What are the challenges of raising a Tiny?

[rik20101]

Originally Posted by Mana

She is six and a half months and weighs 1 lb and 12 - 13 ounces.

Honestly, I would wait a few more months. I am a fan of waiting until the last possible min before the first heat cycle.

[DvlshAngel985]

Originally Posted by rik20101

Honestly, I would wait a few more months. I am a fan of waiting until the last possible min before the first heat cycle.

How do you know when the heat cycle will start? Not trying to be a smart alec, I'd really like to know if there's a method if I ever get a girl furkid.

[Tessa Arnold]

Hunter was 3 pounds. We got him when I was 17. He died last year at 14 years old. He had numerous issues. Mostly later in life. He started getting sick about 4 years ago at 10. He had kidney stones a couple times that required surgery. So if you see blood in the urine make that DR appt. He had a skin condition that lasted about a year. We lost him in November to an enlarged heart that was blocking his airway. When we switched him from dog food to chicken, rice and holistic supps the kidney stones never came back and his skin condition cleared 100%. And he was active until his last breath.

So my advice is save alot of money ove the next few years, you may need it for DR bills. Don't let him jump off anything higher than the couch, don't let him do that if you can help it. Watch your step and your seat. They will learn to move but accidents can happen. And love him like you have never loved anything before. Bless you and good luck.

[rik20101]

Originally Posted by DvlshAngel985

How do you know when the heat cycle will start? Not trying to be a smart alec, I'd really like to know if there's a method if I ever get a girl furkid.

There is no way of telling as far as I know, I am just a fan of waiting. Our dane was spayed at 11 months. If I was sure we had more time I would have waited longer.

[Micah my love]

Because of her size i would wait a while she may have baby teeth that will need to be pulled or you could have it done when you take her to have her teeth cleaned....whenever you do it i hope you will have blood work done first
we can never be to careful with our babies

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Mana

She is six and a half months and weighs 1 lb and 12 - 13 ounces.

Oh my goodness, a dog that size should be placed not sold. I wonder if she's had any health testing done, if you are considering it, you might want to have a bile acids test and test also for open font.

[Mana]

Originally Posted by Micah my love

Because of her size i would wait a while she may have baby teeth that will need to be pulled or you could have it done when you take her to have her teeth cleaned....whenever you do it i hope you will have blood work done first
we can never be to careful with our babies

I think I will wait... She eats great (Taste of the Wild Prairie), but needs to fatten up a bit... She is truly a wild one though and burns it all off...
I love my wee little "Shire" and am suffering just thinking of that surgery!

[Mana]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Oh my goodness, a dog that size should be placed not sold. I wonder if she's had any health testing done, if you are considering it, you might want to have a bile acids test and test also for open font.

Actually, the breeder was willing to keep her when she stayed so little, but I was in love!!! Breeder's vet gave her two check-ups and my vet has seen her for all of her shots and for spay consultation and finds her in great health. She had blood work done and all was perfect. When she goes back I will specify bile acid test and open font, but my vets (which consist of two doctors) have both seen her and find her perfect! Thank God!

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Mana

Actually, the breeder was willing to keep her when she stayed so little, but I was in love!!! Breeder's vet gave her two check-ups and my vet has seen her for all of her shots and for spay consultation and finds her in great health. She had blood work done and all was perfect. When she goes back I will specify bile acid test and open font, but my vets (which consist of two doctors) have both seen her and find her perfect! Thank God!

Bile acids with all pups and should be done at 6 months of age, but with one this size it is a must. Have them check for the font, you have to be looking for it to find it.

You're girl may be perfectly healthy, just don't fret or worry to much. The only problem I've found when they are this small is they think they're bigger then they are. So, you really have to monitor their activity.

I do hope your breeder placed her with you without a fee. A good breeder doesn't sell one this small, as they don't want to sell heartache.

[Mana]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

Bile acids with all pups and should be done at 6 months of age, but with one this size it is a must. Have them check for the font, you have to be looking for it to find it.

You're girl may be perfectly healthy, just don't fret or worry to much. The only problem I've found when they are this small is they think they're bigger then they are. So, you really have to monitor their activity.

I do hope your breeder placed her with you without a fee. A good breeder doesn't sell one this small, as they don't want to sell heartache.

I will check with vet to make sure these things have been checked for. As far as monitoring her, well she is the queen of this home! She OWNS my husband and my three sons! She is only allowed to run wild supervised and loves her playpen when she is told to go inside. (Is trained remarkably well)
When I got her she was potty trained and knew her name among other things.
I could not, with a good conscience, not pay the breeder after I agreed to buy her. Like I mentioned before, the breeder was willing to keep her and give me first picks of any upcoming litter.. I just loved her way before I even saw her in person, since I continually received pictures of her from birth... She is worth every penny! Now I continually send the breeder pictures since they bonded so much before I picked her up!
Thanks for your input!!!!

[Genea]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Great thread, many thoughtful answers!

Be careful, many breeders will lie about how big the adult weight will be and some who advertise teacups will often sell dogs over standard size. How does she know it will only weight 2 pounds, how old is it now? Remember, while some healthy tinies are small, some dogs are small because the have liver shunt, so an abnormally small dog, may have other health concerns. Best of luck!

Hi
The puppy is 4 months old and weighs a little over a pound. She's only estimating and if it gets bigger then 2 lbs then that's just fine with me.
I hope it gets to at least 3lbs
She has had a liver profile and blood panel done and everything came back fine.
Thanks for the reply
Genea

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Genea

Hi
The puppy is 4 months old and weighs a little over a pound. She's only estimating and if it gets bigger then 2 lbs then that's just fine with me.
I hope it gets to at least 3lbs
She has had a liver profile and blood panel done and everything came back fine.
Thanks for the reply
Genea

I don't think you can tell at 4 months if the bile acids test is accurate. I've read you have to wait till 6 months, maybe someone else knows more.

[Wrenee4]

We have a lil guy that is 2 1/2 lbs at 10 months. Perfectly healthy and passed heath screens. He thinks he is MUCH bigger than he is and not scared of anything. You have to be careful and be aware of him at all times. A simple step on him could be fatal! It is rare that I even let others hold him in fear they may drop him as he is a wiggle worm. The only problem we had that is that when he was a younger he and two of my other young dogs (not related) all got bacteria infections in their intestines from a DOG FOOD! He got VERY sick due to his size and had to go to the vet on an IV for a few hours and the other two were just a little sick with the runs (4 1/2 and 5 1/2 lbs). Everything cleared up with him and the other two in the same amount of time (1 round of antibiotics), but like I said he had to have the IV and the other two didn't.