I Need Some Advice...

[LeahDee]

Hi everyone. This is my first post on this forum, but I have been lurking and learning a lot the past couple of months. I have a question and need some help with something. I am getting my first Yorkie this week...at 4 1/2 weeks. Yes, I said 4 1/2 weeks. I am not happy about the situation but at this time it is beyond my control. I just found out today that I had to take her this week. Please, no bashing me, it's not my fault. I just need some straightforward, simple advice on the best way to take care of my new baby.

According to the breeder, my puppy will be going to the vet tomorrow for her first shots. She has been feeding them canned food 4x/day (not sure when she started doing this...maybe the last day or two?). Anyways, she called the vet to make the appointment and says that the vet told her they would be okay as long as the puppies were eating and pooping good. I'm a bit stressed b/c I was not prepared to take her this early.

What kind of food should I be feeding her? I have dry puppy food that I had bought in preparation for when I got her as I was expecting her to be at the minimum 6 weeks, but I had planned on 8. I don't really want to get into the situation with the breeder as it is really none of my business, but she is selling the mom, dad and 2 additional puppies besides mine. All are leaving this week, so my puppy would be alone even if I did not take her. She will no longer have Yorkies.

Do I need to be feeding her some supplemental milk along with the food? Does she need a bottle? According to the breeder, she is weaned or I guess will be when I get her Wednesday.

I'm sorry if I sound like I am rambling or repeating myself, I am just a little worried. I want to make sure that I am doing everything in my power to take care of her as best as possible. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I feel like I am leaving out questions, but I cannot think of anything else at the moment. Thanks in advance for the help. I hope I will receive some good advice.

[livingdustmops]

Who is this breeder? This is outrageous

[jrsygal37]

Can I ask why she is forcing you to take this pup so early? Yorkies ideally should be with mom until 12 week old but should not leave any earlier then 8 weeks at most. Most breeders keep them at least until 10 weeks of age. I had my Bella at 5 weeks old and I can tell you that it was not easy. Do you work? At that young age they really should not be alone all day. You will want to keep Nutri Cal on hand and I would give that baby a small pea size of it in the morning and at night. I would also pick up some canned mother's puppies milk. I would try to get her to drink some of that out of the dish, as well as feeding her a good premium canned food such as Wellness or Canidae. If you post this question on the breeder's forum some of our experienced breeders may be able to tell you something better to feed the pup. I have to agree with LivingDustMops This truly is outragious and if you are being forced to take her so early I would report her to the AKC at the least. Please stay on this site as you will need a lot of expert help from some of our wonderful breeders and rescue people that are experienced with young pups. Elaine

[MizMaRLeysMoM86]

Originally Posted by livingdustmops

Who is this breeder? This is outrageous

Yes this is outrageous.. but.... let me see if I can offer some advice...depending on whether or not she is weened is going to determine if you need a bottle or not obviously, but when I got my baby boy Colt at a pet store here in Japan he was 70 days old from what the told me ... so 10 weeks. They did not want to sell him to me , an american because they said the language barrier would be to hard to keep in contact with him to check up on him ( he had a red, sore little behind and they said he was not eating well ).... I insisted they sell him to me because they had him in the little window and I knew how to take care of a puppy just as well as a japanese person did. They finally gave in...They gave me a milk supplement and soft food to feed him. I don't know why they told me he didn't eat well because as soon as I got him home he was chowing down and stealing Marleys food too! LoL Japan has puppy mills too I'm convinced because everytime I see a dog in a pet store they look sickly.. including my Colt boy.... his little butthole that was all red and swollen cleared up like 2 days after I got him too.. I think he was just not being taken good care of and who would have an appetite living in a little cage/cubicle like that all day with people tapping on the glass and making faces at you .. only to walk away ....anyways... im rambling... You might want to post this in the breeders section. They will be able to help you more, as they are pros at raising babies

[Ladymom]

That puppy is way too young for vaccinations! She still has immunities from nursing which will block the effectiveness of vaccines given that young. This breeder should be ashamed for putting the puppies at risk of a reaction to ineffective vaccines

You say this situation is beyond your control, but you have the power to walk away. I would advise you to run as fast as you can from this so-called breeder and wait to get a healthy puppy from a reputable breeder.

