sickly puppies - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Prissy012899 · 01-16-2005, 05:12 PM

Hello all,
I have a litter of pups that are currently 9 weeks old. Their mom got eclampsia when they were 5 weeks old and taken away from her.. I thought they would be ready to eat but had a really hard time getting them to.
Anyway after about a week they started getting diarreah, so I gave them albon.. The little boy died after a few days.. Haven't heard from the necropsy yet.. The rest are eating but seem to be loosing weight.
They're playful and everything and the vet said it would be ok to treat them for giardia just in case.. he prescribed Valbazen in a very tiny amount for two days.. They seemed to get better, now they have the runs again.. Of course I'll take a stool sample to the vet tomorrow but another breeder told me I was crazy for giving the valbazen.. She said that made her dogs sick and she spent $6000 getting them back to health and one died from the effects.
I'm sortof at a loss with this litter..
I wonder if any other breeders has had experience like this or have any suggestions or idea..
I'm open minded and willing to learn.
I've been breeding for 6 years and never had anything like this before.

Thanks

YorkieRose · 01-16-2005, 07:46 PM

You have a scary situation. A stool check is the first thing that needs doing. They could have worms or a parasite. What about coccidia? Give them Kaopectate asap,you can give a teaspoon to a pup twice daily..chicken and rice, no dry or canned until the stools are normal again..the "guts" need to rest. Nutra-cal suppliment is good..not alot. Better yet get a vet med for diaherra, it is nothing to fool with in a puppy, they can go down fast. Good luck

Prissy012899 · 01-17-2005, 03:53 AM

I've been to the vet three times with this litter.. They did show a little coccidia and have had their round of albon. They have been wormed with strongid several times.
I'm making another trip to the vet this AM.
Thanks

YorkieRose · 01-17-2005, 04:07 AM

If the stool sample is negative, I would think long and hard before I put anymore toxins through their systems. I am not a big fan of worming. I have a sample done and if it shows nothing I do nothing. I do not agree with breeders who worm every 2 weeks for good measure. I had a stud client who allowed the vet to worm a litter at 2 weeks..all were dead by evening. Of course, I have been lucky not to have a worm problem with my dogs..if you do then of course it needs to be done. It is much better to concentrate of keeping the adults in tip top condition and parasite free..I realize a dam can pass larva to the pups and be worm free herself...but a stool check at 3 weeks and every 2 weeks after that will tell you what is going on with pups.

Please let me know what the vet says..I have a feeling the worming has depleted them..albon is safe for the coccidia, but be careful with anymore toxins right now.

Prissy012899 · 01-17-2005, 04:33 AM

Thanks Pat,
I too hate giving them anything not necessary. Problem is coccida doesn't always show on a fecal float, neither does giardia but those parasites can kill the pups if they're aren't treated.
I've been mixing a little yogurt in their food.. They love it. Of course a little nutri-cal as well.. I've had two pups become hypoglycemic.
I'm beginning to lose confidence in my vet hospital... sometimes I wonder if they hate breeders.
I could use kaopectate but wouldn't know how to measure the dosage.
One pup is less than 14 oz.. the others are 1#2oz. at 9 weeks.

YorkieRose · 01-17-2005, 11:03 AM

I have bred for 32 years..of course I still learn new things all the time...one thing I know is, a breeder friendly vet is so important to you. Wouldn't it make sense to you that I would have run into all these parasite and worm problems with the numbers I have had from time to time. I have had very few of these problems. My Yorkies are not cleaner or my kennel, I am sure. Coccidia,worms and parasites are common in groups, but I have gone years without any problems. I do not mean to sound like a snob breeder, my dogs are no different or healthier etc....what I want to relay is, I had a great vet who helped me get to the root of the problems instead of mega dosing litters right and left.
I know many breeders will not agree with me,but I do not allow my pups on grass or dirt. Before I moved to Florida I had decking or concrete..and the areas were washed down weekly. I do not like dogs on dirt...had too many problems. Hopefully, this is a one time problem..you certainly sound on top of it..best to luck.

