What have I done?

[BonBon]

I'm sorry for the length of this but I need to share my story and maybe vent a little, too.

I got a phone call out of the blue last night from a lady I'd lost touch with a couple of years ago. She had bought her daughter a yorkie for the daughter's high school graduation gift - with the warning that she would give the puppy away if the daughter didn't take care of it. Well, the daughter hasn't been taking care of it so Connie was giving it away.

Connie called me first because she knew how much I love my yorkies and thought I might give this little one a good home. She also had a co-worker she was going to talk to about taking her. The co-worker has a little male yorkie she's been wanting to breed so Connie thought she'd probably love to have a little girl, too. She said if neither of us were interested she was going to put the puppy on Craig's List and give her away there. I asked if she'd talked to the breeder about taking the puppy back but Connie doesn't know who the breeder is....it was just someone her daughter found on the internet that lives a couple of hours outside of Tulsa.

Then Connie starts telling me about the puppy. The parents are both under 3 pounds. Connie and her daughter brought this baby home when she was 6 weeks old and weighed only 7 ounces!! She's now 10 1/2 weeks old and weighs almost 14 ounces.

I knew I couldn't leave this tiny baby girl to a life of breeding or who knows what else, so I told Connie not to do anything that I would be right there to get the puppy.

The girl is soooo tiny, but she seems very healthy. She ate a good bit twice last night and had a big breakfast this morning. She's pottying like she should be, has strong sharp little teeth, alert eyes, loves to play and is full of energy. But I'm so nervous because of how little she is.

So, it looks like my little family has grown again. Is there anything special I should be doing? Or shouldn't be doing? I introduced her to my pups but I'm not letting them alone with her - they wouldn't intentionally hurt her I know, but even my little 4 pound Tate looks huge next to her. Any advice would be very much appreciated!! Help!!!

[cathys]

Well, you have to keep a close eye on her, make sure she eats and sleeps enough. These little ones can go fast, so I would give nutri-cal after play. If she seems slow at all give her some more. The most important thing is making sure she doesn't fall, hit her head, get stepped on, play to ruff. She is breakable, her bones are very small and it doesn't take much. If you have a playpen or x-pen I would use it. You're not a new yorkie mom, you can do this. Its just a lot of work, and worry. If you see anything out of the normal of course, go to the vet immediately, don't wait. Good luck, I'm sure you can handle it.

[chachi]

Congrats on the new pup. She is tiny just keep her eating about every 3 hrs or so. Im glad she went to you since your an experienced yorkie owner. I just dont think tinies should go to just anyone and especially someone that wants to breed them. Good luck

[Rhetts_mama]

I can't imagine giving a puppy away after only 3 1/2 weeks! Poor little baby must be so confused. Good for you for taking her and keeping her from a life of breeding. Scarlett was 18 oz when we brought her home, and that was scary tiny to us, too. I just can't imagine someone letting a 7 oz/ 6 week baby go

Thankfully, you've got experience with a smaller pup so you know what to look for and what to protect her from. I'm sure in no time you'll have her bigger and stronger and running around with your other pups. If not, send her here and I'll fatten her up- We've got no problems with weight gain in this house

[Sookie]

Congrats on your new puppy. I know you will do a fine job with her. So glad she wasn't sold as a "breeder" or put on Craig's List to be given to someone for reasons I don't even want to think about. Hope you post some pics soon.

[Dzbabykel]

Have you taken her to the vet yet to get checked out to make sure she's ok? Congrats on your new addition, she sounds like such a sweet baby and that is so sweet of you to take her in knowing she'll have a great home

[BonBon]

Originally Posted by cathys

Well, you have to keep a close eye on her, make sure she eats and sleeps enough. These little ones can go fast, so I would give nutri-cal after play. If she seems slow at all give her some more. The most important thing is making sure she doesn't fall, hit her head, get stepped on, play to ruff. She is breakable, her bones are very small and it doesn't take much. If you have a playpen or x-pen I would use it. You're not a new yorkie mom, you can do this. Its just a lot of work, and worry. If you see anything out of the normal of course, go to the vet immediately, don't wait. Good luck, I'm sure you can handle it.