In a puppy this young, the risk of hypoglycemia is very high. I question the general health of any puppy produced by a breeder like this. Did you know that Yorkies are 36 times more likely to have a liver shunt than all other breeds combined?

Please read Buster's story. He was 2.5 weeks older than this puppy, too. Hopefully it will make you re-examine your decision:

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...k-he-sick.html

[capt_noonie]

[MollysMum54]

The only way i would consider having that baby is if i took the mum as well. Is there any way you could do that as she is also looking for a home?

[chachi]

That breeder is terrible. Puppies should still be allowed to nurse from Mother after ther weaning process so you may have to bottle feed some. Give a good canned food and hopefully the pup will take it. I had a baby kitten that wouldnt wean untill 6 weeks. I just cant understand your breeder. Oh and your vet will probably make the pup retake the shots because they were started too early. They are supposed to start at 8 weeks and then every 3 weeks for a total of 4 times. So that means overvacination for your pup. I would just ask her not to give the pup the shots

[livingdustmops]

What vet are you going to...he/she should know better than to give shots this early...None of this makes any sense to me.

What town do you live in?

[LeahDee]

Thanks to those of you who offered some advice. I will get some Nutrical as I have read about this and want to have it on hand. I also didn't realize you could buy canned mother's milk. I will check into this also. I am calling my vet today to get some advice (this is not the vet she is taking them to, but her vet is also well respected).

I do understand that the situation is not ideal. I have not dealt with a Yorkie before. However, I have had dogs/puppies my whole life and I have someone in my family that raises another breed of dogs, so I can go to them for advice too.

I also understand about breeders who don't handle things the correct way. However, at this point I could care less about her. I am just worried about my puppy. Thanks again to those of you who have offered advice on how to take care of my puppy.

[tortoisekeeper]

Welcome to Yorkie Talk. Just keep reading everything you can and continue to ask questions. You will get lots of answers. Thank goodness that this breeder will no longer be breeding Yorkies.

[Wylie's Mom]

Have you picked up this young baby yet...this is a very vulnerable situation and I do hope you keep us posted....and reach out if you need help. PLEASE do get in to your vet asap and have an emergency plan in place right away.

[Cookie2]

I agree with everyone here. When my maltese gave birth to a Morkie and we brought them both home from the hospital ( it was an emergency c-section) By the time he was 3-4 weeks old he was starting to eat soft food BUT he NEEDED his mom and they were always together. In fact she would get hysterical and cry and scratch my legs when I would get him to record his weight gain.
Be ready for a possible rollercoaster of things that could happen. Deffinately keep this furbaby very close to you and the numbers of a emergency vet hospital.

Gen

[katelin]

For sure get some NutriCal and a milk substitute. Also a good quality dry kibble -- Canidae is good -- get the puppy version of the kibble, it has more calories. Put a cup or so of the dry kibble into your blender and blend until it is more like a fine powder. Keep a dish of this ground kibble in the pen and available at all times to the puppy. Wet food isn't necessary even with a puppy this young. Keep fresh water in the pen at all times too. I've had moms decide to wean the puppies at 4 weeks, and they usually transition very well to the ground kibble and water. (having mom around for socializing and comfort is another issue altogether).

Get a fuzzy, soft stuffed animal to keep in the sleeping area with the puppy. Be sure the puppy is kept warm enough. I buy a yard of fleece cloth and cut it in half and use as little blankets in the bed so the puppy can snuggle in and stay warm. They wash easily and help hold the heat.

[LeahDee]

Thanks again for the ones of you who gave me good advice on how to care for her. She is here and doing great! She seems very happy, playful and is eating good. She is very sweet...sleeping away right now. I have Nutrical coming to keep on hand and am feeding her goat's milk and wet food. I will try grinding up some dry puppy food. Thanks again.