Why are my puppies obese is it the sweet potatos

[Breny]

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

..I used to know a breeders who restrict food so the pups would weigh less and they can advertize they have 8 or 10 oz pups...

I was told of a breeder who does this and I was just sickened and shocked They feed the pups less so they could advertise them as weighing less! Very WRONG in my opinion...VERY.

[Breny]

Originally Posted by red98vett

It's pretty sickening for a breeder to do that . I think Pet Stores have been accused of doing that with small breeds (at least I read that somewhere) and (another reason to not like them) .....but for a breeder - that's just plain wrong.

I totally agree and how unethical and unhealthy for those pups!

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by Breny

I totally agree and how unethical and unhealthy for those pups!

i agree and if they do that what other unethical things are they doing??? just saddens me as this breed has so many health issues and wonder if this type of stuff is why

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

Baby animals need to be fat..ever seen seal pups..they can barely move...but the weight drops off so fast once they weaned...they need extra fat to see them through weaning...

I have had singletons who could not roll over..time passes so fast, and you can roll them over and exercise their legs for a week or two...even if you do not, believe me it will not harm them. Laying on their backs with legs kicking is a strong exercise...
I had a single girl once who was a full 16 oz at 2 week...she grew up to be 3 pounds as an adult...at a week she filled both my hands..LOL We thought she was a Rottie...

Seeing them fat and sassy gives me peace of mind that mom's milk is good and doing what it's suppose to do. Little fat puppies are milk fat. And as you say as they begin growing and running that fat is what is needed.

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

Seeing them fat and sassy give me peace of mind that mom's milk is good and doing what it's suppose to do. Little fat puppies are milk fat. And as you say as they begin growing and running that fat is what is needed.

doesn't it all help their immune system as well?

[Breny]

My puppies are always FAT....I want them that way...chubby and healthy! Then you get the people wanting tiny tinies and think because my babies are so healthy chubby that they will big.

Well my one lines ....the pups are always born at almost 5 oz.......thye stay fat and healthy and are always OFF the charts LoL
These lines have all grown to be under 4 lbs, the smallest being 2 1/2 lbs full grown!
And my 2 1/2 lber girl Now adult weight) was my biggest puppy from these lines and her nick name here was Porkchop LOL

[Breny]

Originally Posted by dwerten

i agree and if they do that what other unethical things are they doing??? just saddens me as this breed has so many health issues and wonder if this type of stuff is why

Oh I know! It does make one wonder!

[Breny]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

Seeing them fat and sassy gives me peace of mind that mom's milk is good and doing what it's suppose to do. Little fat puppies are milk fat. And as you say as they begin growing and running that fat is what is needed.

Exactly - me too.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Breny

My puppies are always FAT....I want them that way...chubby and healthy! Then you get the people wanting tiny tinies and think because my babies are so healthy chubby that they will big.

Well my one lines ....the pups are always born at almost 5 oz.......thye stay fat and healthy and are always OFF the charts LoL
These lines have all grown to be under 4 lbs, the smallest being 2 1/2 lbs full grown!
And my 2 1/2 lber girl Now adult weight) was my biggest puppy from these lines and her nick name here was Porkchop LOL

Your pups are like mine...anywhere between 4 and 6 1/2 oz when they are born....I had one that was born at 2 oz and scared the heck out of me. It took him all of one week to get to 8 oz and after that he was neck and neck with his litter mates......My line is known to grow real fast up front and then stop......Pretty much between 5 and 7 lbs., with an occassional 8 pounder in there. I'd much rather have them on the upper end of the spectrum than those tinies.....

[Breny]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

Your pups are like mine...anywhere between 4 and 6 1/2 oz when they are born....I had one that was born at 2 oz and scared the heck out of me. It took him all of one week to get to 8 oz and after that he was neck and neck with his litter mates......My line is known to grow real fast up front and then stop......Pretty much between 5 and 7 lbs., with an occassional 8 pounder in there. I'd much rather have them on the upper end of the spectrum than those tinies.....

Yeah I have never had a tiny ((( I am knocking on wood!!! ))) Just nice little "Pork Chops"

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by dwerten

doesn't it all help their immune system as well?

Being fat and sassy helps with everything, physical and mental growth development. The slow gainers really scare me to death, they can't afford to miss a meal; one bout of diarreah, a bit of vomit, or hyperglycemia....down they go. Let alone having to really watch for those tiny bones. Give me a sturdy yorkie any day.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Breny

Yeah I have never had a tiny ((( I am knocking on wood!!! ))) Just nice little "Pork Chops"

My 2 oz was born on my last litter. The only thing that was good about his size is that he just slid out of his mother like a grease. But, was so thankful that as I soon as I put him to mom....he latched on with such fierceness and never let go.

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

Being fat and sassy helps with everything, physical and mental growth development. The slow gainers really scare me to death, they can't afford to miss a meal; one bout of diarreah, a bit of vomit, or hyperglycemia....down they go. Let alone having to really watch for those tiny bones. Give me a sturdy yorkie any day.

i agree - healthy is most important and i commend you all for doing the right thing and that you are ethical in your breeding

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by dwerten

i agree - healthy is most important and i commend you all for doing the right thing and that you are ethical in your breeding

I know the public is so captivated by the tinies, I think they are adorable lil pocket rockets. Hey! they are cute, but as a breeder/exhibitor it's not what I'm breeding for.....

I have a 5 month old 3.5 lb girl that I'm praying will grow. She has everything I'm looking for in a show dog, but size....just based on the line she's from, I'm banking that she'll grow. Perfectly healthy, attitude, structure, just not quite there on size.

[Woogie Man]

I should clarify what I said earlier about how to tell if a pup is too fat. While they're nursing, I don't worry about how fat they get. It's when they're eating on their own that I try to feed them an appropriate amount. When they're eating in a litter environment, you can have one that doesn't know when to stop and will eat their share and any other they can gobble. That's a case where I'll watch them eat and pull one once they've had all they need. I don't mind them plump but I don't want their development impeded by their weight, either.

It's all a matter of degrees and I don't mind fat puppies....just not obese. I do think by about 5 months they should be slimming down to a healthy weight for their size.