Is This Too Young.....????

[Cheri]

My story is much too long to go into now but I have one question for now. I have a little baby, Maggie, who is now 9 weeks old. I bought her from a girl at work who got her from breeder at 5 1/2 weeks old. Little Maggie is having many intestinal problems and the vet told me today that he thinks she has a genetic issue which may require surgery. I am so angry with the breeder who I believe is running a puppy mill. She argues with me that 5 1/2 weeks is not young to take from her mother. This is my first Yorkie and everything I have read indicates that she is wrong.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Cheri

My story is much too long to go into now but I have one question for now. I have a little baby, Maggie, who is now 9 weeks old. I bought her from a girl at work who got her from breeder at 5 1/2 weeks old. Little Maggie is having many intestinal problems and the vet told me today that he thinks she has a genetic issue which may require surgery. I am so angry with the breeder who I believe is running a puppy mill. She argues with me that 5 1/2 weeks is not young to take from her mother. This is my first Yorkie and everything I have read indicates that she is wrong.

Plenty of dicussion on this subject. Yes! It is wrong, puppy didn't have her puppy teeth in yet. Barely old enough to be weaned off mother's milk. Don't know what the laws are in your state are but, some aren't allowed to sell puppies younger than 6 some 8 weeks of age. For a Toy breed the optimum time is 12 weeks or older. Even if they are weaned at 8 weeks of age, mothers do so much training from 8 to 12 weeks......Breeders, if doing their job should be doing their job too, with socializing the puppies and making sure that they are eating well, having a minimum of 2 puppy shots, vet checks, before allowing them to go to their forever homes.

[JeanieK]

I suspect that the breeder wanted to get rid of her before all of these issues showed up. Since you bought her second hand and have no health guarantee, it is doubtful that you have any recourse.

Sorry you have to go through this. I wish you and your baby the best of luck.

[Lorraine]

At that age, it is not unusual to run into diahrrea problems as they are weaning at this time and they need to get used to food rather than mothers milk.
I would suggest you find another Vet who actually knows something about toy dogs. For this Vet to suggest a genetic problem at 9 weeks that could require surgery, I would run the other way very quickly.
This is what breeders go through often from about 4 or 5 weeks of age to about 12 weeks or more. Too many changes such as a new home, vacc's which I don't start until 10 weeks, change of food can all add up to these types of gastro trouble.
I never would sell anything under 12 weeks and they are at least actually about 4 mos before I would begin to entertain the idea.
You will need to try a gently puppy food. Nutro makes a Chicken meal, rice, oatmeal formula for puppies that's assuming she isn't allergic to any of those things. I never feed canned food it always upsets my puppies tummies.
You could put her on some boiled rice with a little cooked chicken for a few days to tighten up the stool.
There are other things that could cause gastro problems, worms, coccidia or as I have already gone into -- too many changes and a diet that isn't agreeing with her.

[Cheri]

Lorraine,

She doesn't have diarrhea, but soft stools. She has been to the vet 3 times because she constantly walks around hunched up in "poop mode" and can only get a little out at a time. She goes approx. 15-20 times a day but it is very little. Last Friday the vet did an xray and said her intestines were full. He kept her for a couple of hours and did an enema. I thought that had resolved the problem because that night she acted like she felt so much better. The next day it began again. She eats well and plays at times but seems miserable at other times. Her little bottom has been so swollen and raw. I took her back to the vet yesterday and he said she seemed "full" again. He kept her. He called late yesterday and said for some reason she can't expel it all at one time, either due to some type of blockage or possible a genetic problem. He gave her another enema today and did another xray but I haven't heard the results yet. I feed her what I thought is a good quality food, Natural Choice, about a 1/4 cup day, the amount recommended for her weight. Oh, forgot to tell you that she has been on antiobiotic for 2 weeks now for Coccadia but the vet doesn't seem to think that is still the problem. Should I try another food, dry or moist? I have never given her canned food. I pray this will all work out without surgery because I honestly do not have the money for surgery. I love her so much already but don't know what to do. Thank you all so much for your advice!

[Cheri]

I finally took some pics of my baby but not sure how to load on computer . Will show her to you soon when I get some help.

