puppy not eating or drinking enough

[Yorkieluv]

Originally Posted by lulababy

I gave him nutra cal today and he just had a little bit of chicken. What is the minimum amount/times a day a tiny dog can eat and stay healthy?
(at first my vet said he should be eating every 2 hours!!) If he eats twice a day and I syringe him water when i dont see him drink on his own, will he be fine until he gains some weight? Other than the non eating and shaking sometimes, he is really just like any other puppy. He is a little sedate at times--way more calm than pebbles--but that could be his personality. He sleeps often but he IS a puppy. I havent paid exact attention as to when it happens in relation to food, but he does run around and play fight with pebbles and follows me around the house... he is not throwing up or getting diarrhea. I think this is why the vet doesnt want to give him the livershunt test yet, because he is A. very tiny, and B. still rather healthy even though he is losing weight

Shaking, not eating, rubbing against walls, tiredness (lethargy), weight loss are all symptoms...
It may not be liver shunt at all, but I think it's worth ruling out...
When my yorkie was a pup, I was feeding him a very small amount every 2 hours until he started eating on his own and even then, he got several meals per day. This was very important for him not only because he had coccidia and hypoglycemia, but later we found out that he also has liver problems. With liver problems, it's best to feed small and frequent meals as well.

The reason liver compromised dogs don't want to eat is because food makes them feel sick...The protein that's in most commercial dog foods (animal proteins) produce quite a bit of ammonia that a compromised liver cannot filter. This ammonia (toxin/poison) enters their bloodstream and makes them feel sick...It causes lethargy, lack of appetite, shaking, wobbling, and the possibility of several other symptoms...Then, because they won't eat, they begin losing weight.

Like, I said, it could be a coincidence, but I would want it ruled out. Miko had blood drawn when he was under 2 lbs. I believe he was 1 lbs 6 oz at the time that he had his blood drawn the first time. This was not a bile acid test, it was a blood panel.

When Miko was a pup, vets also told us that we should put him down or that he would pass on his own during the night...I chose to fight for his life and syringe fed him every 2 hours, cut out red meat (not knowing he had a liver problem at the time, but thank goodness I did this, keep him on the antibiotics for 3 weeks, and a bunch of other things. He pulled through.

When he was so sick as a pup, I asked for them to do a bile acid test, but the vet insisted that there was no way he had a liver shunt
Boy, she really did not know what she was talking about...A couple of months later, he got a UTI, got antibiotics and he was better. Then awhile later, another supposed UTI...So, my hubby and I set up an appointment for a bile acid test because we wanted answers of why he had occasional bad days sometimes rubbed against furniture, and repeated UTIs...Well, the weekend before his appointment, he had a full-blown seizure out of the blue...

Nevertheless, we found out he did in fact have a liver problem. If I had tested him earlier, I could have prevented all the damage that occured during those months...I could have had him on full liver support, but since I did not know, he was not on full liver support.

Again, I am not implying that your baby has this. I have no clue what symptoms you are seeing/not seeing. I just wanted to share our story with you...

[Cookie2]

The BAT test cost me around $110.
My dog Cookie seemed more quiet than other puppies I seen.He did play but not as much as Ive seenother puppies play.He was where ever I was.He was often on my lap and just seemed content to be there ALL day long if he had to be lol. he was a picky eater.He napped often and was just a quiet puppy.Some puppies are just very mellow.The symptoms you are describing sound exactly like what Cookie had.Cookie did not have a Liver Shunt that needed surgery and its not always a death sentence Trust me! There are lots of furbabies that are on low protein diets and live normal happy lives for many years. I'm not concerned about the Age of your puppy,I'm just concerned of the weight .I dont know if all vets draw the same amount of blood for this test but someone mentioned that her vet took 3cc 's of blood from her 1.8 lb puppy. That puppy became very weak and died like 2-3 days lalter.That puppy's results came back normal...I suggest you talk to your vet again. Believe it or not many vets dont specialize in these types of diseases and it's up to us to research online. PRINT out copies of symptoms and such and bring it to your vet! My vet never suggested testing my puppy for Livershunt.His symptoms were "Picky eater" and "Quiet puppy" .It was diagnosed when I suggested this test and she agreed and told me about Yorkies being like the #1 breed with this problem.
I will keep you and your furbaby in myprayers. I'm sure you are already in love with your new baby.


