Help Maddie's little girl
 

Okay...even though I can't stop crying, I need to move on for this little girl I have here now. I have many questions. Some may sound stupid to experienced people, but I've just lost my little angel and am trying to do the best I can for the miracle gift she left behind.

1.) I want to know how warm her milk should be? I keep her milk/colostrum refrigerated in a bottle. I put the bottle in heated water from the stove. I let it get a little warmer than room temp. I put a drop on my wrist to check until I don't feel any temperature difference. I want to make sure this is right.

2.)She seems to keep moving from the warmest part of the box. She tends to go towards the edge. Does this mean it's too warm for her? Should I keep putting her back to the warmer spot?

I will continue to have more questions as time goes on... Thanks for your support.

warm her bottle as you would for a baby, she may be warm so try to turn down the heating pad but keep like a towl over the box so not to much col air gets out...

I'm so sorry to hear about the lost of your little girl..how old is the pup now?
I found this one the net about bottle feeding ..also when you feed don't feed like you would a baby ( on the back) but feed the pup natural belly down with head up..I hope it help you with the feeding and remember after feeding to help the pup pee and poo after eating.
Another reason it may be moving around too is it looking for it mom..do you had a stuff animal or a towel it can snuggle up to? This may help.
You will get other breeders help when they come online.
In the mean time I hope this helps.
Again I'm so sorry for your lost.
Feeding Orphan Puppies
Environment

Puppies need a clean, warm, draft-free nesting area. The air temperature in their immediate vicinity should be 85-90 F for the first week and about 80 F during the next 3-4 weeks. By the time the pups are 6 weeks of age, temperatures can be reduced to 70 F.

Temperatures can be maintained with heat lamps, light bulbs or heating pads covered with 3-4 layers of towels. Great care must be taken that the pups are not overheated during the first few days of life, when they are unable to move away from the heat source.

Clean newspaper is good bedding because it is easy to dispose. As the pups begin to move around, newspaper should be replaced because it is slippery. Cloth bedding offers good footing and is washable.

Feeding

Puppies may be fed by bottle or by stomach tube. Stomach tube feeding is much faster and especially handy with large litters. Many people, however, prefer to bottle feed because of prolonged puppy contact. Your veterinarian or clinic staff can instruct you in either method of feeding.

Newborn puppies should be fed 3-4 times daily by tube feeding or 5-6 times daily by bottle feeding. At 2 weeks of age, 3 tube feedings or 4 bottle feedings are usually sufficient.

Puppies must be helped to urinate and defecate by gently stroking the genital area with a tissue or cottonball moistened with warm water after each feeding. Be persistent until they urinate or defecate. Puppies over 2-3 weeks do not need this attention.

Frequent crying or failure to gain weight indicates a problem. Call your veterinarian. In general, a pup should double its weight in 8-10 days. Overfeeding can be worse than slight underfeeding.

How Much Should I Feed?

You can determine how much to feed an orphan pup by considering its daily caloric requirements. The total daily caloric requirements for pups under 4 weeks of age are:

1st week -- 3.75 calories/ounce of body weight daily
2nd week -- 4.50 calories/ounce of body weight daily
3rd week -- 5.00 calories/ounce of body weight daily
4th week -- 5.50 calories/ounce of body weight daily
In general, most substitutes contain around 1 calorie per ml.

Example

You plan to feed a 5 ounce puppy less than 1 week of age 4 times daily. The puppy requires 2.75 calories/ounce body weight - 5 ounce pup = 18.75 calories needed for one day. You are feeding 4 times a day. Therefore, 18.75/4 = 4.68 calories given at each feeding. Your milk substitute contains 1 calorie/ml. Therefore, you should feed 4.68 ml (about 5 ml) each feeding.

Solid foods should be introduced at 3 weeks of age. Pan feed a thin gruel made by blending good quality puppy food with bitch's milk formula. Gradually thicken the gruel until no milk substitute is used at about 6 weeks of age. At this time, the pups should be offered good quality puppy food 3 times daily.

P.S. let us know how the pup is doing...Sherry

Thank you so much for the information. She is only hours old. I am watching her every move (also trying not to disturb her). I can't help but lifting her blanket sometimes. She is so special to me...a part of my little angel Maddie. I'm tying NOT to be Elmira (sp?), like the looney toons cartoon that loves the animal too much :(

I am sorry to hear what happened! I wish you the best with your tiny Angel there. I know the loss is so very hard but you have been blessed with a miracle. I am happy your baby survived. It was a blessing in trying times. You and your little one will be in our thoughts and prayers!!!

Oh... that's so sad..I know you must be so heartbroken.
But, stay try to stay strong for the little one.
You might also try Vets in your area to see if there are any nursing mothers around.

This is EXCELLENT information concerning the care of a puppy with no dam to nurse and give care to! Yorkiegirl2 KNOWS her stuff! ;) Please follow what information she has given you.. I know how heartbreaking this can be, I once took in 2 puppies from a litter of five that a local breeder could not care for any longer after their dam passed on.. There was a tiny girl and boy, I lost the girl the evening that they were dropped off at my home.. The boy I feed every two hours 24 hours a day for four weeks, he was so tiny.. He turned 2 years old this pass October!! I placed him with a mature couple with NO kids at home and they spoil him "Scooter" to pieces.. He weighs right at 2 lbs..

Please keep us updated..
Melanie

Oh how sad ! I'm sorry you lost your baby !

I just want to say GOOD LUCK and I hope things work out and you have a healthy baby - I felt so bad reading your post and just want to tell you I'm wishing you the very best with your tiny baby.

You've got some really good advise. The main thing to watch is that she's got a full belly and is not constantly crying. If she starts to cry, I would pick her up and hold her in your hand, wrap your hand around her, that may comfort her. I do that with all my puppies. Sometimes they just want some lovin'.

I'll be watching your posts for updates. I pray this little girl will pull through for ya!

Hugs~

Heather, thinking about you...
 

How's the baby doing? I sure hope you were able to catch some sleep in between feedings.

My heart goes out to you, girl. I could not stop thinking about you last night and you were the first thing on my mind this morning.

You and your little baby will continue to be in my thoughts, so please when you can keep us in touch with how things are progressing.

Hugs to you, (((((((((((((((((HEATHER))))))))))))))))))) :hug:

I wish i lived near you so I could help and let you get some rest! Keep us posted on the baby girl!

I know exactly how you feel. There is no time to grieve for your lost girl. I have been breeding many years. During that time I have lost two moms during whelp both were heart breaking experiences. I had to raise their litters of 3 and the other 4 pups alone. I did it successfully so you have hope that you can too. It's a terrible time as you need to be there for the baby and cannot even think about your loss. It will be weeks before the full effect of your loss hits you so be prepared for that time. Others have given excellent advice for your questions.

Thank you all!!
 

Everyone has been so helpful!! I can't thank you enough. All of your support is wonderful during this painful time. I have posted an update on what is going on in my other thread. It's kind of long, so get ready ;) The puppy is still doing great.

Alright!! You are doing great! Keep doin' what you're doin'!!!