Worried about Dixie - our new puppy

[Gamard]

We just got an extremely small Yorkie puppy yesterday (Dixie). When we got her from the breeder, she seemed alright (although she was incredibly small, just larger than my hand...we didn't know she would be so small really), but on the way home (3 hour drive) she began to cough. I guess it could be described as coughing, her stomach would quickly contract and she would "snort" out of her nose with every breath. This went on for a little over 30 minutes. Also, we knew she was a bit hypoglycemic, but decided to hope for the best.

When we got her home, she perked up and stopped coughing which was good. She slept pretty well (though she did mess her kennel once!). My wife took her to the vet this morning, and he said that everything checked out and a little cough was nothing to be concerned about, after the vet (she did get a shot there), she seemed lathargic and has seemed that way all evening (she perked up for a feeding which was good). A short while ago she started the coughing again and has been very weak for the past hour or so.

We are giving her a blood sugar supplement pretty often, a heating pad in her kennel and making sure she gets plenty of food and water. Am I being overly concerned or is this ok for such a small dog?

[YorkieRose]

No, you are not over reacting..you are trying to cover all the bases..I cringe when breeder hands over a tiny for the new "parents" to deal with...there is nothing wrong in waiting so you do not have the worry of a tiny starting out..but it is done, so stay in contact with your vet if the cough continues..coughing is not normal..make sure she eats and give her the Nutra drops..don't over tried her..keep her at home and give her plenty of rest time.

I am beginning to think morons are graduating from vet school today..why stress out a tiny pup with a shot..you could wait a few days until she settles...she should have come from the breeders house fully vetted, needing nothing to deal with but settling in her new home for a few days...

Do you know any Yorkie breeders in your area and could contact a Yorkie smart vet if you have anymore trouble..best wishes..

[luckylady]

Hello and welcome to Yorkie Talk.
Certainly NOT, you aren't being overly concerned! I would be just as worried if Dixie were mine. How extremely small is she and how old is she; may I ask?
Please watch her carefully; you said she was a bit hypoglycemic? That can turn into something very serious pretty quickly with these little babies. I don't know what the coughing thing is from, but I agree with YorkieRose that it is not normal.
I'll say some prayers that she perks up and will be okay. Please keep us posted on her condition.

[4doggiemama]

Welcome to YT. Hope that things work out with your tiny furbaby. Yorkies are adorable. You get one and it doesn't take too long and you want another. If you will notice the avatars, many members have more than one. I have three and wish it was reasonable to have more.

[Gamard]

She's just over 8 weeks old and weighs 8/10 of a pound (vet said so today). She perked up just after I posted, she coughs a little bit infreqently (she just gets little spells when she coughs alot, but tends to go a while without coughing at all), but started playing and running (if you call her teeny velocity a run!). Now, she's cuddled up in her kennel with her heating blanket on; so, I feel better, but am still concerned and will monitor the cough closely

[Itspuppyluv]

The breeder should have kept her until she was bigger.

I agree with YorkieRose about the vet. I don't know what he was thinking giving her a shot. They should be completely healthy when given vaccines, add to that she is sooo tiny and stressed from leaving everything she knew.
Gus was 2 pounds and healthy at his first vet visit and they still waited weeks before shots were given.

Watch her very closely and don't wait to bring her in to the vet if you think anything is wrong. They can go downhill very fast.

[Patti]

You are doing the right thing by being over cautious. She is so young and tiny that any little thing can bring her down fast. I would continue to watch her for blood sugar problems and if her cough gets worse get her in to the vet, if this one doesn't semm to familiar with tinyees I would find one who does. A cough can go on for awhile but you want to watch it doesn't turn into pneumonia. Keep us posted.

[ARCHIE]

This is the second thread I read today where a vet gave a small puppy
a shot when it came in sick! What is wrong with these vet's?

I hope your little one feels better soon. It must be scary when they
are so small and have them sick.
Prayer's coming your way that your new puppy feels better real soon.

[Sasha311]

I'm dealing with a sick new puppy also. I've had her for a week and she's been sneezing snorting among other things. I'm taking her to the vet in a couple of hours. This will be her 4th trip!!!

I'll pray for Dixie.

[Potter]

I wonder these days if there are any vets who actually cares for the animals or just out there to make a quick buck. My new vet keeps pushing rabies, parvo, distemper and to do everything in the same day, I was disgusted. He is a nice person to talk to but his beliefs and mine are just so different. I just wish there are more holistic vets around.

[blueeyes_jd]

it makes me think what is up with your breeder to have let your baby go SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO YOUNG and SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO LITTLE!!!???? wth? ok now thats out... maybe your baby has hayfever? I know my Gracie does... and at first I thought she had kennel cough...took her to the vet and she just has hayfever... it happens... I have to give her childrens benadryl but with your baby that young and tiny? I have NO IDEA!!! but it could also being something else... I will be praying for you guys! I hope your baby isnt sick!

[Kenna]

Crazy that she let her go so soon. I am hoping little pup will be fine. Keep us posted on how she is doing.

[YorkieChick1]

I had a pup once that was coughing and it was a case of bronchitis and he had to be nebulized and then he was fine. I would definitely look around for a vet that knows Yorkies or toy dogs. I would not trust a vet that gives that small a dog a shot when you are concerned about a cough!! That is crazy, can you contact your breeder also to find out if she knew about the cough? You can get her thoughts on it!