Question about RUNT puppy of Bitsy's.

[Bentley&BitsysMom]

I was hoping someone might be able to tell me if I should worry about this or not.

One of Bitsy's puppies, the runt and the one that had it's little tail chewed or knawed off (but it has healed really well and she still has a tiny bit), and it's the one I am keeping because, first I have always loved the runts, and second I don't think anyone will want her without a tail and I feel sorry for her, anyway, she weighed about 4.5 ounces when she was about a week old and she now still only weighs about 10 ounces at 3 weeks and 4 days. All but two of the other puppies are at least twice her little size.

When I feed her, and I always feed her first, within seconds, I can hear and feel her breathing and it sounds wet. Kind of like when you have a bad cold and your chest is full. Sometimes milk comes out of her nose. It scares me and I'll take her and hold her securly in the air and dropped her down between my legs and sometimes milk comes out her nose then. This helps it seems but the noise is still there when I start feeding her again. She acts ok and seems hungry to eat when it's time, although she purses her lips really tight together and I feel like I"m forcing the whole thing and she squirms REALLY bad and holds her head way up in the air like she is trying to get away from me. She is really strong to be so tiny and that suprises me! She's the hardest to hold onto! Someone told my husband who breeds yorkies (a man, no offense guys) that if she had asperated milk or fluid she would die within a few minutes.

I spoke with the vet yesterday about this when I took Bitsy in for a check up and he said that if she did have fluid in her lungs it could cause an infection but he could NOT give her any medicine or antibiotic becasue she weighs so little. He also would not give Bitsy the shot to dry up her milk because he said it can cause problems with her kidneys. I've been to 4 different vets/animal hospitals over the last month and I am not happy with ANY of them!

Does anyone here know what I should do about the pup or if there is anything I can do? If I take her to our new vet he's aready said he won't be able to help her because of her size. I feel so sorry for her because of her tail incident and she's so tiny and I hate to think that she's got fluid in her lungs and I'm doing nothing about it and she can't help herself!!! According to that weight chart that I keep referring to she isn't gaining enough weight either. I hope I explained it good enough.

SORRY this is so long!!!

[Bentley&BitsysMom]

I've posted this picture of her on another thread but wanted you all to look at her again. She doesn't always look this alert but I don't know if that is because she isn't well or because she is sleepy. I'll try and take a picture of her next to the biggest pup and post it so you can see how fragile she is.

[Cookie2]

OMG she is beautiful! I have a question about what position she is inwhen you bottle feed her. I had to take over the "mother's role" once for a baby rabbit. I had to bottle feed it every 2-3 hrs. It was extremely tiny probably 2-4 ounces! Anyway this little girl also sounded as if she had fluid in her lungs when she breathed . Milk would come out of her nose when I fed her. I feel so guilty now. She ended up dieing right in the palm of my hand. It was too late when I found out the correct position to bottled feed . I used to put her in the palm of my left hand and feed her with my right hand. Well the reason the milk would come out of her nose was because I had her laying on the palm of my hand and the milk would actually go up her nose without me realizing it. This little baby would tighten up her lip and try to squirm out of my hand. Now I realize that the little baby rabbit was not able to breathe while I fed her in this position. I was told at the pet store that I have to sort of put her in a sitting position on my hand so the fluids could go down instead of up her nose.
I dont know if this helps at all but after reading your post it brought back those memories.

She looks adorable! I would take her with no tail!

Genie
www.littlemimi.org

[Bentley&BitsysMom]

Thank you Cookie! Except for the part about when the little rabbit dies

The vet told us about not letting them feed on their backs because of this. I take the pup and put it in my left hand and each and every one of them holds their heads in an upright position like towards the ceiling. We try to keep them sideways but their heads go up, not lying back, but upwards...does that make any sense at all?!?! The other pups seem to be doing fine. I can barely hold her! She squirms UPWARD the whole time stretching her little neck out and upwards as far as it will go, with her lips shut! Part of me is happy that I can even get the food inbetween her pursed lips! She wants to eat I can tell!

She is a cutie! Thanks for saying you would take her with no tail I've been afraid she'd be rejected by other yorkies because she is different

[Bentley&BitsysMom]

Please.....I'm hoping a breeder who has experienced this before can offer a suggestion.

