Breny,

Have you tried "HONEY" added to the formula? I switched from nutri-drops to honey at about 5 weeks, Joker started improving. In fact during the time he was having hypoglycemia attacks, the honey was much quicker to bring him out of his stupor then the nutrical. I think because its absorbed into the body so quickly. He also loved the taste of it in the formula. It wasnt long after that he happily lapped the formula with honey from a cup. This really made him gain weight. (try watering the formula down a bit to make it very liquid and add honey. Joker was not interested in thick formula. he also liked it lukewarm, but would drink it cooler later) Wasnt long after that he ate mighty dog and lil cesars along with the milkshake. Now he is totally weaned to dry food, with an occasional treat.
I just weighed him and he weighs 1 lb 6 ozs, hes lost about an oz here in the last week, but Im okay with it, because on his tiny frame, he was getting to heavy with all the rich formula and food all the time. He also is spending more and more time running throught out the house. I really dont think he will make 2 lbs as an adult.
Hope the honey does the trick!!! You might even invest in a commerical formula to save yourself from making the homemade stuff now. That is if Tia will drink it. Good luck!

Breny,
I thought of something I didnt think to mention before.
Try offering Tia formula in a cup right at chin level, where she only has to just stick her tongue out to lap. Either with a cup right at at size or elevate it. When Joker was first introduced to the cup it had to be right at his level, without lowering his head for the first week or so, or he didnt lap it.
I know it sounds kinda silly, but positioning was really important to him. Anything is worth a try!

Just checking for an update on Tia and Joker! I hope tia starts gaining weight, she such a little fiesty thing though, I love it! her pictures always make me smile:) . And I love Joker so much:) .My family and I check this thread for an update on him every morning. Then my sister calls me during the day to see if he's still okay. I LOVE these little guys so much:2hearts2: :hearts-xx I wanted to thank you 2 again for taking care of these little ones, when no one else would of!!!You guys are the best:thumbup:

Poor Joker!!!!

Breny I think I have been talking to you to much.....lol...........I have gave Joker a haircut and he now looks like a chi, not a cute chi like yours but one with really bad hair!..............hee hee. My husband came home last night and had the funniest serious look on his face and asked "what did you do to Joker?" Well the haircut was really bad and I knew it, it struck me funny and I didnt think I would ever stop laughing! Gess I need to get out more. And I need grooming lessons! Im just terrible. Thank God its not permanent and will grow. I have attached a picture, its kinda blurry, but you can get the idea. If you look close though you can see a pink area under his nose, thats his cleft lip showing. Im gonna give him a fresh bath and try to fluff his burr haircut today, not much to fluff. I thought he had short legs until I cut his hair off, now they look like a tiny race horse's legs. I cut his hair because he goes bananas when you comb him and if he has the slightest tangle, he squeels, falls over, tries to gum you to death, howls and does a burn out trying to get away from you. Then my daughter starts crying because she thinks Im hurting him, then my son cries because Jilly cries. Now Im crying cause Joker looks hysterical now........lol

How is Tia doing today? Hope she hasnt lost any more weight. I think about her alot, pretty much everytime I look at Joker. Its so nice to have a friend to talk too.

Hi Ehunny, Joker is pretty much like any yorkie puppy, full of antics for entertainment, into mischief any chance he gets. Eats very well. Only thing I notice is if he plays really hard, which is all the time......he whistles a bit thru his nose, he is having some closure at this cleft and the nasal passage is narrowed some, so he whistles Dixie alot:D Doesnt seem to bother him in the least. Joker sends your family love and crooked puppy kisses! Thank you for caring about him and being his extended family:thumbup: Dont laugh at his picture........lol

awwwwwwwwww...he still looks cute!!!

I posted you a very long message yesterday and my stupid work computer lost it!!!!! I'm sorry - I'll have to repost it. Noooooooo - never too many messages. I love it! Keep them coming! Joker looks sooo cute! Tia is the same. SKINNY. She's hard to weigh cuz she moves all over making the scale off., but still 11 oz. She has lost some grams.

I got some Hills A/D from my Vet. Blended it and tried the syringe. It went "ok" but yesterday (with the help of Zoey cuz she kepted licking her face making her mouth open) I was able to get in about 4 cc's of the A/D. Then I figured I'd start trying it when I feed her. She always ends up falling to sleep so when she falls to sleep I pop some in her mouth. She doesn't like the syringe so I have to be sneaky. She loves her bottle though. I seen some bottles made for babies at Walgreens made for introducing babies to food. The nipple is larger to pass baby food thru. Maybe I should try them and start blending her food for her and see if she'll take it that way. I just talked myself into that one!

She just isn't interested in eating on her own. Its very frustrating!

I wanted to ask about the honey. How much do I use? Does honey have alot of calories? The formula I make has a little karo surup in it. Just a little. The reason I make the formula is because its said to have 11 calories per cc vrs 1 calorie per 1 cc with the canned formulas. So I make it for that reason. I posted the recipe before but if you want to know whats in it let me know.

My vet is interested in seeing her. But I know he's already thinking surgery. I don't want to go that route if she'll be fine. He said that with it being in the back (the solf palate) thats that the best place to have it if theres going to be one. ??? I just don't know anything about them (cleft palates) so I just have no clue! Will the soft palate close up as well? I've emailed the hennwood Kennels but they never emailed me back.

How old is Joker again? Did his head seem big for his body? Tia's does :) I think becasue she's so skinny. I just want that girl to gain some weight!!! I appreciate all the advice you've been giving me. It really really does help. I look everyday for your replies, more than once a day!!!! Always eager to hear from you!

And to everyone else following. THANKS SO MUCH for your support! It means sooooo much. I appreciate it all.

