2. Week old baby I need help

[Vickeryyorkie]

Thank you ladies for your help. He is doing ok so far. Gracie keeps him warm & he does nurse from her. I just don't think he gets much. When he goes to nurse she starts licking him & he falls off & gives up. So I have been weighing him multiple times a day & he goes up while I feed him & then he goes back down. Like I said he was born dec 27 th & weighed 3.3 oz. and as of today I just weighed him & he is only 4.1 oz at 7:30 pm. But I am feeding him & I help Gracie with the poo & pee thing. His eyes are not open yet. When should they be opening ? The 3 week old little girl opened her eyes 2 days before she was 2 weeks old and she is doing great. They both are so sweet. I feel so helpless & am very determined to keep him alive & in good health. I also keep blankets over her box so no drafts get to them & they are in box next to me in my room so I can hear or see any thing going on.

[dawn27]

Is he able to get over to mama and latch on on his own or are you having to place him on her tit?

If so.... he would have your scent on him and thats a NO NO for mama... and would be the reason that she feels the need to bath him all of the time. It just a thought. Plus mama's dont like their pups messed with. They are always bathing them after they've been weighed or handled in any way.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by dawn27

Is he able to get over to mama and latch on on his own or are you having to place him on her tit?

If so.... he would have your scent on him and thats a NO NO for mama... and would be the reason that she feels the need to bath him all of the time. It just a thought. Plus mama's dont like their pups messed with. They are always bathing them after they've been weighed or handled in any way.

This must be something some mommas feel....I am all up in my newborns, right along with momma, handling, touching, kissing, neuro-stimulating baby...my newborns are handled continously from birth until they go to their new homes...it has absolutely NO adverse effect on my mommas....no excessive cleaning and bathing after I handle the babies....I guess they are just used to me being ever-present!

[Vickeryyorkie]

Me & my babies are very close & Gracie doesn't get bothered that I hold him. I wrap him in soft warm baby blanket & feed him on my chest, loving him and rubbing his sweet little head & giving him kisses. She is being a good mommy but like I said before. He seems slow & he does not suck hard he sucks real soft.
So I do every thing I can to help her. I did use formula y'all gave me I just have not got the yogurt yet. I have plain yogurt not sure if it is the same. But I did find baby vitamins. It's poly vi sol. I have heating pad in there for added heat for him. I love all my yorkies. They are with me & in bed with me all the time. I feel closer to them more than my husband. Is that wrong of me ? I feel they love me no matter what & will alway be there for me. They don't care that I don't wear make up or in morning when I haven't brushed my teeth yet, They still give me kisses & want to be right by my side. They make me laugh when I am sad. I love to watch them play & I get down on floor & play with them. They are my whole world. They are small angels on loan from God I feel. I can never see my life with out them. Thank God my husband is a good man. Cause he would have to go if he did not accept them too. We are a package lol.

[carmen in nj]

Originally Posted by dawn27

Is he able to get over to mama and latch on on his own or are you having to place him on her tit?

If so.... he would have your scent on him and thats a NO NO for mama... and would be the reason that she feels the need to bath him all of the time. It just a thought. Plus mama's dont like their pups messed with. They are always bathing them after they've been weighed or handled in any way.

I never had that problem with my girls litters either, some of the babies are touched by Me even before mama gets her first lick of them, my girls have my scent all over them too, so i never had a problem i handle those babies from the first moment they arrive and my girls don't care, we are super close, I had a puppy I used to carry in my bra all day, and left him with mama on a heating pad when i went out, he was the runt and the vet told me that he was going to die, you have to see that dog today... he is my little fat one..LOL

Vickery, make sure he is warm and fed, and allow mama to help you when she needs to..you have my email you can email me when you need to.
best of luck..
hugs,

[Vickeryyorkie]

Thank you for all y'all s. advice. It has been very helpful.

[dawn27]

I too have a close bond with my dogs. Miah never had an issue with me handling her pups from the moment they arrive into the world because of that bond we have. But it was different with that first litter. She was very aware if I took any of her pups for any reason and once they returned she always gave them a bath. I figure that may have been the case with the OP's mama.

I hope that my Ruby is just as trusting.