[bettyeanne]

Michelle, I cannot tell you how it breaks my heart over this baby!! I cannot believe that a vet won't at least try to help her! I wish I were closer ... I would love to have her, she is gorgeous [who cares about a tail ... Toto only has a tiny one!]!! We will keep you all in our prayers!!

[SoCalyorkiLvr]

The vets may not want to help but I bet if you found another breeder in your area they would surely help her (and you). Do you know any breeders in your area? Can you call the YTCA and see if you can find one? Do the 4 vets you've been to know of any yorkie breeders near you? To be there in person and see and hold the pup would be a tremendous comfort and help in diagnosing this little one's problem. I am sure the members on here can offer some ideas but I think someone experienced in this actually seeing the puppy and reassuring you that you are doing everything coreectly would be best.

She really is a little doll! You are doing wonderful in my opinion!

[eensor]

Are you anywhere near a university vet school? The one here in Illinois is fabulous! Keep calling different vets until you get one who will help you! That baby is so precious! I'd love to have her! Who needs a big tail anyway?????

[Bentley&BitsysMom]

What is YTCA? I don't know of a university vet school near by, although there could be one. Would I look in the yellow pages for something like that? It breaks my heart too but one good thing is she is fiesty! I just took a few more pictures and I couldn't keep her still! She is the fiestiess one I know they can go downhill fast though so I'm keeping a watch on her. It's almost feeding time again. I also posted a picture of what I am feeding the pups. I mix the powder stuff with the milk. We were feeding them eukenuba puppy food with the milk until I found the ebsolac powder food that you mix with the ebsolac milk. Is that good? They seem to like it. Also took a picture of her rump, without a tail

I kept waiting to post this question hoping it would get better but it's not. Her name is Chloe. I hate to call her a runt cause that don't sound too nice but I wanted you all to know she's little.

[Bentley&BitsysMom]

Sorry! I don't know why the pics didn't post! Here they are.

[Bentley&BitsysMom]

Gosh, I hate to hog my own thread but I just looked at the pictures I posted and the shadow on the one of her sideways makes her look like she has more of a tail than she does! Here is another one. I'll probably have to keep her hair back there really short so it won't stay messy with poop. Poor little girl.

[Prissy012899]

she sure is sweet looking... we always get attached to the 'special' ones..
It sounds like maybe you are feeding her too fast... if milk is coming out of her nose..
are you using a bottle or syringe?
Also you might want to check and see if she has a cleft palette.. look at the roof of her mouth and see if it has a whole in it.

[aimee]

I am just so sorry you keep having issues with these vets. I agree that maybe you should contact the YTCA (Yorkshire Terrier Club of America) and see if there is an experienced breeder close to you who may be willing to come look at her. Here's a list of the breeders' contact information:
http://www.ytca.org/breeder3.html

I think it's great that you are keeping the little girl, although I really don't think you would have a problem placing her - looks to me like most of US would love to have her

Thanks so much for keeping us updated on your babies. They are in my constant thoughts.

[YorkieRose]

I just read your post.
Is she able to lick Baby food meat off your fingers? You should put tiny bits of the pureed baby meat in her mouth..the same way you would put a bit of peanutbutter on the roof the mouth. I would try very hard to get her to lap from a dish, she seems to be inhaling her milk..do what you are doing and shake her down.
I debate about saying this, but you are a big girl and it needs to be said...prepare yourself for a possible loss if this puppy. Does she seem lathargic at all? Does she ever throw up her food? If she does, have the vet xray her epsohagus..sometimes a small pocket can form (birth defect) and that is serious..but they will vomit food..if she doesn't, I would rule it out. She may be just fine in a few weeks, once she is weaned and eating on her own..don't be discouraged, if there is a serious health problem, it is best to know from the start...BUT she may be okay, just tiny.
I would call a toy show breeder and ask them to recommend a vet...

[Lexi's_Mommy]

I can't offer any help but am sending {{{HUGS}}}. I hope it all gets better soon.

PS
I would buy her in a heart beat, she is just too precious...