Question about RUNT puppy of Bitsy's.

[eensor]

Her don't need a tail! Her is just fine wifout one! Wuv, Wexy

P.S. I will share my bwight owange bottle tap wif her!

[debi_s]

Howdy.....I live in Gaffney and would take Chloe IN A MINUTE!!!!!

When I first went to see Lil Bit she was 11 weeks old and only weighed 13 ounces. She felt really scrawny and boney....but was wildly active...very active, licking my face and all!
I am not sure of some of the feeding issues..the breeder just said she didn't seem to grow like the others. Over the next 2 weeks the breeder 'tweaked' her food and she gained a little bit of weight and I brought her home. At 3 months (when I got her) she only weighed 1 pound!!!
I am also a Peds nurse and agree with Gypsy Rose...there could be a defect with the esophagus.....it could not be a blind pouch defect because she would never have survived this long.....she is obviously getting something in her tummy. If she has "stenosis" ( a tight narrowing of a band in the esophagus) she would be vomiting frequently....and the vomiting gets worse and worse as time goes on....on infants I can 'feel' a small, firm knot in the upper abdomen....kind of like an olive.....usually by 6-8 weeks of age a simple surgery is done to loosen the band.
I do know when infants feed too fast they quickly throw up....just too much for their tummies to take all at once.....maybe you can try feeding small amounts and a 'burping' motion....or hold her upright to let the air come to the top of her tummy......and position is important! If she has her neck arched TOO far she may be causing herself to gag and/or choke a bit.
Another thing I do with 'spitters' is to "thicken" the formula....that is where the idea of having her lick the pureed baby food sounds like a great idea!
Aspiration will not necessarily kill the puppy immediately....but it can lead to pneumonia if bad enough...but I know infants can aspirate a small amount and a good coughing spell will clear their lungs....actually, preemie infants tend to 'choke' often and tend to deal with it on their own if in the proper position (which is why I struggle with the instructions to have infants sleep on their backs!!).
Lil Bit sounded really wet ....like a bad cold......for weeks after I got her.
Sorry if I have rambled on and on......she looks great from the photos and I may have to ride to Charlotte one day and visit with you all.....just a short ride up I-85......less than one hour!
If you re-consider letting her go...remember me!!!!!!

P.S. Lil Bit is soon to be 6 months old (5-2-05) and weighs 3 pounds 7 ounces when I weighed her yesterday...and still a big ball of furry energy!!! I can bring my infant scales and weigh them if ya want!!!!

[Bentley&BitsysMom]

Thanks so much! You all are the sweetest!! And I MEAN THAT!!! Thanks for letting me share so much and for actually feeling my pain!


I'll check out that link for the YTCA. THanks aimee! I had no idea! I'm going to call the local vets and see if they can refer me to a local toy breeder too. I don't think vets are used to dealing with toy dogs in these parts It's very frustrating!!! I want to have her xrayed!

She will lick my finger and my face, soooo sweet. She really hasn't gagged that much or choked. I mix that ebsolac powder food with the ebsolac milk replacer to an oatmeal like consistency. I figured that way they get food and milk at the same time and they dont choke on it as easy.....Is THAT OK???? I also think they are getting more milk this way. Since I've been doing that, I quit using the bottles. I feed them that mixture with a syringe. My husband took all the little nipples we had from the bottles and made the whole bigger and we slip them on the end of the syringe and it works great. We were afraid that the hard tip on the syringe would eventually rub their mouths or gums raw. We insert the syringe into the side of their mouth and they eat it that way, not sucking on it like a bottle. Is that ok? We're winging it over here and keep trying different things til we find something that works.

I haven't checked for a whole in her roof yet but she used to nurse good so hopefully it isn't that. I have never seen her throw up, thank goodness!!!! She cannot afford to throw up!

Prissy gave me the name of a lady (thanks again prissy)pretty close to me that has a litter about the same age and suggested maybe, if the lady was willing, to let the puppy go stay with her momma dog. I only want that as a last resort only becasue I want to keep her here. That is selfish I know.

