New litter having trouble - YorkieTalk.com Forums

tshumway · 01-25-2008, 04:54 PM

Hi there. My Lexy just had her babies this past Monday night. She only had three, but did really well giving birth. Afterwards she didn't want much to do with the puppies. She is doing better, and one puppy is nursing really well and nursing A LOT. The other two are not nursing well at all and I am really worried. I'm not sure what I should be doing to help them along.

Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thank you for any help you can provide.
Tracy

tiggerr36792 · 01-25-2008, 05:29 PM

The puppies need to be kept warm and then once they are warm it sounds like you may need to suppliment them some till they start nursing better on their own. Never feed a cold puppy!

Sunnie · 01-25-2008, 06:59 PM

I cannot stress enough how important it is to keep them warm. I mean REALLY warm. a cold puppy cannot digest and will die quickly. You should at the very least have a heating pad turned on low UNDER the whelping box... once they are warmed up, try to get them to latch onto mom. If mom won't stay with them, you may need to lay right beside her to make sure she nurses them. If you cannot get them to latch onto momma, put a drop of karo syrup on their tongues then latch them on. Believe me, one of the biggest reasons for loss of a litter to an inexperienced breeder is failure to keep them warm enough. It should be 85 degrees where the babies are for the first week or two, then you can lower it to about 80 for another week, then 75.

tshumway · 01-25-2008, 08:24 PM

Thank you very much! I purchased heating pads specifically for puppy litters that had been recommended by other breeders. They are 95 degrees on one side and 85 on the other. I have them on the 95 side now. I guess that's why I am so worried is that I'm sure they are warm enough, but they just won't nurse.

The one that will nurse seems to be constantly eating and is already twice the size of the other two. I have even been "monitoring" his eating a bit to make sure that he isn't pushing the others off. I will see if the karo syrup helps. I had not thought to do that.

Thank you so very much!

wjflintstone · 01-26-2008, 03:39 PM

A breeder friend of mine sent me this tube of nursemate, its a colostrum supplement. I give it to slow puppies like yours and you wouldnt believe the difference in the pups. I think that there is instantly a real change, they get alot stronger. She gives it to all her pups when they are born, I havent tried that yet. Im a strong believer in not fixing something thats not broke.

bjh · 01-26-2008, 04:26 PM

I am so sorry you are having problems with you babies. If they are not able to latch on and suckle it is possible they could have a cleft palate. Have you tried supplementing them with a dropper? Usually a puppy with a cleft palate will have the milk come out of their nose when you feed them with a dropper. Please keep us posted.

Sunnie · 01-26-2008, 05:10 PM

i JUST GOT HOME FROM MY OUT OF TOWN TRIP AND WONDERED IT THERE WAS ANY UPDATE ON THE BABIES? ARE THEY DOING BETTER??

luckylady · 01-26-2008, 05:55 PM

I too would love to hear an update on how the pups are doing.
Aside from the good advice here, OP, have you called your vet and/or had the pups checked by him?
I will be sending prayers your way for your pups and hope to see some good news on the little ones soon.

tshumway · 01-27-2008, 02:01 PM

Long nights..but here is an update. I lost one puppy, the smallest. I had been using a dropper with both. I was getting some milk through his nose. The vet confirmed a cleft pallet friday when I took him in. Losing him was very hard. You grow SO attached to each one in such a short period of time!

The other latched on with the karo syrup, but will not suckle very long at all. He seems to give up really quick. I'm still working with him. he doesn't seem to be gaining much weight, but coming around as far as his movement and actions.

Thank you all so much for your support. The other puppy is doing wonderful and thriving.

Tracy

Susan123 · 01-27-2008, 02:27 PM

He doesn't have much strength to get any real nutrition. He really should be tubefed IMO. So many pups die like this on YT and everywhere, very hard to see. They get weaker and weaker the longer they go with out really eating. I'd get him to a vet and learn to tubefeed if I were in your position.... Praying for your baby,

Susan

Susan123 · 01-27-2008, 02:29 PM

And I'm very sorry for your puppy that you lost.

daiszzy21 · 01-27-2008, 02:58 PM

Praying for your puppies! Sorry to hear about your little boy

tiggerr36792 · 01-27-2008, 03:49 PM

I am sorry for your loss ...Please make sure you keep the other one nursing as much as possible or suppliment him/her!

bjh · 01-27-2008, 03:52 PM

I am sorry for your loss. I know how heart breaking it is. I pray the other will be okay. Thanks so much for the update.

luckylady · 01-27-2008, 04:00 PM

Sending prayers for your new puppies, a special prayer for the one that is struggling, and hugs to you for the one you lost.
Did your vet check the other puppy that is struggling? Is he okay health-wise? If he's not to big, he might not have enough strength to suckle for very long and probably should be supplemented also. Please keep us updated on the little guy as well as his sibling. Good luck!

01-25-2008, 04:54 PM	#1
tshumway YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Arizona Posts: 7	New litter having trouble Hi there. My Lexy just had her babies this past Monday night. She only had three, but did really well giving birth. Afterwards she didn't want much to do with the puppies. She is doing better, and one puppy is nursing really well and nursing A LOT. The other two are not nursing well at all and I am really worried. I'm not sure what I should be doing to help them along. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you for any help you can provide. Tracy

01-25-2008, 05:29 PM	#2
tiggerr36792 DNG Presley Yorkie's Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 6,094 Blog Entries: 1	The puppies need to be kept warm and then once they are warm it sounds like you may need to suppliment them some till they start nursing better on their own. Never feed a cold puppy! __________________ Debbie DNG Presley Yorkie's Gloria www.dngpresleyyorkies.com - Come visit our puppies!! Official YT Members of both the Pink & the CrAzY cLuB!!!