Originally Posted by chachi

Congrats on the new pup. She is tiny just keep her eating about every 3 hrs or so. Im glad she went to you since your an experienced yorkie owner. I just dont think tinies should go to just anyone and especially someone that wants to breed them. Good luck

Thanks for the encouragement! So far eating doesn't seem to be a problem for her - she likes food. I do have plenty of Nutrical on hand. I've been checking to make sure her gums stay pink. Is there any other way to tell if she might need some Nutrical?

[BonBon]

Originally Posted by Rhetts_mama

I can't imagine giving a puppy away after only 3 1/2 weeks! Poor little baby must be so confused. Good for you for taking her and keeping her from a life of breeding. Scarlett was 18 oz when we brought her home, and that was scary tiny to us, too. I just can't imagine someone letting a 7 oz/ 6 week baby go

Thankfully, you've got experience with a smaller pup so you know what to look for and what to protect her from. I'm sure in no time you'll have her bigger and stronger and running around with your other pups. If not, send her here and I'll fatten her up- We've got no problems with weight gain in this house

Originally Posted by Sookie

Congrats on your new puppy. I know you will do a fine job with her. So glad she wasn't sold as a "breeder" or put on Craig's List to be given to someone for reasons I don't even want to think about. Hope you post some pics soon.

Thank you! When I first said I'd take her, I was thinking that I'd keep her, let her grow a little and then find a wonderful furever home because I hadn't planned on adding another pup. But when I actually saw her I knew I wasn't going to be able to do that, not as tiny as she is.

Sookie, she is absolutely the cutest little thing. I'm going to try to get some pics of her tonight, if I can get her to sit still long enough.

[JDS]

Oh my! She is small! It's wonderful that you opened your heart & your home to her...she's at least in good hands now. I was told to watch for changes in LuLu's normal behavior...if she's sleeping a lot more than her normal, not eating, etc. then she could be having a hypo attack. I've been watching her very closely (and she's 14 weeks 2.2lbs...).

Good luck with her! I pray that everything goes well for your new little one.

[BonBon]

Originally Posted by Dzbabykel

Have you taken her to the vet yet to get checked out to make sure she's ok? Congrats on your new addition, she sounds like such a sweet baby and that is so sweet of you to take her in knowing she'll have a great home

Thank you!

I have an appointment to take her in to see my vet tomorrow morning. Connie had already taken the puppy to the vet twice and she gave me those records to give to my vet. Thankfully she seems very healthy so far - I just pray she stays that way.

[BonBon]

Originally Posted by JDS

Oh my! She is small! It's wonderful that you opened your heart & your home to her...she's at least in good hands now. I was told to watch for changes in LuLu's normal behavior...if she's sleeping a lot more than her normal, not eating, etc. then she could be having a hypo attack. I've been watching her very closely (and she's 14 weeks 2.2lbs...).

Good luck with her! I pray that everything goes well for your new little one.

Thank you! Now I just realized I can't keep calling her the puppy - I need to start thinking about names.

[Sweet Apple]

Awwwwwww Bonnie...who in their right mind, and loved these babies as we do, would not do what you have done...bless you...As for the kind of people that wouldn't care for this baby...Well on them...I hope she brings you many many many years of wonderful love...Congratulations!

[terlis]

Thank-you for saving her from a life of who knows what. I can't believe that after such a short period of time these people would just give her away. At least they realized they could not take care of her.

[Wylie's Mom]

Bonny!!!!!!!!! OmGOSH!!! A teensy widdle BABY!

I'm dying! So, where are you at this moment....are you now leaning toward keeping the little tyke, bc it's sounding that way ?

I got Marcel when he was 4mths old and he weighed 1lb 4oz - he was little. I kept nutrical on hand, thought he's never been hypo. I free-fed kibble and also tried to be sure he ate every 4hrs. I was SUPER careful to keep him safe when we were all up on the sofa together etcetera....and of course, he still has to use little stairs for the sofa and bed.

I'm so excited!!! PICCIES!!!!

[Dzbabykel]

Originally Posted by BonBon

Thank you!

I have an appointment to take her in to see my vet tomorrow morning. Connie had already taken the puppy to the vet twice and she gave me those records to give to my vet. Thankfully she seems very healthy so far - I just pray she stays that way.

Wonderful! I pray she's a healthy baby too, can't wait to see pics!!