puppy home too soon- need help - YorkieTalk.com Forums

hkelly21 · 05-28-2011, 08:24 PM

I know she isn't a yorkie, but I just picked up a yorkie maltese mix today and could really use some advice. before i went to get her i talked to the husband, who told me they were about seven weeks. when i got there, I was told by his wife that she was eating on her own, and ready to go. the mother was outside the puppies were already in their own pen. I brought her home, and noticed she barely had teeth coming in. After doing some research I called back and found out that their date of birth was actually a month ago from today (just over 4 weeks old). I called my vet, who suggested moistening dry puppy food with water and feeding that every few hours, and so far she has been eating it and she is going potty regularly. Im just very worried that something else could be wrong (or end up going wrong)

any advice please help, and i know it was very wrong of these people to do this and i do plan on reporting them, but it isnt really possible for me to take the dog back as i picked it up about three hours from my house, and i dont trust the conditions these people have the rest of these puppies in.

Mom to Hot Rod · 05-28-2011, 10:27 PM

First of, Welcome to YT. Wow, sounds like you have your hands full. Even at 7 weeks old, pups are too young to leave momma. Please make certain that you have something called Nutrical on hand. You can get it Petsmart, Petco or local pet supply store.

You should definitely make sure that your pup is eating and drinking water. I am no expert but hopefully someone with more knowlegde of pups will come on. Did your vet advise on giving any milk type of supplements? I would think that at 4/5 weeks they are still drinking moms milk?

Bumping this up, hoping that someone will come on that knows more about this. Also, you may want to try and start a thread in the Breeders forum as they are very knowledgable about what pups and moms should be doing at what age. Good luck to you and your baby. What is her name?

Just started this thread in the Breeder section for you...hopefully someone will be able to help you.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/bre...ve-advice.html

Woogie Man · 05-28-2011, 11:46 PM

Oh, wow! You've taken on a lot with this pup. This pup is not a baby dog but an INFANT dog. She has only had her feet under her for a little more than a week and is nowhere near ready to be placed in anyone's home.

Good thing she's eating well so far. Since toy breeds typically nurse for 7 to 8 weeks, I'd suggest using goat's milk instead of water to soften the food. You can find it in most grocery stores alongside the evaporated milk. It comes in a can and should be diluted with equal parts water. Serve at room temp or you can warm it to about body temp (which I would do). A little karo added in would be helpful. She should be fed 5 times daily at regular intervals at this age. That doesn't mean putting the food down, but making sure she actually eats.

Needless to say, this baby cannot be left alone at this time. She should be kept in a confined area, such as an x-pen, and not left to run the whole house. When she is out, she should not be allowed to play hard for more than a few minutes at a time. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can happen if the baby plays too hard or doesn't eat enough or any combination of those things and can be deadly in a very short amount of time.

So much more for you to know, but keeping this baby safe and ensuring its survival are your top priorities for now. She is an infant...I can't stress that enough. Make sure she eats regularly, absolutely limit her playtime and don't give her run of the house. Also, she has not been vaccinated yet so no going outside at all. Viruses can be both in the ground and airborne. She has no defenses for this so must be kept inside until her 2nd round of shots (usually at 12 weeks...first round at 8 weeks). Even then only take her out into your own yard and wait until she has been fully vaccinated to take her away from the house.

This is by no means a complete list of things, but should help you to at least keep her going for right now. Watch her like a hawk...especially for signs of lethargy, spaciness, wobbly on her feet, drooling or head bobbing. These are all signs of hypoglycemia, which is probably your most immediate worry. Get a tube of Nutri-Cal to keep on hand for this, but karo syrup will do if need be. Of course, if you see any signs of this, get her in to a vet right away. They can go downhill hill extremely fast. The Nutri-Cal or syrup could be given before you leave for the vet's. It will help at least somewhat until you get there. The best thing is to not have this happen, though, and the best prevention is making sure she eats right and limit playtime.

I know I'm repeating myself, but it is to stress just how important these things are at this time. It will be a little while yet before you can enjoy her as the pup you likely expected.

It may be difficult with the holiday weekend to see your vet until Tuesday. Just keep her warm, safe and fed until then and take her in for a wellness check. Don't hesitate to use an emergency vet if the need arises before then.

Best of luck.

