Very lethargic puppy
 

I've had help from Yorkie Talk getting this little guy to survive. He'll be 7 weeks old tomorrow (Mon. 11/1/2010). He hit 1 lb. this week, had shots Friday, now he's under a pound. Shots could be answer to that. (They took unbelievable caustions w/him--Benedryl, steroid before 4-way shot) My questions is why is this puppy so lethargic? I don't mean now, I mean since birth. He does play some, but nothing like the other normal size littermates. This guy is about 1/3 the size of the rest of the litter of 5 total. He's so tiny. Think that's it??? Not as much energy? He'll run around the kitchen for a while before he poops out (no pun intended). Thanks for any experience with this.

Bump.
I hope you get your answer.

Shots before 9 weeks really aren't necessary, at least that is what my vets and many think..it can interfer with natural imminity from the dam ....but that is done...and is not the problem IMO.

He is tiny and there could be a reason for that problem. I would feed him as much as he will eat, every 3 to 4 hrs..Nutra Cal and Nutra Drops are important. Be sure he can maintain good body temp...make a little body suit out of the top of some crew socks,,very easy..just cut some holes for his legs.
AND...hope he grows strong enough to undergo some blood work.

Low blood sugar would be a concern for me at this point...and liver shunt would concern me also.
I have had many tinies...when they are 100%, they are full of energy as a big puppy...they may not be able to last as long a bigger sib, but a quick nap and they are a bundle of energy again...

Very lethargic puppy
 

OMGosh. Liver shunt didn't even occur to me! I certainly hope he doesn't have that. I forgot to mention (duh) the vet pointed out to me he has a pretty good size space between the skull plates in one area. The others don't seem to have it, but since he's 'so far behind', hopefully that will close up soon. Now I'm paranoid he'll get a hit in the head. They don't make puppy helmets small enough for him. lol Even the xs would probably be way too big. His head's a little bigger than a golf ball right now. I do give him a ml of Dyne every day. I think I have some Nutri-Cal, so maybe he should get that, too? Don't want to 'overdo' it.

:thumbup:
Pretty much same experience i have had.
I also think he may be sort of hypoglycemic at first.
I do not have experience with liver shunts , but would be your next investigation once he gets old enough to have the tests done.
Blessings !
XOXO

I have seen people make helmets out of balls for dogs. Tennis balls, golf balls & ping pong balls. Hope this helps ;) Look for a ball in his size & add straps.

Very lethargic puppy
 

I looked at the ingredients in Dyne and Nutri-Cal. They're very similar, with Dyne having a lot more of some nutrients. Nutri-Cal does have B12 that Dyne does not.

Very lethargic puppy
 

Thanks for the tip about making a helmet from a ping pong ball, golf ball, etc. Ping pong would probably be lighter in weight and easier to cut. That was a Fantastic tip!

Bump...

How is he eating? It sounds like hypoglycemia. The nutrical is good but he still needs to eat many small meals a day

I'm not a breeder but the puppy we initially picked out . . . the breeder noticed was not growing like the others. She did not play and was very lethargic. As weeks went on, the other puppies continued to grow but this little girl did not. She did not interact much either.

She ended up having a liver shunt.

Very lethargic puppy
 

I've never had a puppy with any of these symptoms. His 'formula' contains Karo (whole milk yogurt, undiluted canned goat's milk, 1 egg yolk and 1 tsp Karo--Leerburg formula). He's never become unconsciencious or gone into a seizure. He's a 'creepy' moving little thing, I'll have to say, with his back all roached up. Tomorrow, I'll call the vet's office and talk to them about the liver shunt idea, although they've seen him 3 times and have never mentioned that. Maybe just the fact he was so tiny, they wondered if he'd make it another 24 hours, much less worry about liver shunt. More worried about reactions to the 4-way shot at that particular time. But I will call and ask them how old they think or weight he should be before we can do a blood test regarding liver shunt or hypoglocemia. We feed him often including a big helping of baby rice cereal mixed in his formula right before bed time to get him through the night now (after weeks of tube every 2 hours, then bottle every 3-4) and not that he's eating pretty much on his own, we let him go through the night without getting up. Seems to be working. We do weight many times during the day and evening and try to be sure to see him eat (and hope he's eating and not just licking!).