Genie

[hasrv4fun]

OMG - I just got word of all this - I did have a email this morning but it didn't spell out much any way i am in touch with Bam Bam's mommie and am trying to figure all this out -I was out of the house some yesterday but only got word there was a actual problem this morning and would really like a phone call.

he was fine and eating along with his brother and sister and gaining weight consistently before he left me and i stressed that the move would be difficult as he was tiny - therefor i kept him till he was almost 13 weeks and doing every thing well - i think his mommy and i have to work out some issues of constantly changing his food which may be a great part of the problem as well as taking a collar off which he definitely wasn't used to as i never put a collar on my dogs or puppies and perhaps he is trying to get that off him when he rubs against the furniture.

Right now i am trying to make contact but don't get a answer so perhaps when Bam Bam's mommie gets back on here she will contact me . I have sent many emails but so far no answer.

Lets all keep Bam Bam and Melissa in our thoughts and prayers till we get this worked out.

[hasrv4fun]

Bam Bam is playing at the moment - just got off the phone with his mommy -
the collar is off and she is going to rebath Mr B B to see if the rubbing is because of itchy skin after being bathed with Hartz puppy shampoo - not good stuff - The action described to me is not liver shunt symptoms.

Please everybody , pray this is part of his problem and since he is eating for her this afternoon also after her stopping feeding of Nutrical every two hours I think that will work out ok also.

This was a rowdy, active,wrestling with his siblings, full of life boy a week ago when he left me.

I really truly don't believe Mr B B has a problem other than adjusting to new surroundings , schedule, foods, and all the rest of a change. Lets not put him thru any unecessary tests on that tiny body as a knee jerk reaction and neither will we let it go untill he is serious if the changes we have now put in place don't correct things.

His mommy or i will keep everyone up to date on the progress of Mr Bam Bam
"the closest thing to Might Mouse you will ever see"

[highonart]

Originally Posted by lulababy

I will give that search a try.. but I was wondering if there was something else wrong with him, as he is walking/running oddly (kind of bend to the right) and for the first few days he was rubbing up against the furniture in kind of a circle around the living room again and again.. they dr said to keep an eye out for this, but im hoping its just his way of trying to mark

Did your vet check him for neurological issues? The head pressing and leaning to the side can also be indicative of neurological problems. Encephalitis is VERY RARE, but can cause leaning.

Not to scare you, but ask your vet about it.

As for the diet, I agree that you should get him to eat whatever he will eat (light on the protein in case it is liver-related). Cook a batch of whatever he will eat and keep him hydrated and fed as best you can to control the hypoglycemia.

Keep us posted. I know this is scary, but hopefully he will adjust and be fine! Replace your FEAR with FAITH!

[Yorkieluv]

Originally Posted by hasrv4fun

Bam Bam is playing at the moment - just got off the phone with his mommy -
the collar is off and she is going to rebath Mr B B to see if the rubbing is because of itchy skin after being bathed with Hartz puppy shampoo - not good stuff - The action described to me is not liver shunt symptoms.

Please everybody , pray this is part of his problem and since he is eating for her this afternoon also after her stopping feeding of Nutrical every two hours I think that will work out ok also.

This was a rowdy, active,wrestling with his siblings, full of life boy a week ago when he left me.

I really truly don't believe Mr B B has a problem other than adjusting to new surroundings , schedule, foods, and all the rest of a change. Lets not put him thru any unecessary tests on that tiny body as a knee jerk reaction and neither will we let it go untill he is serious if the changes we have now put in place don't correct things.

His mommy or i will keep everyone up to date on the progress of Mr Bam Bam
"the closest thing to Might Mouse you will ever see"

That Hartz shampoo is horrible. Was it the flea shampoo? That could have caused a reaction.
Nutri-cal contains 20 calories per tsp, so if the pup was getting too much of it, she could have been full. The only thing that worries me is the lethargy and shaking and head pressing.
I'm glad you guys are in contact, and I will pray that this baby is totally healthy.

