Wish there was a magic tool that could alert you that a foster puppy or kitten was in trouble, or reassure you that they’re not? That tool exists; it’s called a scale.

“Daily weight checks can help you pick up on problems long before you would ever be able to really notice them with your eyes,” writes Dr. Sandra Newbury. “Pups and kittens should always gain weight. If they are losing, there is a problem.”

Dr. Newbury, who is the National Shelter Medicine Extension Veterinarian at the UC Davis
Koret Shelter Medicine Program, recommends that young animals gain about 5 to 10 percent of their
birth weight every day. And if they don’t? She calls that a “red flag item”:

If growth is not meeting expectations, an investigation, and probably a vet check, is in
order. Weight loss can be associated with a lot of things ranging from dehydration (often
secondary to diarrhea) to malabsorbtion of food or even internal parasites.

This is just one of the life-saving tips you’ll find on Dr. Newbury’s foster care blog at
http://www.drsandranewbury.com/ or in her series of three webinars on foster care, which you can
view here.