You say his back is hunched, has he had an x-ray ? maybe he has a back problem & is actually in pain. I have seen in human babies and puppies to be born with a disc out from how they were placed in the womb.

Can you post a pic of him or maybe a video ?

Dont post video's. Leave it to the professionals. Just take this baby to the vet. Keep us updated.

Did this girl survive ?

Very lethargic puppy
 

The only other really tiny Yorkie (2 yrs. old and weighs exactly 3 lbs) I've had also had a rather 'roached' back. I figure it something with the little tiny ones. The other one didn't have eating/weakness and lethargy problems. He was a little monster and terrorized the others in the litter (of 5). Precious little guy, though.
This one, Nano, doesn't seem to be in any pain. He doesn't scream or anything when you try to 'straighten' him out. He's real leggy for his size. (Not what I'd call a 'pretty specimen', but I don't care. lol) The rest of the litter is drop dead gorgeous. Nano is just so different.

Very lethargic puppy
 

Just tried to upload a photo of Nano, but obviousely don't know how. will try again

I like Dyne very much..a good product.
Puppies with liver shunt can take on a cat like back...hunched over. I do not find a healthy tiny prone to a poor top line...they should be just as level as a 6 or 7 pounder...
Sometimes a LS pup will have breath that smells like finger nail polish remover..odd, but my vet said he found that to be true in many pups.

I wish you thebest of luck with your boy...I am concerned for him.

My Lola hunches her back like that when she is in pain. Please let us know what the vet says. Good Luck to ....

Very lethargic puppy
 

can't get my pic downsized enough for this forum. sorry. Can't tell much about this pic anyway. Looks too cute in this pic.lol Time for his baby rice cereal in formula that we give him every night at bedtime. :)

Very lethargic puppy
 

I really don't think he's in pain. I know what you're talking about though. I've seen that before. He looks like this all the time even when he's having lots of fun playing with a blanket or toy, etc.

very lethargic puppy
 

I thnk the top line issue is curious. As I said, the other little guy we had was like that, too. Wierd. I agree, their size shouldn't have anything to do with the top line, but there's probably some explanation I'm just not familiar with. Haven't had much experience with these tinies. Both parents are champions, so top line shouldn't be an issue. Neither parent or grandparent, etc. had top line issues.

They don't normally appear to be in pain when they are born that way. I recently added twin boys to my daycare & one had a slight cock to his head. We just thought it was kind of like a puppy look, You know how they look at you with their little head cocked. Then when he got big enough to sit in the walker is when I noticed he held it that way all of the time. He never acted as if he were in pain at all, always a very happy little guy. MaMa took him to the Dr to have it checked and sure enough his neck had been out since birth. He is the smallest of the two as well so his brother took up all his space in the womb. Back problems and shunt can have the same appearance and when they are born with a problem, well that's all they know so they don't often give the impression they are in pain.
I would deff have both checked out on this little guy. Too bad about the pics. I don't know about anyone else but when I'm Praying for someone I like to see who I'm Praying for. It just seems to be more meaningful. Could just be me though. Anyway I'm still praying for you both.:)

Lol. Cute is good.

Very lethargic puppy
 

I appreciate you so much. I will have this looked into. I want to try to figure out how to get a picture to you. I'm going to work on that. Is it 'kosher' to give you my email addy? How about my name and you can contact me on Facebook? Hope I'm not breaking any rules here. lol

Yes you can do that. Go to the top right where your user name is and you will see (private messages) click on it. Or click on my user name and it will say send lillymae a private message, click on it.:)

Very lethargic puppy
 

Poor little guy was cold this AM. I made him a 'sweater' out of a sock. I ordered him some teacup size clothes, but they aren't here yet. That said, they still may be way too big for him.

I do not like him not being able to maintain a normal temp at 7 weeks...is he sleeping on a heating pad...under the bed, not in it...low sugar brings down the temp..do you feed him during the night...it is vital you do?

Forgot to say, when you PM people please don't just let your thread die. Others are wanting to know here how this little guy is doing:)