Yorkierose, I have tried not to think about losing any of the pups, but I know it's a sad possiblity. I try not to think about it. Sometimes I think she looks lethargic, like right after the lunchtime feeding today, but maybe she was just sleep from being full, so then I try to play with her. She's eating almost two of the syringes full with the exception of the little bit that drips off. She seems to be getting about the same amount as the other pups, it just takes longer to feed her and we do try to feed her slower. A few of them were shaking today after the feeding. I think they got cold and I know it's so important for them not to get chilled. I kept close eyes on them and held and petted them until they stopped shaking and went to sleep. Then I kept waking them to make sure they were alive. I had the heater on high in the bedroom and keep it warm in there. I warm the food before I put it in the syringe but by the time I finsih feeding one pup the rest of the food in the syringes is cold. IS THAT OK? I think it's a miracle they've all made it this long as I am so inexperienced at this. I thank God and you all that they are alive today because it's nothing that I could have or can do alone! Thank you for treating me like a big girl!

debi_s, Nice to see someone close to me! I go shopping at the outlet mall in Gaffney quite frequently! We'll have to meet up sometime and I'll bring Chloe, when she is a little older of course and I'd love to see Lil Bit! Thank you for sharing your story about Lil Bit!!! It's funny, that is what I call Chloe all the time I have a postal digital scale that weighs up to five pounds but I have a hard time getting an accurate reading cause they won't be still Guess I should do it while they are sleeping.

Thanks WEXY!!! Puppy kisses to you THank you everyone who said they'd love to have her in spite of her lack of a tail! I couldn't give her up even if I had to at this point. It's going to be sssooooo hard to give any of them up! But it's nice to know she is loved and adored by you all even without a tail. I cannot tell you how good that makes me feel!!! I found her tail gone in the middle of the night when I got up to check on them (i think around a week old). The vet said either Bitsy or one of the pups did it. I do know that Bitsy was bothered by the glue that the vet used to close up the tail. I'm sure she did it but not knowing what she was doing. I saw her trying to get the glue off the others too but didn't even think she could knaw off a tail. I felt SOOO guilty over it. I think I lightly mentioned it after it happened in a post but didn't go into detail because I felt so bad and embarassed that I let it happen. I realize now that I am in the kindest hearted company and would not have been judged a bad yorkie mommie over it.

This is horribly long. I tried to touch on everything and if I missed anything or anyone it was not intentional. When I got back to my desk there were a lot of post, thankfully, that I had not seen yet. Thanks for letting me pour my heart out!

[iheartyorkies]

Hey Michelle, no need to reply to me. I just wanted you to know my heart goes out to little Chloe. She looks so sweet!! I too always have a soft spot for the runt of the litter. Hope everything goes well with all the pups. Don't worry about the tail. You're doing a great job!! Sounds like the vets in your area need to get a bedside manner!! Hope you can find a better one. Bo sends kisses!! (Weak ones, cause he was neutered today...)

[debi_s]

It sounds like she is eating well and she will be a busy little girl in no time....I'm sure the 'sleepy thing' after eating is just that...sleepy after eating. I do the same thing....just feels sooooo good!

The Outlet Mall is just a few miles from my house....as a matter of fact, I took Lil Bit up there twice recently to practice walking on a leash (harness only!!) and she did great. Everyone wanted to play with her and pet her... She will go to anyone!!!! No shy dog here!

Be sure to keep those pups good and warm....this weather has been AWFUL....as I type this we just had FROST yesterday and again it is rainy and WIND BLOWING!!! I am getting sick of the wind! My hands are cold and I am considering getting the little space heater out and putting it beside me here at the computer!!!

[YorkieRose]

If the pups are shaking, I would reheat the milk again...have a hot mug of water and sit the syringe back it after each feeding..I had to hand feed 6 pups from birth to 5 weeks by myself.
You know the best reward was when I came into the room, I would sneak in very quiet and sit by the box..within a few seconds the little noses would start to twitch and they would wake up and start begging for me. The vet said an animal can detect it's mothers scent..my husband could sit by the box and they would stay asleep..he didn't believe they knew my smell.

[Bentley&BitsysMom]

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

If the pups are shaking, I would reheat the milk again...have a hot mug of water and sit the syringe back it after each feeding..I had to hand feed 6 pups from birth to 5 weeks by myself.
You know the best reward was when I came into the room, I would sneak in very quiet and sit by the box..within a few seconds the little noses would start to twitch and they would wake up and start begging for me. The vet said an animal can detect it's mothers scent..my husband could sit by the box and they would stay asleep..he didn't believe they knew my smell.

That nearly made me cry yorkierose. I need to remember to share the good stuff too. They recognize my voice They love it when I hold them talk to them right in front of their faces. They can see me good now I believe! I sit next to the playpen when I'm feeding a pup, and the ones left in the playpen come to the end I'm sitting next to and stand on thier hind legs and cry wanting out. I'm trying to make extra time to just sit and hold and play with each one. I think they get bored in there. They are starting to pick and play with each other a little bit and it's so cute sometimes I will catch them sleeping or laying on their backs and I rub their belly and they love it! They still try thier best to squirm into Bitsy's onesie and they KNOW thier mamma! But I think they are starting to like me

[lily's mom]

O Michelle, she is such a beautiful little baby!!!!!!!!! I would LOVE to buy her if you could ever part with her. I would have to drive down though, no way could I let my potential baby on a plane without mommy!!! I know you wont be able to give her up though. You may be having a Yorkie plantation before you know it! Give her a big yorkie kiss from Lily and me.