K0b3 · 05-28-2011, 11:54 PM

my story is similar to your, i pick my baby up when he was 5 1/2 weeks old and didnt knw it bad for puppy bcuz the woman told me that he can eat solid food and she already start separate the mommy with the puppies, kobe barely have any teeth too, i run to petsmart and buy the puppy milk replacement formular home mix like the instruction and feed him, i also feed him Cesar wet food for puppy, i see some of other advise that you can process the dry kibble and mix with goat milk, i mix the kibble with the replacement milk, i also boil chicken breast and baby carrot and cauli flower, chop them really good and he love to eat it too, kobe now is 8 weeks old, really cant give you any advise cuz i still dont knw that i doin it rit or not but that dat wat i did

chachi · 05-29-2011, 01:54 AM

I would moisten the food with goats milk

susan lynn · 05-29-2011, 03:34 AM

You can get a lot of great advice here on YT. Praying everything goes well for you and your new baby.

Rhetts_mama · 05-29-2011, 05:00 AM

At a little over a month old, her immune system is really weak. You will need to be extremely careful with her. Absolutely NO trips outside yet. When you take her to the vet, hold her and don't let her down on to the ground!

Also, if she shows ANY signs of illness (vomitting, diarrhea, coughing, lethargy) take her to the vet immediately. At this point in her life she doesn't have the reserves to try and fight things off on her own. Like Woogie said, it's a Holiday weekend, so locate your nearest 24 hour emergency vet and put their number by your phone.

Good luck.

JESSY_RN2B · 05-29-2011, 05:07 AM

Wow, this short from abuse from this breeders part

Good advice you have received. Much luck

deonk1 · 05-29-2011, 05:32 AM

Praying for your little baby, you've been given good advice, and good on you for recognizing how irresponsible that breeder is, at least you can rest assured that this one pup will be in good hands.

I wish you luck also in reporting the breeder. It's terrible that this person put those pups in danger. Keep us posted, and once she's a little less fragile post some pics of her

Just keep her warm, hydrated and fed.

babiegurl · 05-29-2011, 05:53 AM

Wow! Here I am thinking my puppy was too young to leave her mom (she is 9 weeks), but your situation is tragic! I hope all works out for you and your little one. Please keep us updated!

TxVicki · 05-29-2011, 10:56 AM

Woogie Man your back. I have missed your posts.

Perrella · 05-29-2011, 11:23 AM

Oh my, how very sad for the little momma to lose her babies at 4 weeks. It breaks my heart for both momma & baby.

Sending much needed prayers for this little girl...by the grace of God, she will survive. Also sending good thoughts and prayers to you. Be strong and be diligent with her constant care and guidance.

Hugs))) to you & kisses to your baby.

Rhetts_mama · 05-29-2011, 12:54 PM

Something else you need to do is report this person who sold you the dog. In Illinois, it's illegal to sell a dog under 8 weeks of age.

BanditSocks2 · 05-29-2011, 01:00 PM

Woogie Man gave great advice. You def want to report it as well to prevent this person from doing it again.

Good look with your little pup!

My lil friend · 05-29-2011, 01:14 PM

On the subject of Nutracal. I went to the pet store to purchase before bringing my new baby home. The petstore (Petsmart) tried to sell me a GNC version. Do not make a purchase unless it says "Nutracal" the GNC versions first ingredient is vegetable oil. I made the purchase from the vet that has its offices onsite at Petsmart,Banfield. My usual vet does not carry Nutracal.

05-28-2011, 08:24 PM	#1
hkelly21 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: May 2011 Location: Rockford, il Posts: 2	puppy home too soon- need help I know she isn't a yorkie, but I just picked up a yorkie maltese mix today and could really use some advice. before i went to get her i talked to the husband, who told me they were about seven weeks. when i got there, I was told by his wife that she was eating on her own, and ready to go. the mother was outside the puppies were already in their own pen. I brought her home, and noticed she barely had teeth coming in. After doing some research I called back and found out that their date of birth was actually a month ago from today (just over 4 weeks old). I called my vet, who suggested moistening dry puppy food with water and feeding that every few hours, and so far she has been eating it and she is going potty regularly. Im just very worried that something else could be wrong (or end up going wrong) any advice please help, and i know it was very wrong of these people to do this and i do plan on reporting them, but it isnt really possible for me to take the dog back as i picked it up about three hours from my house, and i dont trust the conditions these people have the rest of these puppies in.

