Worried Momma!...long post

[Whitney Allen]

It has been a few weeks since I've posted on here, but some of you may know I lost my little Lacey in an accident on November 29 and I got my little boy Willie on December 20. I don't know if it is just the fact that I had witnessed a horrific and tragic accient with Lacey that makes me that much more concerned with Willie or what but I feel like I am worrying all the time.

First of all, I think that the breeder I got Willie from lied & said that he was 6 weeks when I got him and completely weaned (because it was close to Christmas & I think they wanted to get rid of them)...now 6 weeks is EXTREMELY early to get a Yorkie (when I got Lacey she was almost 12 weeks; and I didn't get Willie from the same breeder). Anyway, I have a feeling in my gut that he will JUST be turning 7 weeks tomorrow and not the 9 that he "should" be (which if you do the math that would have had me picking him up at FOUR WEEKS OLD)! He checked out fine at the vet 3 weeks ago when I took him & he will be going next Saturday for his check-up/2nd shots. He is SO small, barely over 1 pound and this is why I think he isn't as old as she led me to believe.

Anyway, he had/has coccidia and has been on Albon for the last 10 days, yet when he poops, it is still mucousy with a little blood in it. I still have a bit of the Albon left, should I keep giving it to him? Another thing that has had me in a fret is that he isn't really eating much. I've tried many different things, and he seems to not like any of it. I need a suggestion for the best kibble out there, because I don't feel like Pedigree is doing the trick with him. Next, (lol, I told you I'm a worrier) he has slept ALL day. This is the first time that he has done anything like this in the 3 weeks I've had him. I know that young puppies are just like infants & need a lot of sleep, but since he's been sleeping all day, he hasn't had any food to eat, but I have given him a bit of Nutri-Cal and he's had some water. But usually he is up running around & attempting to play. Today, nothing...just sleep.

These are all things I'm going to talk to the vet about next week, but is there any cause for him to get in there sooner? I guess I'm just worried because I don't ever remember having any issues like this with Lacey & the last thing I need to have happen is lose another precious baby. Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated...I get on here and make myself sick reading all the possible things that could go wrong & I just want to have another healthy, happy & fun dog!

I'm attaching a few pictures of Willie I took several days ago...even the pictures are decieving, really he is as big as my hand, but I do feel like he has grown a bit since I've had him.

[bildio]

I can't answer your questions, but he sure is cute & healthy looking.

Hope he's better soon.

[jmdt]

I don't have any experience with this but someone on here will chime in

and help you. They are so knowledgeable and always willing to help. I just

wanted to tell you your baby is sooo cute. CONGRATULATIONS We are sending well wishes and great big hugs from...


COCO PEBBLES TRIXIE

P.S. So sorry for your loss I know it's hard YOU BE A WORRY WART ALL YOU WANT People used to say tht to me all the time about my skin kids I'd say that's fine just call me Overprotective But they are my babies.

[mscat]

wow, Willie is very, very tiny. Has the vet did any tests for worms? common in puppies and can be past on from the mother. My concern is if this baby was fully weaned ?
What has he been eating so far? Dry kibble may be too hard for him to eat. You may need to try a good quality canned puppy food. Will he eat off your finger?
I am guessing that your able to spend a lot of time with him, correct? Anther thing to do is to keep him warm . I raised a newborn kitten before and made a bed for her, by using a heating pad and blankets. Then I fed her ever couple hrs.
When they are thistiny and young they need so much extra care. Anther thing to be careful about is Hypo. eposoides. Have Nut-cal on hand always. To advoid any low blood sugar attacks, this will cause your baby to sleep a lot, and stagger. He needs to be eating at night too in order to stay healthy.
You have been taking care of him this long, and so far so good. Keep doing what your doing, and be sure that Willie is always kept very safe and secure.
He is at a good weight right now for being so young.
Best wishes, Willie is precious.

[phfgkl]

How do his little gums look, are they nice and pink or pale looking? To me, he looks to be around 9 weeks, he's probably just very small. My little one just turned 7 mos and she's only around 2 lbs, so, some are just tiny. Mine also has her times of day where she'll play, but, still sleeps a lot.
I would put a little warm water on his food, let it sit until it softens up, and see if that works. I don't know if you're free feeding, but, I would also do that, you can count out the kibbles, and then later on count them again to see if he's eaten. Sounds like you're doing everything right and are just worried. I would also continue giving him the albon until he's better, it won't hurt him. If he's not better Monday, you may need to get him back in to the vet. You have to remember, even if he's 9 weeks, that's still 3 weeks younger than Lacey was when you bought her, and 3 weeks makes a big difference.
The coccidia they can get when going to a new home, so, it's nothing the breeder or yourself brought on.
Just keep doing what you're doing, and try not to worry...things will be fine.