Originally Posted by Vickeryyorkie

Me & my babies are very close & Gracie doesn't get bothered that I hold him. I wrap him in soft warm baby blanket & feed him on my chest, loving him and rubbing his sweet little head & giving him kisses. She is being a good mommy but like I said before. He seems slow & he does not suck hard he sucks real soft.
So I do every thing I can to help her. I did use formula y'all gave me I just have not got the yogurt yet. I have plain yogurt not sure if it is the same. But I did find baby vitamins. It's poly vi sol. I have heating pad in there for added heat for him. I love all my yorkies. They are with me & in bed with me all the time. I feel closer to them more than my husband. Is that wrong of me ? I feel they love me no matter what & will alway be there for me. They don't care that I don't wear make up or in morning when I haven't brushed my teeth yet, They still give me kisses & want to be right by my side. They make me laugh when I am sad. I love to watch them play & I get down on floor & play with them. They are my whole world. They are small angels on loan from God I feel. I can never see my life with out them. Thank God my husband is a good man. Cause he would have to go if he did not accept them too. We are a package lol.

Awh that is so Sweet !!

Keep up the great work with your little one, with everything you are doing for him he's bond to do very well. He may just even surprise you and grow up bigger and stronger the the others.

[R_Z]

Just wanted to write and say I hope all is well.

[tjdmom]

I too understand your relationship with your dogs. I'm very concerned that he has gained so little in 2 weeks. I have had some very small puppies here. My smallest was 2oz and I've had some 2.2 and 2.4 oz puppies. My rule of thumb is to always watch the small one's closely and make sure they are latching on and I NEVER let them lose weight. Have you tried tube feeding him? It seems like he is just not get enough to really thrive and since tube feeding takes no effort on his part, I would think that might help. I think, unless there is something really wrong, that a day or so of extra tube feedings might be what he needs. Mine normally open their eyes at just about 2 weeks. Some a few days early, some a few days late but right around that 2 week mark I can usually see them starting to open.

[Vickeryyorkie]

All is well as far as I can tell. As of today he is 4.2 oz. & he is 2 weeks 4 days. & as of last night 1 eye opened & today the other one as well. He had a little runny nose last night but seems to be ok today. I have heard about the tube feeding but I have never done it & I will be honest it scares me. I am keeping him warm & fed I pray a lot to God & angels to save his sweet life & that I do every thing right. I have had a few litters before. & have never had this happen
I am doing the best I can. Thank you ladies for all the info & if you have any more advice I would love to use it.

[dawn27]

Oh my, just 4.2 oz at 2 weeks old. That is tiny, now I see why your so worried. I think he exceeds the definition of a runt, for sure. I myself have never done a tube feeding, but in a case like this. I think I would have to at least try. You could always ask your vet to show you how to do it properly. He's so tiny and needs a bit more nutrition, plus it may just help him thrive. Or it could be that because of his size, he getting just enough.

Is he latching on and nursing ok ?
I was also wondering how mama is doing with him?
I know that is some mom will not let a runt nurse.

[Vickeryyorkie]

Yes he does latch on but if mommy goes to clean him he does not have a strong suction. & it knocks him off & he gives up. The mommy keeps him clean & he does nurse some. She does not seem to be ugly to him. So it's up to me to feed him I guess I will feed him more times in stead of 2 to 3 hours I will go 1 to 2 hours & see if that helps. I will not I've up on him. He deserves to be loved. & have a chance at a life. I already lost 2 of his brothers the day after they were born. & 1 of my other mommy s baby. I think vet took to long to do C section
Sophia,s. water broke at 6:45 am by time the vet did C-Section it was past 8:30
I was so angry. Some people just don't understand. How we feel about our babies. I love my dogs & would die to save them. They are my furry little children they depend on me for everything & in return they give me love & kisses & laughter.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by tjdmom

I too understand your relationship with your dogs. I'm very concerned that he has gained so little in 2 weeks. I have had some very small puppies here. My smallest was 2oz and I've had some 2.2 and 2.4 oz puppies. My rule of thumb is to always watch the small one's closely and make sure they are latching on and I NEVER let them lose weight. Have you tried tube feeding him? It seems like he is just not get enough to really thrive and since tube feeding takes no effort on his part, I would think that might help. I think, unless there is something really wrong, that a day or so of extra tube feedings might be what he needs. Mine normally open their eyes at just about 2 weeks. Some a few days early, some a few days late but right around that 2 week mark I can usually see them starting to open.

You really need to get your vet to show you how to tube feed this baby, or I doubt at his present rate, he can survive. You MUST do all you can to help this baby survive....he is NOT currently getting enough to eat and will not thrive/survive. Please overcome your fear of tube feeding and do what you need to do to help this baby survive.

[dawn27]

Thats good that he is able to latch on. You may want to have several feeding with just him and mama one on one where you can sit and comfort mama and stop her from bathing him until after he has had time to feed. I myself have had to do it with one of my little runts. He really needs that extra time to feed without having to struggle to stay latched on. The struggle along seems like it would tire him out. No wonder he gives up.

Any chance we can see some photos of this little guy ?

[Vickeryyorkie]

I will get pics of both babies soon. & I will go to vet