Relocating thread - need post weened advice on mommy

[Lolli_lah]

The thread here is where I explained everything http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...-her-pups.html

Basically I adopted my little one after she had just weened her last puppy. She has some kind of licking problem and I don't know if maybe this is normal for post ween doggies for in their private area. I tried to look to see if there was anything that looked abnormal and I don't see anything, but she won't let me get that close.

She doesn't seem in pain or in constant itch, but just at random times. I'm just looking for advice if this is normal? She just kind of goes wild when she's itching or licking or whatever she's doing. But it doesn't last a long time.. Is this just normal for dogs to do? I've never personally seen it.

[bjh]

Has she been checked by a vet? Do you know how old the pups were when she was taken away from them? It sound like she was taken away from her pups way to soon. If she is still producing a lot of milk the she could even be at risk of eclampsia and/or mastitis. I suggest you get her to a vet as soon as possible. Some females have a vaginal discharge for up to 8 weeks or so after they have had pups and she could be licking to keep herself clean.

Have you given her a good bath? She should allow you to examine her closely. Does her coat and skin look okay?

[Lolli_lah]

Originally Posted by bjh

Has she been checked by a vet? Do you know how old the pups were when she was taken away from them? It sound like she was taken away from her pups way to soon. If she is still producing a lot of milk the she could even be at risk of eclampsia and/or mastitis. I suggest you get her to a vet as soon as possible. Some females have a vaginal discharge for up to 8 weeks or so after they have had pups and she could be licking to keep herself clean.

Have you given her a good bath? She should allow you to examine her closely. Does her coat and skin look okay?

Her pups were weened on time, the previous owner who was breeding her is a vet tech and really knew what she was doing. The pups were 6 weeks old when finally weened and her 'milk' is going down a lot in the week since we have had her. There hasn't been any milk or anything coming out of her but the 'swelling' has gone down greatly.

I gave her a good bath last wednesday and at that time I had only had her for 1 day and didn't know about this problem yet but I did look at her body at that time and I did not see anything out of ordinary. Her skin looks normal and her coat is beautiful as ever.

If she has a vaginal discharge I don't know why it would really make her go nuts as she does. It's like once she's down there licking or itching (I can't tell which she's actually doing) she just kind of is really into it intensely but she's not in pain or anything that I can tell.

[bjh]

That is so sad that the breeder took her away from her pups so early. Reputable breeders will let the pups stay with the momma much longer. She may just feel uncomfortable if she still has milk and she may have some vaginal discharge. My only advice is that if she keeps it up then you should have her checked by a vet. Good luck with your girl.

[Lolli_lah]

So early? I didn't think 6 weeks old to fully wean a puppy was too early. I'm not an expert by any means but I have read in my books I've checked from the library about yorkies that usually you start to wean 3 to 4 weeks. This is 2 weeks later that the puppy was fully weaned and then about 4 days after that we adopted her.

She hasn't seemed anxious or wondering where any of her babies were. I don't think that's really a problem?

I feel like I am repeating myself again but her milk is going away. Her breasts are less swollen by a lot than they were a week ago when we first adopted her, but it is still there a little I guess if she's a little swollen still? I don't think she's in any danger, her previous owner was an experienced breeder who is also a vet tech. I don't think she would have rehomed her too soon if it would have been unsafe, she didn't seem in a hurry or anything like that.

I wouldn't know about discharge if there was any. I don't and haven't seen when I looked at her but she's a bit butt-shy and won't let me look very long. I don't think she's really in the breast area when she's itching or licking, I think it's pretty much the vagina.

[cj125]

Originally Posted by Lolli_lah

So early? I didn't think 6 weeks old to fully wean a puppy was too early. I'm not an expert by any means but I have read in my books I've checked from the library about yorkies that usually you start to wean 3 to 4 weeks. This is 2 weeks later that the puppy was fully weaned and then about 4 days after that we adopted her.

She hasn't seemed anxious or wondering where any of her babies were. I don't think that's really a problem?

I feel like I am repeating myself again but her milk is going away. Her breasts are less swollen by a lot than they were a week ago when we first adopted her, but it is still there a little I guess if she's a little swollen still? I don't think she's in any danger, her previous owner was an experienced breeder who is also a vet tech. I don't think she would have rehomed her too soon if it would have been unsafe, she didn't seem in a hurry or anything like that.

I wouldn't know about discharge if there was any. I don't and haven't seen when I looked at her but she's a bit butt-shy and won't let me look very long. I don't think she's really in the breast area when she's itching or licking, I think it's pretty much the vagina.

Just curious... but what book were you reading? All the ones I have state that the pups should be left with their mother and littermates until 12 weeks or longer. I think if you look at the YTCA's (Yorkshire Terrier Club of America) website that you'll find it there, too.

[Lolli_lah]

Well the book in particular that had a bit about weaning puppies was just a general training book not for yorkies specifically. I did also check out a The Life Of Yorkshire Terriers but not sure if that had anything to say about puppies as I haven't finished it. I got like 4 or 5 books from the library and haven't finished them all, just been reading tidbits from them.

I looked at some websites though, they say the same things about 3-4 weeks.

And I seen it on this forum here at yorkietalk
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/bre...soon-wean.html

If other people that have experience breeding and weaning puppies do this in 3 weeks or so, I don't see how 6 weeks is so bad..