Prissy012899 · 01-17-2005, 01:25 PM

Thanks again,
I am open for input and cherish getting suggestions from other breeders, esp. the long term breeders like yourself..
All my dogs are in the house with me.. The pups never touch the ground, however I have doggie doors and a fenced in backyard that most of the adults use to go potty as well as play. A few go out the front door into my large front yard which I know is occupied by neighbor hood dogs at night as well as rabbits, squirrals and deer. probably racoons and opossoms too since I live in the country.
I clean scrupiously, alternate between, bleach one day, amonia the next and I have a broad spectrum disinfectant I use in between.
I have to commend you for having such healthy pups and never having any problems..
My vet knows me and my yorkies well and he knows I only want the best for my babies. I've had a run of very unfortunate circumstances the past few months with one bitch had a ruptured uterus and another that got eclampsia and then her pups have been sick.
BTW they seem to be doing really well today. I'm cooking chicken and brown rice for them until their tummies feel better.
I ask for suggestions and advice because I want to become a long term breeder.
Thanks again

YorkieRose · 01-17-2005, 01:57 PM

I have had my share of problems..oh, my goodness to do get me started..you can not breed for any length of time and not have problems..it goes with the "job" description. I have not had problems for many years with worms and parasites etc ..I think you may have hit on a potential problem with the adults. They have accessibility to a common area inwhich other dogs and animals can leave all sorts of nasty things...strays or pets can bring in hook worms and when hooks get in the soil it can be many years to get rid of them. Whip worms can be very hard to detect in stools I am told. Wild animals are riddled with a host of parasites they can leave for your adults to bring inside to pups...cross contamination is so easy. I hated to restrict my dogs to certain areas, but as long as I breed I have to have some pretty strict rules..sick pups make me so stressed..maybe I am getting too old.
You have had a run of bad luck..that big Yorkie wheel in the sky has landed on your name. Tomorrow it will be someone else.! Hang in there!

01-16-2005, 05:12 PM	#1
Prissy012899 YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northeast Georgia Posts: 251	sickly puppies Hello all, I have a litter of pups that are currently 9 weeks old. Their mom got eclampsia when they were 5 weeks old and taken away from her.. I thought they would be ready to eat but had a really hard time getting them to. Anyway after about a week they started getting diarreah, so I gave them albon.. The little boy died after a few days.. Haven't heard from the necropsy yet.. The rest are eating but seem to be loosing weight. They're playful and everything and the vet said it would be ok to treat them for giardia just in case.. he prescribed Valbazen in a very tiny amount for two days.. They seemed to get better, now they have the runs again.. Of course I'll take a stool sample to the vet tomorrow but another breeder told me I was crazy for giving the valbazen.. She said that made her dogs sick and she spent $6000 getting them back to health and one died from the effects. I'm sortof at a loss with this litter.. I wonder if any other breeders has had experience like this or have any suggestions or idea.. I'm open minded and willing to learn. I've been breeding for 6 years and never had anything like this before. Thanks

01-17-2005, 04:07 AM	#4
YorkieRose No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 8,577	pups If the stool sample is negative, I would think long and hard before I put anymore toxins through their systems. I am not a big fan of worming. I have a sample done and if it shows nothing I do nothing. I do not agree with breeders who worm every 2 weeks for good measure. I had a stud client who allowed the vet to worm a litter at 2 weeks..all were dead by evening. Of course, I have been lucky not to have a worm problem with my dogs..if you do then of course it needs to be done. It is much better to concentrate of keeping the adults in tip top condition and parasite free..I realize a dam can pass larva to the pups and be worm free herself...but a stool check at 3 weeks and every 2 weeks after that will tell you what is going on with pups. Please let me know what the vet says..I have a feeling the worming has depleted them..albon is safe for the coccidia, but be careful with anymore toxins right now.