[Chelsey]

What a cute little baby girl, i would fly 9 hours to pick her up in a heartbeat... she is way too adorable, thanx for keeping us updated!
Big hugs from us

[SoCalyorkiLvr]

Michelle:

Your story is an excellent example for anyone who thinks a breeder can charge "too much" money for one of these precious babies. There would be no way to pay you enough to make up for what you have had to go through to keep these puppies and Bitsy alive and we lived it with you the whole way. You are a true inspiration and I feel most breeders are! I have said it before and I say it again, I wouldn't want the responsibility, so I am willing to pay whatever it takes to compensate the breeder for everything they went through to give me a healthy puppy!

I syringe fed my daughter's little guy (one puppy) for a week and the stress about killed me. I cannot immagine 6 puppies and a sick mommy to boot. You are a miracle!!

[Bentley&BitsysMom]

Thank you but I feel like you all have been an inspiration to ME! I have to say again that I am not a breeder and our yorkies mating was a careless accident. Not that I am not thankful for these precious little puppies, but I would never choose to do this again. It's just too hard and so much more involved that what people think. These are probably pet quality puppies even though to me they are worth more than a pot of gold! We plan to charge a very reasonable amount and probably won't even make enough to break even, but that's ok. Yorkies in our local newspapers are running in the 600 range with papers. My reward will be their good health and HAPPY homes!

[ashley]

with or without a tail, she is still darling!! Best of luck with them all!!

i hope you find great homes for the precious angels and remember if you cant im 30 minutes away!! hehe

luv roxie and ash

[mojo]

I love your little baby!!!!! What a total doll!!! I hope she does better. I guess I am niave, but I cant believe a vet wont help you.

[Bentley&BitsysMom]

Just wanted to let you all know that yesterday for Chloe's feedings, I kept the food warm and fed her even slower than I was already. I also added an extra feeding in the afternoon but fed less at each feeding as I think maybe I've been forceing them, especially her, to eat She sounded much better and no milk came out of her nose at all yesterday and she didn't sound as "wet". If she weren't so rambunctious (sp?) and such a spunky little thing I'd be worried sick, but she is a little whipper snapper

I held her a lot yesterday and last night when my son and I settled down and watch TV, I held her on my lap with Bitsy and she snoozed in my lap. I think Bitsy is getting a little jealous of the affection she sees me giving the pups. I also did the same thing with the little yellow necklaced pup. She's almost as tiny as Chloe and has had a little bit of the same trouble though not near as bad. She is pictured right next to Chloe in one of the pics I posted. I think she is going to have Bitsy's loving and laid back personality and I want to keep her too

They are so cute when they lay on their backs sleeping.....just like Bentley and Bitsy does. Sometimes it looks like they are having dreams but I don't know what in the world they could be dreaming about They are starting to play more and stay awake more each day!! It's so hard to make sure each one has the same amount of attention! And keeping that playpen clean is a MAJOR chore

We went through over 100 pee pee pads in 2 1/2 days!!! Imagine that! I'm changing the pads constantly and having to clean the pups to make sure they don't have any poo poo on them. My full time job is getting even fuller

It's so funny and entertaining to watch them! They are starting to bite and tug at Bitsy and her bows in her hair They want to play and I've tried putting some little plastic toys in there but they always end up getting poop on them. Some of them are even trying and doing a good job at climbing up the netting on the sides of the playpen. I dont know how to remedy that delimma and am having to keep a constant check!

I keep trying to think of a way to keep them ALL because I cannot imagine letting ANY of them go But I know it's just not possible. Even if we keep two that will be stretching it. I've already ruled out several people for one reason or another who wants one.

Today is my busy day...bible study at church, riding lessons with my son, and helping out with the pta. PLUS taking care of the pups and squeezing in my YT sessions Thank you all for your kindest concern and advice! I'll keep you posted about little Chloe. I've been so worried about getting food in her I think I may have been overfeeding her and not feeding her slow enough. I was trying to feed her as much as the other pups so she could catch up on her weight but her stomach is obviously smaller and it's a wonder I didn't drown the poor little thing. You guys are life savers!!

[yorkiegal719]

Just sending my best wishes for her. She is adorable. I'm glad that she seems to be better now, eating more often, I think with the little ones, that's the key. Oh, it really looks like she's working her way deep into your heart ...Theresa & The Boys