[LilMissy]

Oh my gosh, he is SO precious! What a little cutiepie! He looks very healthy in his pictures. I tend to believe he may only be 7 weeks old too. When I compare him to my pictures of Missy he looks more like when she was 7 weeks old then when she was 9. Also his weight is the same as hers was at 7 weeks. At that age I had to give Missy Nutrical 3 times per day, and I gradually weaned that down over the next month. I also had to take her "Go" Puppy dog food, wet it down, mash it with a fork and mix it with some canned food of the same kind. Make sure he is eating regularly. Here is a great website to find a better quality food Dog Food Analysis - Reviews of kibble Pedigree is not a great food (only rated 1 star) you may want to start weaning him over to something better.

I know how you feel about constantly feeling worried. I was exactly the same way with Missy when I got her. I didn't really start to relax until she was 12 weeks old. I'm just glad that Willie is in good hands, and you are taking such great care of him.

[Nikis2]

Has he had any shots yet. Have you checked his temperature it should be around 101-102. I would make up a mixture of 1 can evaporated milk 1 can water 1 egg yolk and mix in some kero syrup and start syringing it or spooning it into him. I would also make sure he has been wormed. Puppies should be wormed every couple of weeks 2,4,6,8, so I would make sure that is done ASAP. A baby needs heat and energy to survive he should be kept very warm and I would make sure I get some more Nutri Cal or kero syrup in him. You can even give him pedialite. A good quality dry puppy food should be given but that baby should be eating mostly soft foods. You can give him some baby rice cereal or jar chicken and gravy. I personally cook for my babies. Chicken, sweet potatoes, green beans. I would make sure any one who touches him or where ever he is is very clean. Good luck but get his sugar levels up and get him eating immediately. I will be praying for your georgeous little man

[Whitney Allen]

THANK YOU!!! Everyone's words of encouragement are making me feel just like an overprotective fool. He ate a bit of soft food this evening and is running around a little; not as much as usual but still some.

As far as worming goes, the breeders said they gave him his first worming medication when I picked him up but the vet said they don't use medication that is strong enough, so he wormed him 3 weeks ago and I gave him his last round this past Tuesday. I haven't seen any worms, live or dead in his poop so maybe he never had any?

[adorame]

Originally Posted by Whitney Allen

It has been a few weeks since I've posted on here, but some of you may know I lost my little Lacey in an accident on November 29 and I got my little boy Willie on December 20. I don't know if it is just the fact that I had witnessed a horrific and tragic accient with Lacey that makes me that much more concerned with Willie or what but I feel like I am worrying all the time.

First of all, I think that the breeder I got Willie from lied & said that he was 6 weeks when I got him and completely weaned (because it was close to Christmas & I think they wanted to get rid of them)...now 6 weeks is EXTREMELY early to get a Yorkie (when I got Lacey she was almost 12 weeks; and I didn't get Willie from the same breeder). Anyway, I have a feeling in my gut that he will JUST be turning 7 weeks tomorrow and not the 9 that he "should" be (which if you do the math that would have had me picking him up at FOUR WEEKS OLD)! He checked out fine at the vet 3 weeks ago when I took him & he will be going next Saturday for his check-up/2nd shots. He is SO small, barely over 1 pound and this is why I think he isn't as old as she led me to believe.

Anyway, he had/has coccidia and has been on Albon for the last 10 days, yet when he poops, it is still mucousy with a little blood in it. I still have a bit of the Albon left, should I keep giving it to him? Another thing that has had me in a fret is that he isn't really eating much. I've tried many different things, and he seems to not like any of it. I need a suggestion for the best kibble out there, because I don't feel like Pedigree is doing the trick with him. Next, (lol, I told you I'm a worrier) he has slept ALL day. This is the first time that he has done anything like this in the 3 weeks I've had him. I know that young puppies are just like infants & need a lot of sleep, but since he's been sleeping all day, he hasn't had any food to eat, but I have given him a bit of Nutri-Cal and he's had some water. But usually he is up running around & attempting to play. Today, nothing...just sleep.

These are all things I'm going to talk to the vet about next week, but is there any cause for him to get in there sooner? I guess I'm just worried because I don't ever remember having any issues like this with Lacey & the last thing I need to have happen is lose another precious baby. Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated...I get on here and make myself sick reading all the possible things that could go wrong & I just want to have another healthy, happy & fun dog!

I'm attaching a few pictures of Willie I took several days ago...even the pictures are decieving, really he is as big as my hand, but I do feel like he has grown a bit since I've had him.

I think that your Willie might just on the small side I went and looked at a earlier post you did on Willie on 12-20-2008 and you had pictures posted of him( what a cutie!) He did not look to be only 4 weeks old in the photos. You can go check the nursery page and see other breeders post pictures of their puppies at different ages to see the stages to get a better look at why I think he was not 4 weeks. My Jeter was very tiny when we brought him home, he was 10 weeks old when we got him his weight was 1 pound 2 ounces. I got to see him when he was 3 day's old and after that my breeder sent us weekly photos and I also went and visited him a few times before he came home.


