Need to Care for Puppies w/o Mom

[FlDebra]

Originally Posted by Amazing Yorkies

I am so sorry for your loss! I too sadly had to feed a litter of 5. My Mama dog had her stitches break open 4 days after a C-section. I was away finally running errands since nothing got done in the previous week of preparing for whelping and the subsequent Section. I returned 1 hour later and she had already passed from loss of blood. I was a wreck, and after 6 yrs can just barely talk about it.
Anyway.. I thought I would go insane from being so tired, but the babies thrived, ...

I am sorry you went through such a tragic experience too. It is a bittersweet situation for sure. Thanks for the empathy and words of wisdom. I can see how having the shots and antibiotics on hand to administer yourself could save a life. I guess I was not nearly as prepared as I thought.

I have been so busy I don't think it has sunk in yet just how much I will miss Sadie. She was my cuddler. Ben is Mr. Independent -- "I will come love on you when I need it and not a moment before" -- who likes attention but on his terms. Sadie was always ready to curl up in my lap. I looked at your website and fell in love with both TNT and Kaboom. They have that "look" I love. All of your Yorkies look adorable, but I was really taken by those two boys.

[dianethomas]

I'm so sorry you lost your precious cuddle bug!
I have never raised a whole litter, but, like Breny, I did hand raise a single cleft palate puppy, except ours was a Yorkie. I bottle fed him until about three weeks, when I had to switch to tube feeding. I used the esbillac powdered, because I didn't know any better. I didn't find this forum until he was 10 weeks old, or so, and was just doing the best I could.
I actually tried the liquid form, but I liked the powder better, because I could make just enough for one day.
One thing that worked for us, was keeping a large coffee mug of water on an electric candle warmer, and dipping the bottle in it for just long enough to heat it. If I accidentally got it too warm, I would cool it in ice water for a second or two.
You have an advantage, in that you have a litter, which will keep snuggled together in a warm heap. If you find they are not warm enough, try a heating lamp.
Do try to get rest when you can. By the time Zacchie was three weeks old, I was a zombie, resorting to the assistence of a ten-year-old. (she was a great help)
If you have any direct questions, PM me. I'll be happy to help any way I can.
Hugs!