01-25-2008, 06:59 PM	#3
Sunnie Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: So. California Posts: 2,736	I cannot stress enough how important it is to keep them warm. I mean REALLY warm. a cold puppy cannot digest and will die quickly. You should at the very least have a heating pad turned on low UNDER the whelping box... once they are warmed up, try to get them to latch onto mom. If mom won't stay with them, you may need to lay right beside her to make sure she nurses them. If you cannot get them to latch onto momma, put a drop of karo syrup on their tongues then latch them on. Believe me, one of the biggest reasons for loss of a litter to an inexperienced breeder is failure to keep them warm enough. It should be 85 degrees where the babies are for the first week or two, then you can lower it to about 80 for another week, then 75. __________________ Sonya, Owned by Ladybug, Tilly, Sunnie, Sunshine, Beamer, and Rainbow Last edited by Sunnie; 01-25-2008 at 07:02 PM.

01-25-2008, 08:24 PM	#4
tshumway YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Arizona Posts: 7	latching on Thank you very much! I purchased heating pads specifically for puppy litters that had been recommended by other breeders. They are 95 degrees on one side and 85 on the other. I have them on the 95 side now. I guess that's why I am so worried is that I'm sure they are warm enough, but they just won't nurse. The one that will nurse seems to be constantly eating and is already twice the size of the other two. I have even been "monitoring" his eating a bit to make sure that he isn't pushing the others off. I will see if the karo syrup helps. I had not thought to do that. Thank you so very much!

01-26-2008, 03:39 PM	#5
wjflintstone Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: north carolina Posts: 16	NurseMate ASAP A breeder friend of mine sent me this tube of nursemate, its a colostrum supplement. I give it to slow puppies like yours and you wouldnt believe the difference in the pups. I think that there is instantly a real change, they get alot stronger. She gives it to all her pups when they are born, I havent tried that yet. Im a strong believer in not fixing something thats not broke.

01-26-2008, 04:26 PM	#6
bjh Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Warren, Texas Posts: 2,501	I am so sorry you are having problems with you babies. If they are not able to latch on and suckle it is possible they could have a cleft palate. Have you tried supplementing them with a dropper? Usually a puppy with a cleft palate will have the milk come out of their nose when you feed them with a dropper. Please keep us posted.

01-26-2008, 05:10 PM	#7
Sunnie Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: So. California Posts: 2,736	i JUST GOT HOME FROM MY OUT OF TOWN TRIP AND WONDERED IT THERE WAS ANY UPDATE ON THE BABIES? ARE THEY DOING BETTER?? __________________ Sonya, Owned by Ladybug, Tilly, Sunnie, Sunshine, Beamer, and Rainbow

01-26-2008, 05:55 PM	#8
luckylady Living My Dream X 4! Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 2,693	I too would love to hear an update on how the pups are doing. Aside from the good advice here, OP, have you called your vet and/or had the pups checked by him? I will be sending prayers your way for your pups and hope to see some good news on the little ones soon. __________________ Rose,Lucky, Lexie, Toby, & Halle CrAzY ClUb MeMbEr-LGC Members Positive Post Pledgee

01-27-2008, 02:01 PM	#9
tshumway YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Arizona Posts: 7	Update Long nights..but here is an update. I lost one puppy, the smallest. I had been using a dropper with both. I was getting some milk through his nose. The vet confirmed a cleft pallet friday when I took him in. Losing him was very hard. You grow SO attached to each one in such a short period of time! The other latched on with the karo syrup, but will not suckle very long at all. He seems to give up really quick. I'm still working with him. he doesn't seem to be gaining much weight, but coming around as far as his movement and actions. Thank you all so much for your support. The other puppy is doing wonderful and thriving. Tracy

01-27-2008, 02:27 PM	#10
Susan123 YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 1,352	He doesn't have much strength to get any real nutrition. He really should be tubefed IMO. So many pups die like this on YT and everywhere, very hard to see. They get weaker and weaker the longer they go with out really eating. I'd get him to a vet and learn to tubefeed if I were in your position.... Praying for your baby, Susan

01-27-2008, 02:29 PM	#11
Susan123 YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 1,352	And I'm very sorry for your puppy that you lost.

01-27-2008, 02:58 PM	#12
daiszzy21 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PA Posts: 88	Praying for your puppies! Sorry to hear about your little boy

01-27-2008, 03:49 PM	#13
tiggerr36792 DNG Presley Yorkie's Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 6,094 Blog Entries: 1	I am sorry for your loss ...Please make sure you keep the other one nursing as much as possible or suppliment him/her! __________________ Debbie DNG Presley Yorkie's Gloria www.dngpresleyyorkies.com - Come visit our puppies!! Official YT Members of both the Pink & the CrAzY cLuB!!!

01-27-2008, 03:52 PM	#14
bjh Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Warren, Texas Posts: 2,501	I am sorry for your loss. I know how heart breaking it is. I pray the other will be okay. Thanks so much for the update.

01-27-2008, 04:00 PM	#15
luckylady Living My Dream X 4! Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 2,693	Sending prayers for your new puppies, a special prayer for the one that is struggling, and hugs to you for the one you lost. Did your vet check the other puppy that is struggling? Is he okay health-wise? If he's not to big, he might not have enough strength to suckle for very long and probably should be supplemented also. Please keep us updated on the little guy as well as his sibling. Good luck! __________________ Rose,Lucky, Lexie, Toby, & Halle CrAzY ClUb MeMbEr-LGC Members Positive Post Pledgee