitten syndrome is not a single disease. If the mother is carrying a virus or isn't properly vaccinated, the puppies are more likely to contract an infection from the mother or have an even weaker immune system. Causes of fading puppy and kitten syndrome can be divided into three groups: environmental, genetic, and infectious.