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Originally Posted by Janisowl  Just got back from the vet and the news is not good for my little runt. He said he was too tiny and dehydrated to dock his tail or take of dew claws. He game me a bottle and formula but said the chance was unlikely my little fellow would make it. He is .26 of an ounce. I am in tears but will do everything I possibly can to see this little one through. |
Not all tiny ones make it, but if yours is able to nurse, as you say he is, there's no reason not to be hopeful.
Did the vet give the pup any fluids? If he was de-hydrated, he should have.
I don't put much stock in commercial milk formulas. You'll be better off getting some goat's milk (available in cans in the grocery store) and mix it with equal parts water for a supplement. Add in a little karo syrup with it.
I would let him nurse but also supplement him. Sometimes the tiny ones will nurse but not get much and wind up using more energy than is in the milk they are getting. For a tiny, using an eyedropper for feeding works well. You can feed drop by drop so there is little chance of the pup aspirating the formula. Also, be sure to hold the pup upright and never feed a chilled pup. A newborn needs to be fed every 2 hours and needs 1 cc per ounce of body weight. Don't over feed him or it could back up and he could aspirate it. Better to feed a little less and more often than to risk that.
I know the weight you listed isn't correct. Did you mean 2.6 ounces? That would be a very small pup at 2.6 but I've had some down to 2 ounces and make it. Not all the tinies make it but yours has a chance. He hasn't died yet and that's a good thing. The first few days are critical and each day that passes is a good sign.
It's good that your vet didn't do his tail or dewclaws. My vet has been the same way and has put it off for a few days until the pup was thriving.
The two most important things for your pup are proper feeding and warmth at this time. At his size, he cannot maintain body heat as well as his littermates and may need to be put in a container where you can keep a bit more heat on him. The thing that worries me is the de-hydration and the vet should have given him fluids. If he didn't, I would call back today and bring him in for some sub-q fluids. A tiny can't take any setback at all and the de-hydration could kill him.
if you bring him back to the vet, warm a towel in the dryer and put that in a box to take him in. Don't let any drafts get on him. Keep that baby warm!
Feel free to PM me if I can help in any way.