[Lorraine]

Originally Posted by Cheri

Lorraine,

She doesn't have diarrhea, but soft stools. She has been to the vet 3 times because she constantly walks around hunched up in "poop mode" and can only get a little out at a time. She goes approx. 15-20 times a day but it is very little. Last Friday the vet did an xray and said her intestines were full. He kept her for a couple of hours and did an enema. I thought that had resolved the problem because that night she acted like she felt so much better. The next day it began again. She eats well and plays at times but seems miserable at other times. Her little bottom has been so swollen and raw. I took her back to the vet yesterday and he said she seemed "full" again. He kept her. He called late yesterday and said for some reason she can't expel it all at one time, either due to some type of blockage or possible a genetic problem. He gave her another enema today and did another xray but I haven't heard the results yet. I feed her what I thought is a good quality food, Natural Choice, about a 1/4 cup day, the amount recommended for her weight. Oh, forgot to tell you that she has been on antiobiotic for 2 weeks now for Coccadia but the vet doesn't seem to think that is still the problem. Should I try another food, dry or moist? I have never given her canned food. I pray this will all work out without surgery because I honestly do not have the money for surgery. I love her so much already but don't know what to do. Thank you all so much for your advice!

for Coccidia, it would have to have been a sulpher based product either S125 or Albon. Coccidia will usually give a squirty diahrrea with blood in it and a smell you will never forget.
For a problem with evacuating bowels which sounds more the problem you have, lactulose would likely help. Ask your vet for it or about it. It will often help expel feces in dogs or puppies that don't seem to have the motility. He/she should know the amount to give once per day, it is a liquid and don't use it all the time just until she is going regularly and fully evacuating.
I have used cooked oatmeal or tinned pumpkin to help stools.
She could outgrow the problem it would be a wait and see but for now the important part is to get the bowel evacuating properly.

[Cheri]

stools haven't had much of a smell and no blood. Is Lactulose a stool softener? He mentioned giving her a stool softener.

[Lorraine]

yes it is a stool softener and also seems to help with the intestinal motility to move stool product down the intestine and out.

[Lorraine]

Here is a link about lactulose
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactulose
Don't panic however, as although it is often used for dogs with liver problems yours may not have a liver problem. As I mentioned before, given her age, and knowing what I have seen sometimes in puppies before, she could very well outgrow the problem. It could be with the intestine itself not quite working properly. It may correct as she gets older and if it stays the same diet management and little lactulose occasionally may do the trick.

[Cheri]

The vet called late yesterday after he did another enema and xray. He has diagnosed her with intussuscettion (not sure if spelled correctly) where the intestines loop and cause obstruction. He is saying this will require surgery. He said that normally pups are much sicker with this and after Maggie had her enema yesterday she was happily running around again. I asked him if I could try the stool softener and softening her food again for a while until I can get the money for surgery. She doesn't seem sick all the time, she just walks around constantly hunched like she needs to poop and very little comes out and according to vet it builds up in her. I am going to pick her up in about an hour and have questions for him, such as how risky surgery is at this age. All the advice on here is so much appreciated.

[Lorraine]

I haven't heard of it in Yorkies before but anything is possible.
Can you ask your Vet about a payment plan so surgery can be done asap.
There could be risks to leave it not being done.

[jeanief]

http://www.peteducation.com/article....&articleid=307

Here is a article on the problem. sounds like surgery is a MUST

[YorkieRose]

Best wishes for your puppy...she will need treatment. Since this is genetic, I am sure yoru "friend" at work will want to refund your money to help pay the surgery..then, she in turn should be get a refund from the breeder..but tell her not to hold her breath.

[Yorkiedaze]

Before a dog is put on medication, tests are run to make sure the dog has the disease first.
The medication your Vet. put that puppy on is very dangerious if the puppy does not have the disease. It creates other medical problems. My advice would be to take the puppy off the medication and dog food, and put her on lamb and white rice or free range ground beef and white rice for a few days. If she does not have a bm for a couple of days, then take her to a different Vet. In the meantime, ask around to everyone who has a dog, what Vet. they use and how do they like them.