6 babies for new time yorkie mom and grandma

[easternskywatch]

i really read up on the whole birthing process.......however, my experience was totally different...........my minnie went into the box 30 minutes before she started delivering. she resisted all attempts from me to help by growling/considering biting etc. finally i got up my courage put on gloves after the babies were born and she's letting me help rearrange the babies on her tummy.........the smallest is having a problem latching on........it's been a very stressful day..........im worried they all won't make it, etc. ill keep reading all the advice and other people's experiences here........please feel free to send any advice.......thanks, minnie's mom and new yorkie gma

[ChewyGeorgia85]

Wow, congrats on the puppies. I know it is very stressful. Between the smell and the blood, timing (my mama went started whelping at 2 am) and then , all of a sudden, it just doesn't seem to be going right. The main thing is to stay calm. I know it's hard, but your girl can sense that immediately and that makes her nervous... I'm assuming this her first as well?
If the puppy doesn't latch, try sticking your finger on the puppy's mouth to see if they will try to latch on. You may have to bottle feed the pup, too. Either way, I would call in your vet and see if a vet tech or someone with whelping experience can come help. Those are my suggestions.

[redneckwoman]

wish you were closer im in dyersburg tn an my yorkie is due april 6th an my nerves aregone i am so ready for this to be over i have already started feeding babydoll a boiled egg an cottage cheese an she is loving it i am so ready for the babies to be born an know that she is ok

[azureblue54]

You have my very best wishes for your brand new grandbabies and their Momma Dog. You're going to have a very busy month coming up...take a deep breath!

[Woogie Man]

I see where you posted that she had the babies at 56 days. That's really early...are you sure about the days?

Anyway, the pups are here. Six is a lot for a Yorkie to handle and I'm not surprised that you have a smaller one. If it's not getting enough food, or even if you think it may not be, you need to go ahead and supplement.

Get yourself a can of goat's milk (available in the grocery store), mix it with equal parts distilled water. Add a little karo syrup to it. Warm it up like you would for a baby formula. This is far better than any commercial milk replacer.

What I do is to warm a small amount of milk up and add just a bit of karo once it's warmed. An eyedropper works well for the little ones that can't suckle. You can feed it drop by drop to make sure the pup doesn't aspirate it. Hold the baby upright while feeding. It should be getting 1 cc per ounce of body weight every 2 hours. You have to be careful not to overfeed, though, as that can cause the formula to back up and the baby will aspirate it. Better to feed less more often that to have that happen. Gently burp the baby after feeding. Mom should take care of diapering after you're done.

It's very important to not let these babies get chilled and, the smaller they are, the less able they are to maintain body heat. Do you have a heating pad placed in the whelping box? Do you have a scale to weigh the babies?

The first few days are very critical to a pup's survival. You should count on not getting much sleep and monitoring/feeding the baby throughout the night.

The smallest is your most critical priority, but you cannot ignore the others, or the Mom. Make sure she eats well, gets plenty of water, and put her on a calcium supplement. The calcium supplement is very important as 6 babies creates a massive drain on her body. Low blood calcium can lead to eclampsia very quickly, which can be fatal to the Mom. If it occurs, she will at the least no longer be able to feed her babies and you will be left hand feeding the whole litter.

There are lots of brands of supplement to use. I have the ones from PetSmart. They are called '21st century Pet Chews Calcium'. Each tablet is good for a 20 pound non-nursing dog. A nursing dog, of course, needs more and I give my girls 1/2 tablet twice daily while nursing.

Make sure all those babies are warm and keep a close eye on the little one. Best to go ahead and start supplementing that one right away. It can't afford any setback. Best of luck and post back with any questions you may have.

[easternskywatch]

thanks very much for your advice and support...........one little puppy didnt make it. she seemed to have cleft palate which i didn't notice at first.........will definitely act on your advice..........now momma doesn't want to stay with pups all the time.......is this a problem or not?? thanks again

[easternskywatch]

feel free to email........it IS vert stressful........i would never do it again............now i'm stressed about finding really good homes for each of them..........no, i wouldn't do it again.......... not that it was a bad experience.........just more responsibility than i want/need...........good luck

[Woogie Man]

Originally Posted by easternskywatch

thanks very much for your advice and support...........one little puppy didnt make it. she seemed to have cleft palate which i didn't notice at first.........will definitely act on your advice..........now momma doesn't want to stay with pups all the time.......is this a problem or not?? thanks again

It's not usual for new Moms to leave the pups so young. She may want to take a small potty break, but should be with them most all the time for now. After their eyes open and they start motivating around, Mom usually feels comfortable to leave them for a bit longer.

Is it that she wants to be with you? She needs to be in a place away from the traffic of the house so she can feel secure with her babies and not stressed or distracted. I've never had your problem, but then I pretty much stay with Mom and babies around the clock for the first few days to make sure everything is going well.

She really should be staying with them at this age as they pretty much eat and sleep all the time. She also provides warmth for them and diapers them so she's pretty busy. Does she have enough milk? Are you supplementing any of the babies? If you notice them rooting around and crying, they aren't getting enough and need supplementing. How's Mom eating? Do you have a scale to weigh the babies to make sure they are gaining?

I'm very sorry to hear about the little girl. Breeding can be heartbreaking when these things happen, but you just have to have your moment of grief and get right back to caring for the others and Mom. It's a job that doesn't stop the whole time you have them. For now you have to worry about their survival....then it's weaning them, beginning potty training, grooming, vaccinations, socializing and finding great homes for them.

Best of luck and, again, so sorry about the little one. I hope things go well for you from here on out.

[ChewyGeorgia85]

Originally Posted by Woogie Man

It's not usual for new Moms to leave the pups so young. She may want to take a small potty break, but should be with them most all the time for now. After their eyes open and they start motivating around, Mom usually feels comfortable to leave them for a bit longer.

Is it that she wants to be with you? She needs to be in a place away from the traffic of the house so she can feel secure with her babies and not stressed or distracted. I've never had your problem, but then I pretty much stay with Mom and babies around the clock for the first few days to make sure everything is going well.

She really should be staying with them at this age as they pretty much eat and sleep all the time. She also provides warmth for them and diapers them so she's pretty busy. Does she have enough milk? Are you supplementing any of the babies? If you notice them rooting around and crying, they aren't getting enough and need supplementing. How's Mom eating? Do you have a scale to weigh the babies to make sure they are gaining?

I'm very sorry to hear about the little girl. Breeding can be heartbreaking when these things happen, but you just have to have your moment of grief and get right back to caring for the others and Mom. It's a job that doesn't stop the whole time you have them. For now you have to worry about their survival....then it's weaning them, beginning potty training, grooming, vaccinations, socializing and finding great homes for them.

Best of luck and, again, so sorry about the little one. I hope things go well for you from here on out.

Well said. For Georgia's first litter it took a while during her whelp that the puppies belonged to her. Once she accepted them, she stayed with them for the most part. I think it is kind of the norm for 1st time mom's to not be with them all the time. This second time around, after her second pup, she settled down and started nursing and cleaning while shooting out the other 4 .

I'm sorry about your baby. It's really tough to lose them, because you get so attached so quickly. Just know we are here, so don't hesitate to ask as you need.