05-28-2011, 10:27 PM	#2
Mom to Hot Rod Donating YT 5000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: MD Posts: 10,908	First of, Welcome to YT. Wow, sounds like you have your hands full. Even at 7 weeks old, pups are too young to leave momma. Please make certain that you have something called Nutrical on hand. You can get it Petsmart, Petco or local pet supply store. You should definitely make sure that your pup is eating and drinking water. I am no expert but hopefully someone with more knowlegde of pups will come on. Did your vet advise on giving any milk type of supplements? I would think that at 4/5 weeks they are still drinking moms milk? Bumping this up, hoping that someone will come on that knows more about this. Also, you may want to try and start a thread in the Breeders forum as they are very knowledgable about what pups and moms should be doing at what age. Good luck to you and your baby. What is her name? Just started this thread in the Breeder section for you...hopefully someone will be able to help you. http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/bre...ve-advice.html __________________ www.kissecollar.com Soft Cone Collars for Post-surgery and much more! 10% (non-food) - Discount code YT10 Last edited by Mom to Hot Rod; 05-28-2011 at 10:32 PM.

05-28-2011, 11:46 PM	#3
Woogie Man Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mississippi Posts: 2,564	Oh, wow! You've taken on a lot with this pup. This pup is not a baby dog but an INFANT dog. She has only had her feet under her for a little more than a week and is nowhere near ready to be placed in anyone's home. Good thing she's eating well so far. Since toy breeds typically nurse for 7 to 8 weeks, I'd suggest using goat's milk instead of water to soften the food. You can find it in most grocery stores alongside the evaporated milk. It comes in a can and should be diluted with equal parts water. Serve at room temp or you can warm it to about body temp (which I would do). A little karo added in would be helpful. She should be fed 5 times daily at regular intervals at this age. That doesn't mean putting the food down, but making sure she actually eats. Needless to say, this baby cannot be left alone at this time. She should be kept in a confined area, such as an x-pen, and not left to run the whole house. When she is out, she should not be allowed to play hard for more than a few minutes at a time. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can happen if the baby plays too hard or doesn't eat enough or any combination of those things and can be deadly in a very short amount of time. So much more for you to know, but keeping this baby safe and ensuring its survival are your top priorities for now. She is an infant...I can't stress that enough. Make sure she eats regularly, absolutely limit her playtime and don't give her run of the house. Also, she has not been vaccinated yet so no going outside at all. Viruses can be both in the ground and airborne. She has no defenses for this so must be kept inside until her 2nd round of shots (usually at 12 weeks...first round at 8 weeks). Even then only take her out into your own yard and wait until she has been fully vaccinated to take her away from the house. This is by no means a complete list of things, but should help you to at least keep her going for right now. Watch her like a hawk...especially for signs of lethargy, spaciness, wobbly on her feet, drooling or head bobbing. These are all signs of hypoglycemia, which is probably your most immediate worry. Get a tube of Nutri-Cal to keep on hand for this, but karo syrup will do if need be. Of course, if you see any signs of this, get her in to a vet right away. They can go downhill hill extremely fast. The Nutri-Cal or syrup could be given before you leave for the vet's. It will help at least somewhat until you get there. The best thing is to not have this happen, though, and the best prevention is making sure she eats right and limit playtime. I know I'm repeating myself, but it is to stress just how important these things are at this time. It will be a little while yet before you can enjoy her as the pup you likely expected. It may be difficult with the holiday weekend to see your vet until Tuesday. Just keep her warm, safe and fed until then and take her in for a wellness check. Don't hesitate to use an emergency vet if the need arises before then. Best of luck. __________________ ORANGUTANS ARE DYING FOR THE SAKE OF CHEAP PALM OIL....AND YOU USE IT!!! http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/ani...m-oil-you.html

05-29-2011, 01:54 AM	#5
chachi I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 37,147	I would moisten the food with goats milk __________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431 Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427

05-29-2011, 03:34 AM	#6
susan lynn Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Georgia Posts: 3,262	You can get a lot of great advice here on YT. Praying everything goes well for you and your new baby. __________________ SUSAN : TESSIE : HOBBES :CALVIN :SASSY There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face! ~ Ben Williams

