New momma panting heavily while feeding.
 

Tiffany was basically doing fine since the delivery BUT She was panting heavily when nursing the pups! I was beginning to get concerned especially once I read that panting could be an early sign of a calcium deficiency!!!

Well this morning the vet gave the all clear! She is only panting when the pups are feeding. Other than that she is her old self. If I keep her occupied by feeding her some snacks or petting/holding her head she stops and is ok.

The vet said the panting is because of stress, first time mom and all.

With all the other calcium issues that some of the other welps especially the one in the UK where all but 1 pup was lost I was getting pretty anxious! To be so close and then have disaster strike would be just devastating.

Has anyone else had the problem with a first time mom? Anything else to watch out for at this stage.

The youngest pup lost a bit of blood before we could suture the umbilical cord but seems ok but he is not gaining wieght like the other 2. He seems to be getting pushed around and climbed up on by the two bigger pups and having to work harder to get a teat and keep it. But He is doing it. Tiffany is not rejecting him so that is a good thing. We are watching closely but not sure what else to do. We dont want to bottle feed if we dont have to. Tiffany if very protective of the pups and it is hard to get our hands in there very often

I guess one of the pups had to be the runt. He had the hardest delivery so it is too bad he is till getting the short end of things!

Panting is normal in new Moms. The action of the pups suckling helps to contract the uterus so that's why you see the panting.

As for the little one....make sure he gets his share. The easiest thing to do is to pull the larger ones for a few minutes and let the little one have the teats to himself. He doesn't need to be wasting all his energy trying to compete and nurse. Put him on one of the rear teats and let him get his fill. Do this until he's big enough to eat with the others without getting pushed off.

You may want to start supplimenting the tiny one he should be gaining weight. I am not a breeder of yorkies but My Cat had a litter of kittens six weeks ago and I had one tiny one that had trouble getting on a teat and he ended up passing. I didnt have any experience with newborn animals but if I was in that position again I would not just let them struggle along

Is she getting too hot while nursing? Panting is normal, just make sure the temp isn't too high for her in there. I agree with letting the little one nurse by himself on a back teat for a few minutes before letting the others nurse, and then blocking them from pushing him off that back teat.

I had the same situation before I took Fiona the emergency vet and when she came home. The vet told me it was stress. I actually timed her panting her worst time was panting for 2 mins and none for 30 seconds and that lasted for almost an hour. I called the vet a million times that night it was pretty bad. Good luck with all your little ones. I so happy it's not a calcium defiency!!!

First time moms can get very stressed. Since you had her calcium checked and she is ok, I wouldn't worry about it. She'll get used to being a mom before long. :)