[maggiesmom_2007]

Regarding weaning the pups is fine but what the others are saying is that pups should be with their mother until they are 12 weeks old because that is when they learn from their mom.
Now as far as the licking thing goes I would take her to the vet to make sure she is okay. Dogs can hide if they are in pain. You have to remember it is in their genetics to do this for survival. They weren't always domesticated. She may need an antibiotic or something. anyway keep us updated and congrats on your new family member.

[Lolli_lah]

Thanks Maggiesmom! If she was left from her pups too early in that regard, would it make any difference on what dog exactly the pups were around? Because she had 11 other dogs besides Lolli (the actual mom) in the house. I think most were yorkies.

I'll see when we can get her into the vet and what they say. I'll keep it posted.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Lolli_lah

Well the book in particular that had a bit about weaning puppies was just a general training book not for yorkies specifically. I did also check out a The Life Of Yorkshire Terriers but not sure if that had anything to say about puppies as I haven't finished it. I got like 4 or 5 books from the library and haven't finished them all, just been reading tidbits from them.

I looked at some websites though, they say the same things about 3-4 weeks.

And I seen it on this forum here at yorkietalk
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/bre...soon-wean.html

If other people that have experience breeding and weaning puppies do this in 3 weeks or so, I don't see how 6 weeks is so bad..

The weaning process can begin at 3 weeks of age. But, that is just the beginning. It takes several weeks to complete the process....on an average, not usually completed until about 8 weeks of age.....from that point pups must be eating well on their own, before taking them completely off their mom.

Now back to your mom...besides the obvious of eclampsia issue. Her breasts could have burst because the pups were not gradulally weaned from her.

This vet tech should very well know that the first 8 weeks of a pups life they need the mom and only the mom. From the age of 8 to 12 weeks and beyond mom does more than just feed she's training and socializing them......

Now her licking maybe an allergy issue. Some females have an allergic reaction to fluids that expelled during the whelping process. Or it can be a urinary tract infection. Is there still light blooding discharge? Was she spayed before she was placed with you.....possibility of pyrometria

[Sookie]

Kalina weaned her pups at 6 weeks but I would have much preferred for her to nurse them longer! After she weaned them she still played with them and taught them right from wrong. They're 13 weeks now and she is still crazy about them and sleeps right next to their X-pen all night long. She is constantly with them and is acting like a little puppy again - it's so cute.

[Lolli_lah]

Mardelin, if her breasts 'burst' wouldnt there be something to leak from them? She doesn't seem to have any issues with her boobies, it seems to really just be her crotch. Also if they had burst wouldn't they be a lot less engorged? They are slowly but surely going down in the week she's been in my care.

So far I haven't noticed any discharge or anything out of ordinary (from the crotch). When I was in the process of getting information and other about the dog before we adopted her, the owner did say that she had already been weaning for a couple weeks (and then we adopted her a week later). So maybe it was early but done properly? I don't know honestly.

She was not spayed yet and we are going to be getting her in as soon as we possibly can, along with a general check up for health etc.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Lolli_lah

Mardelin, if her breasts 'burst' wouldnt there be something to leak from them? She doesn't seem to have any issues with her boobies, it seems to really just be her crotch. Also if they had burst wouldn't they be a lot less engorged? They are slowly but surely going down in the week she's been in my care.

So far I haven't noticed any discharge or anything out of ordinary (from the crotch). When I was in the process of getting information and other about the dog before we adopted her, the owner did say that she had already been weaning for a couple weeks (and then we adopted her a week later). So maybe it was early but done properly? I don't know honestly.

She was not spayed yet and we are going to be getting her in as soon as we possibly can, along with a general check up for health etc.

I was only explaining what could have happened. If they'd have burst you would have known.

As far as discharge from her vaginal opening....she maybe a step a head of you....yorkies are very clean. Have the vet look at her for possible infection....as you say she's completely focused on that area. I only possible allergy to the placenta fluids, because it happened to one of my dams, she was completely focused on her vaginal area....whe ended up with a staph infection and eventually loosing her coat on her hind quarters. Now mind you this happened over a 10 months span (losing the coat, allergy turning into a staph infection)

Weaning from what you explained wasn't done properly....but, oh well no use crying over spilt milk. Just take care of your girl.

[Lolli_lah]

Yeah I mean as far as weaning, it's not like I could have done anything. Not only do I know nothing about it but I wasn't aware she was doing it wrong. She's bred them for a few years at least and has a website and everything, so I only assumed she knew what she was doing (being a vet tech would seem to back that up) but it just goes to show you that you really can't trust anyone that has a license or diploma.

Anyways, she doesn't focus on the area a lot. It happens maybe 1 time a day or 2 at most. It's like for a couple minutes then it's over. I'll be taking her to the vet very soon so I'll have her checked out and everything like that.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Lolli_lah

Yeah I mean as far as weaning, it's not like I could have done anything. Not only do I know nothing about it but I wasn't aware she was doing it wrong. She's bred them for a few years at least and has a website and everything, so I only assumed she knew what she was doing (being a vet tech would seem to back that up) but it just goes to show you that you really can't trust anyone that has a license or diploma.

Anyways, she doesn't focus on the area a lot. It happens maybe 1 time a day or 2 at most. It's like for a couple minutes then it's over. I'll be taking her to the vet very soon so I'll have her checked out and everything like that.

Then it could very well be she's just keeping herself clean. Yorkies are very clean. I know that mine clean themselves after they go out to potty.

Good luck with your girl, I know you'll be a great mom and love her.