[BlondeYorkieMom]

Oh precious Bam Bam. I hope this is all just stress and new surroundings!
Bam Bam is definitely in our Yorkie Prayers!
Please keep us updated

[mizzwanned]

Originally Posted by hasrv4fun

Bam Bam is playing at the moment - just got off the phone with his mommy -
the collar is off and she is going to rebath Mr B B to see if the rubbing is because of itchy skin after being bathed with Hartz puppy shampoo - not good stuff - The action described to me is not liver shunt symptoms.

Please everybody , pray this is part of his problem and since he is eating for her this afternoon also after her stopping feeding of Nutrical every two hours I think that will work out ok also.

This was a rowdy, active,wrestling with his siblings, full of life boy a week ago when he left me.

I really truly don't believe Mr B B has a problem other than adjusting to new surroundings , schedule, foods, and all the rest of a change. Lets not put him thru any unecessary tests on that tiny body as a knee jerk reaction and neither will we let it go untill he is serious if the changes we have now put in place don't correct things.

His mommy or i will keep everyone up to date on the progress of Mr Bam Bam
"the closest thing to Might Mouse you will ever see"

Sometimes the move to a new house can be stressful to them. Since you say he was rowdy and playful and acting normal before he left that makes me think this is the case here. When London got here she didn't want to eat either and was throwing up but her breeder said she was playing rough and very active at her house. After she settled in she started to eat, i had to force her to in the beggining but afterwards she ate on her own. I also made a special formula i fed her..i hope Bam Bam feels better and starts to eat!!

[Amazing Yorkies]

I'm glad you and the breeder are in touch with each other, and praying that he just needs time to settle in. I normally don't jump lightly into a Bile Acid Test on a puppy, but if the symptoms were described correctly and continue over the weekend, this would be a puppy that I, personally would test.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Yorkieluv

That Hartz shampoo is horrible. Was it the flea shampoo? That could have caused a reaction.
Nutri-cal contains 20 calories per tsp, so if the pup was getting too much of it, she could have been full. The only thing that worries me is the lethargy and shaking and head pressing.
I'm glad you guys are in contact, and I will pray that this baby is totally healthy.

Yeah, I was worried about all the Nurti-cal too. Giving that many different foods in the first few days home might be bad as well. Hope you find out what the problem is, I'm praying all goes well.

[bchgirl]

I'd think it may have been too much nytrical....he simply isn't hungry. He's little...his tummy is little...wouldn't take much.

I hope with the suggestions your breeder made...you see signs of improvement. Actually I'd think...running and playing are good signs!

[Tae1107]

Just checking in to see how Bam Bam is doing :-)

[lulababy]

Good news!! Yesterday was his best day so far... he ate some hills prescription diet a/d mixed with some ground up hard food, about a teaspoon and a half total, 3 times during the day!!! I gave him a bath in some of pebbles mink sheen and took off the collar w/the tiny bell charm. I made sure he got some good long naps in. He seems to be doing really well. I hope he keeps it up. He ate some more food this morning and I will try to feed him some more in a little bit. He is following me and pebbles around and playing. I am so happy to see him turn this corner!!

[bchgirl]

Yay! Great news!!

[hasrv4fun]

Originally Posted by lulababy

Good news!! Yesterday was his best day so far... he ate some hills prescription diet a/d mixed with some ground up hard food, about a teaspoon and a half total, 3 times during the day!!! I gave him a bath in some of pebbles mink sheen and took off the collar w/the tiny bell charm. I made sure he got some good long naps in. He seems to be doing really well. I hope he keeps it up. He ate some more food this morning and I will try to feed him some more in a little bit. He is following me and pebbles around and playing. I am so happy to see him turn this corner!!

Good - I was wondering how it was going today but since i didn't get any email or phone call this morning I figured it was a good sign.
Did the new bath stop his itching and rubbing ? Throw that Hartz in the trash or as my hubby said " I wouldn't wash a dog in that stuff " well duh!!

I think if you keep him on the same diet for now that will help also - every time you change it its seriously hard on his little tummy-

Remember to call me if you have any problem - i am always available via my cell phone-

Kiss Bam Bam and Pebbles too