LOL! Oh no!haha! even with his chi cute, he stiill looks adorable though:p I would love to hear his little whistle, haha! Awww I adore little Joker so much!Thanks for considering us extended family, it's an honor:hug::thumbup:

Well today on my luch I went and purchased whats called "SASSY Baby Food Nurser Kit - Introduce Baby Food through familiar bottle feeding.

All I can do is try it! :p

Updated pictures to share :)
 

There are two that she's sitting in my 8 yr olds lap and the others ones she is in my husbands hand.

she's such a cutie!

Just checking in to see how Tia and Joker are doing. OMGosh! I just saw tia's picture, and she is adorable! Awwwwwwww she's a cuite pie!:thumbup:

Still praying for Joker and Tia, they are both just soooo cute! I love they.

Tia is so adorable and looks so lost in that big bed! You are doing such an amazing job.

Oh my gosh, she looks like a little bunny rabbit! She is just so cute.

Again, keep up the good work, we all love her and joker so very much.

Any updates to how these 2 sweethearts are doing? Well I hope! I'm sending hugs to you guys:ghug:

Well, I see I have come to the end of the thread, hope our little babies are doing OK. Such precious angels and such an inspirational thread to read. I cried and laughed and now await for more stories from you two wonderful woman!

Always prayers to you both and your special needs kids!

Hello Everyone :)
 

Thanks so much for your kind words! It helps sooo much! :)

Tia is doing good today. I haven't tried the new food bottles yet. But I will. She's still a skinny bugger with lots of strength! Thanks so much for checking in with us everyday!

Youve suckered another reader in..youre doing an AMAZING job and she's BEAUTIFUL!! Now Jen's little Cali will have a playmate thats her size!

Great!!! Its wonderful to hav another one on board! Now call me a little slow...(and sleep deprived!) but remind me again of who Jen and Cali are? I'm sorry !!!!!!

I can't get over how beautiful her little face is. You are doing an awesome job with that lil sweet pea., Breny.:thumbup:

Cali is a very tiny chi who will only be around a pound or 1.5 full grown. Jen is adopting her.

OMG, I did not realize that she would not get any bigger, I thought she was just a puppy yet! I never had the time to read the whole thread and just saw all the Video’s which were just sooooo cute! Cali is another that just captured my heart, I hope she always stays safe, loved, and healthy. They can scare you to death when they are so small and fragile!

I just love this thread, it has been an amazing story that is just so heart warming. Glad the baby’s are doing so well.

Love and prayers to you all!

I'm just doing my morning check in 's to see how the little ones are doing! Hopeing your doing well little Tia and Joker!

Like you I was hoping for some news, just love these guys so very much. Such an inspiration!:)

ME TOO!

Thanks to all you well wishers! Does a heart good! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
My main purpose is to support Breny in this thread since Tia isnt out of the woods since she isnt eating on her own. I know she will though! It is extremely difficult, time consuming, exhausting, heartbreaking at times, but also rewarding to raise these babies. We have a common bond and its wonderful to have someone to talk too about it and try to help. Its really nice to see the support of others.
As for Joker, well hes just about like any other puppy. He is 3 1/2 months old at 1 lb 10 ozs. He has gained 3 ozs in the last week or so. He does not have trouble eating at all now. He even is getting two teeth in the front after all this time. He is energetic and entertaining. He pounces everywhere and when he walks he raises his front paws almost to his chin, hes very proud. Other then having a funny little lip hes very normal and I think he is completely out of the woods.

Hi Breny,
Glad to know Tia is doing okay. Cute as a button she is!!! How is the new food going? I forgot you made the high cal formula, Honey is pretty high calorie but I wasnt using special made formula like yours, so the honey helped add calories and help him with the hypoglycemia attacks. Plus he just loved the taste!!! His eating improved with it and he gained.
Yes Joker is a big head!.......lol.........but his lil body doesnt have trouble carrying it around. It does look out of proportion some, but its cute. I hope she is starting to eat on her own. Let me know when you can.
Thinking of you all.

What if you tried mixing honey into the soft food..maybe that will get her eating the soft? I cant wait to hear how little Tia is doing!!

And yes..Jen's little Cali is up to a half pound at 4-5 months, I think??

Ahhhhh lil Cali.......bless that lil girl.......only 8 ozs!!????........she may be a guiness book dog entry soon! Cali is another lil chi isn't she?
Wishing her big health!!

Update
 

ARGHHHHH! STILL NOT EATING ON HER OWN! Hubby thinks its cuz she relies on me too much and I'm not giving her a chance. But its hard.....she's so skinny I want to make sure she eats. he thinks I should hold off and see if she does it on her own. I just can't do it! What do you think?

I thought I was going to be able to write a thread today letting everyone know that she ate her first bite of hard food. But after picking it up 5 times and running with it in her mouth and throwing it around and picking it back up......she was only using it for a toy!

So I made some living arrangement changes. I moved her siblings into a play yard, and moved Tia into the Play pen. I put in the bed that she kept getting out and going to. I think this will make her happy :)

She's has some fiest to her. You should see the way she bites my nose and goes after me. Its funny. She always goes right for the face.

I have a smorgesborg going in her play pen. There is: dry food, soft food, formula, and hard kitten food. Four bowls to chose from and she only wants her bottle. And boy she's a stuborn one at that. If she don't want it, she won't take it, and you can't make her! I'm just so hoping she starts eating herself.

her siblings are just now starting to eat on their own. They are picking at the soft and hard. So maybe since she is behind them,. maybe in a week or so? They are 7 weeks on Sunday. (no wonder I''m exhausted!)

Well guys...hearing from you keeps me going! I always can't wait to hear your encouragement. Thanks so much!

Your doing an amazing job:thumbup: Tia always looks fiesty in her pictures, she is the cutest little thing:p