01-17-2005, 11:03 AM	#6
YorkieRose No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 8,577	pups I have bred for 32 years..of course I still learn new things all the time...one thing I know is, a breeder friendly vet is so important to you. Wouldn't it make sense to you that I would have run into all these parasite and worm problems with the numbers I have had from time to time. I have had very few of these problems. My Yorkies are not cleaner or my kennel, I am sure. Coccidia,worms and parasites are common in groups, but I have gone years without any problems. I do not mean to sound like a snob breeder, my dogs are no different or healthier etc....what I want to relay is, I had a great vet who helped me get to the root of the problems instead of mega dosing litters right and left. I know many breeders will not agree with me,but I do not allow my pups on grass or dirt. Before I moved to Florida I had decking or concrete..and the areas were washed down weekly. I do not like dogs on dirt...had too many problems. Hopefully, this is a one time problem..you certainly sound on top of it..best to luck.

01-17-2005, 01:57 PM	#8
YorkieRose No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 8,577	pups I have had my share of problems..oh, my goodness to do get me started..you can not breed for any length of time and not have problems..it goes with the "job" description. I have not had problems for many years with worms and parasites etc ..I think you may have hit on a potential problem with the adults. They have accessibility to a common area inwhich other dogs and animals can leave all sorts of nasty things...strays or pets can bring in hook worms and when hooks get in the soil it can be many years to get rid of them. Whip worms can be very hard to detect in stools I am told. Wild animals are riddled with a host of parasites they can leave for your adults to bring inside to pups...cross contamination is so easy. I hated to restrict my dogs to certain areas, but as long as I breed I have to have some pretty strict rules..sick pups make me so stressed..maybe I am getting too old. You have had a run of bad luck..that big Yorkie wheel in the sky has landed on your name. Tomorrow it will be someone else.! Hang in there!

01-16-2005, 07:46 PM	#2
YorkieRose No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 8,577	pups You have a scary situation. A stool check is the first thing that needs doing. They could have worms or a parasite. What about coccidia? Give them Kaopectate asap,you can give a teaspoon to a pup twice daily..chicken and rice, no dry or canned until the stools are normal again..the "guts" need to rest. Nutra-cal suppliment is good..not alot. Better yet get a vet med for diaherra, it is nothing to fool with in a puppy, they can go down fast. Good luck

01-17-2005, 03:53 AM	#3
Prissy012899 YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northeast Georgia Posts: 251	I've been to the vet three times with this litter.. They did show a little coccidia and have had their round of albon. They have been wormed with strongid several times. I'm making another trip to the vet this AM. Thanks

01-17-2005, 04:33 AM	#5
Prissy012899 YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northeast Georgia Posts: 251	Thanks Pat, I too hate giving them anything not necessary. Problem is coccida doesn't always show on a fecal float, neither does giardia but those parasites can kill the pups if they're aren't treated. I've been mixing a little yogurt in their food.. They love it. Of course a little nutri-cal as well.. I've had two pups become hypoglycemic. I'm beginning to lose confidence in my vet hospital... sometimes I wonder if they hate breeders. I could use kaopectate but wouldn't know how to measure the dosage. One pup is less than 14 oz.. the others are 1#2oz. at 9 weeks.

01-17-2005, 01:25 PM	#7
Prissy012899 YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northeast Georgia Posts: 251	Thanks again, I am open for input and cherish getting suggestions from other breeders, esp. the long term breeders like yourself.. All my dogs are in the house with me.. The pups never touch the ground, however I have doggie doors and a fenced in backyard that most of the adults use to go potty as well as play. A few go out the front door into my large front yard which I know is occupied by neighbor hood dogs at night as well as rabbits, squirrals and deer. probably racoons and opossoms too since I live in the country. I clean scrupiously, alternate between, bleach one day, amonia the next and I have a broad spectrum disinfectant I use in between. I have to commend you for having such healthy pups and never having any problems.. My vet knows me and my yorkies well and he knows I only want the best for my babies. I've had a run of very unfortunate circumstances the past few months with one bitch had a ruptured uterus and another that got eclampsia and then her pups have been sick. BTW they seem to be doing really well today. I'm cooking chicken and brown rice for them until their tummies feel better. I ask for suggestions and advice because I want to become a long term breeder. Thanks again