When Jeter was 12 weeks he was found to have Coccidia, his weight was 1 pound 4 ounces he was put on Albon and was to be seen again every week for stool and weight check. His vet believed it was more due to stress that he had Coccidia because he was home for 2 weeks before he had it and they had checked his stools twice before and did not find it. He had Coccidia for 2 weeks and 3 day's! His vet checked his stool samples weekly for a while. His vet had him take the Albon for 21 day's total Jeter lost 5 1/2 ounces he weighed less than when we first brought him home He slept a lot too when we got him and even more when he had Coccidia. I was a worry wort myself and I was lucky my vet would let me bring him in just to check his weight weekly. It was hard to get his weight back on and his vet had me bringing him in for weight checks. I ended up having to get Dyne, a supplement that adds calories to his food. I gave him a mix of dry kibble and wet food. Merrick puppy plate wet and Chicken soup for the puppy lovers soul dry. I put his food on a tea cup saucer instead of his bowl and he ate fine from it, it was easy to get to I guess He still likes his food served this way.

If you are worried about him, I would just give the vet a call and see if they would like to see him sooner.They can do another stool check and you can make sure as to how long your vet would like to keep him on his Albon. I know that since you had a loss of your beloved Lacey you are going to be very protective and worry about your sweet li'l Willie and that is very understandable! Keep us informed on how he is doing!!

[Whitney Allen]

THANK YOU!!! Everyone's words of encouragement are making me feel just like an overprotective fool. He ate a bit of soft food this evening and is running around a little; not as much as usual but still some. The breeder said he was fully weaned, but I'm not so sure.

As far as worming goes, the breeders said they gave him his first worming medication when I picked him up but the vet said that typically breeders don't use medication that is strong enough to get the job done, so he wormed him 3 weeks ago and I gave him his last round this past Tuesday. I haven't seen any worms, live or dead in his poop so maybe he never had any?

I did give him some Pedialyte (unflavored is best, right?) and some more Nutri-Cal and I think that is what gave him a little appetite. Does anybody think that being on Albon makes the appetitie funny or lessened? His gums are medium pink so I think that he's hydrated enough, hopefully.

The real reason that I question if he's as old as they say he is: Lacey was the runt of her litter and she only grew to be about 3 1/2-4 pounds on a fat day and this guy is a great deal smaller than her. I just keep praying I'll wake up and he's about 4 1/2-5 pounds, I'll feel MUCH better when that day comes! The lady that I got him from was just the nicest person around and she seemed genuine & caring so maybe I'm just being an idiot. I mean she did have 23 healthy Yorkies, she must be doing something right. I don't have any children so I guess this is my way of freting over my "baby".

[bildio]

Coccidia is seen under a microscope, so you can't tell be inspecting the stool yourself. Best to get another stool sample checked by the vet. Not to worry, but just to make sure he's worm/parasite free.

[Koran]

I lost my 17 yr old dog to a tragic accident and I understand the worry. Your baby is just small. You are not a fool and if the breeder is nice you should try to rely on her as well. I would not get a pup from a breeder I couldnt call with my concerns after the puppy comes home. My breeder spoiled me, she would be there for me in a heartbeat no matter time of day!
Your baby is gorgeous, looks healthy. Make sure his eyes are clear and his nose is not clammy and follow the great advice the folks here have given and you will be fine. The tiny ones sometimes need a little more attention so it sounds like he got the perfect mommy!

[Whitney Allen]

So, just as I thought I should have, I followed my gut instinct and I went ahead and took Willie to the vet first thing this morning. They have him there doing blood work & x-rays. When I brought him home 3 weeks ago his weight was 1.1 pounds and today he only weighs 14 ounces. So he's losing weight. The vet thinks that he may have been subjected to a "puppy mill" type of breeder. Oh my gosh I am freaking out! I don't get it, when I went to see him, their house was very clean, the puppies were playing and up until Friday night, Willie was acting normal. Our vet just doesnt think he's getting bigger like he's supposed to...and it's not because I'm not doing all I can to feed/nourish him. I am with him round the clock and trying my damnest to help this little guy get bigger. The vet will be calling me back around noon with updates.

I don't know why but I have the worst luck with things. First my Lacey dies in November & now this poor little guy is sick.

[yorkieaddict]

Your baby is so cute and I am sorry you are going through this. It sounds like you are doing everything you can for your furbaby. I think that Willie has the best chance for a long healthy life with you. Good for you for caring so much for Willie!

[chattiesmom]

Thank you for the update on Willie. I am just seeing your post. It is always a good thing to follow your instincts.

It sounds like you are doing all you can to be a good Yorkie Mom - granted Willie was very young when you brought him home, BUT you are taking great care of him. Who knows what would have happened to the poor little guy if the breeder was that anxious to be rid of him. Sounds like a very bad breeder (but save that for another thread). You are little Willie's hero Mom!

He is adorable. Hopefully the vet can get to the bottom of his problems and send him home well on the road to recovery. Coccidia is evil, no doubt about it, and sometimes it takes more than one round of meds to get over it. If you aren't already, you need to wash everything he uses that is washable in the hottest water possible, and use a good disinfectant on floors, his crate (if he has one) etc.

Good luck and please keep us posted about your precious little one.

I am also sending belated condolences for your little lost Lacey.