05-28-2011, 11:54 PM	#4
K0b3 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2011 Location: Flowood, Ms Posts: 41	my story is similar to your, i pick my baby up when he was 5 1/2 weeks old and didnt knw it bad for puppy bcuz the woman told me that he can eat solid food and she already start separate the mommy with the puppies, kobe barely have any teeth too, i run to petsmart and buy the puppy milk replacement formular home mix like the instruction and feed him, i also feed him Cesar wet food for puppy, i see some of other advise that you can process the dry kibble and mix with goat milk, i mix the kibble with the replacement milk, i also boil chicken breast and baby carrot and cauli flower, chop them really good and he love to eat it too, kobe now is 8 weeks old, really cant give you any advise cuz i still dont knw that i doin it rit or not but that dat wat i did

05-29-2011, 05:00 AM	#7
Rhetts_mama Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Georgia Posts: 5,959 Blog Entries: 1	At a little over a month old, her immune system is really weak. You will need to be extremely careful with her. Absolutely NO trips outside yet. When you take her to the vet, hold her and don't let her down on to the ground! Also, if she shows ANY signs of illness (vomitting, diarrhea, coughing, lethargy) take her to the vet immediately. At this point in her life she doesn't have the reserves to try and fight things off on her own. Like Woogie said, it's a Holiday weekend, so locate your nearest 24 hour emergency vet and put their number by your phone. Good luck. __________________ Don't get your knickers in a knot. Nothing is solved and it just makes you walk funny.

05-29-2011, 05:07 AM	#8
JESSY_RN2B Owned by 3 furballs Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 6,581	Wow, this short from abuse from this breeders part Good advice you have received. Much luck __________________ Bobbi Yorkietalk http://www.dogster.com/dogs/395435 And now........little Aja too! http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/23776545

05-29-2011, 05:32 AM	#9
deonk1 YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada Posts: 1,795	Praying for your little baby, you've been given good advice, and good on you for recognizing how irresponsible that breeder is, at least you can rest assured that this one pup will be in good hands. I wish you luck also in reporting the breeder. It's terrible that this person put those pups in danger. Keep us posted, and once she's a little less fragile post some pics of her Just keep her warm, hydrated and fed. __________________ Kendra Harley, you were the light in my life, rest peacefully my love!

05-29-2011, 05:53 AM	#10
babiegurl Currently Suspended! Join Date: May 2011 Location: Chicago Posts: 198	Wow! Here I am thinking my puppy was too young to leave her mom (she is 9 weeks), but your situation is tragic! I hope all works out for you and your little one. Please keep us updated!

05-29-2011, 10:56 AM	#11
TxVicki Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: At Home Posts: 8,386	Woogie Man your back. I have missed your posts. __________________ [SIZE="3"VICKI & ALLIE[/SIZE]

05-29-2011, 11:23 AM	#12
Perrella Donating YT 5000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: VA Posts: 8,040	Oh my, how very sad for the little momma to lose her babies at 4 weeks. It breaks my heart for both momma & baby. Sending much needed prayers for this little girl...by the grace of God, she will survive. Also sending good thoughts and prayers to you. Be strong and be diligent with her constant care and guidance. Hugs))) to you & kisses to your baby. __________________ Tena & Zhoie Sweet Little Miracle

05-29-2011, 12:54 PM	#13
Rhetts_mama Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Georgia Posts: 5,959 Blog Entries: 1	Something else you need to do is report this person who sold you the dog. In Illinois, it's illegal to sell a dog under 8 weeks of age. __________________ Don't get your knickers in a knot. Nothing is solved and it just makes you walk funny.

05-29-2011, 01:00 PM	#14
BanditSocks2 YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Crofton, MD, USA Posts: 1,522	Woogie Man gave great advice. You def want to report it as well to prevent this person from doing it again. Good look with your little pup!

05-29-2011, 01:14 PM	#15
My lil friend Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: FtWorth,TX,USA Posts: 3,269	On the subject of Nutracal. I went to the pet store to purchase before bringing my new baby home. The petstore (Petsmart) tried to sell me a GNC version. Do not make a purchase unless it says "Nutracal" the GNC versions first ingredient is vegetable oil. I made the purchase from the vet that has its offices onsite at Petsmart,Banfield. My usual vet does not carry Nutracal.