Help with new puppies

[cdain]

Thanks for all the fabulous advice. The puppies (born 8/14/06) are continuing to gain weight. One born at 3.05 oz is now 5.50 oz, the other born at 3.50 oz is now 6.30 oz. Sweet Pea (the mom) did eat the baby cereal, chicken baby food, evaporated milk and karo surup and she's eating cheese. We have tried the high caloric food (Hill's AD) and she will eat a bite or two but that's all. With everything that has gone on with two of them dying, we have not had their tails docked. Is it necessary to do it and is it too late? Thanks again!

[ChestersMom]

My vet said to do their tails/dew claws within five days. Today would be day five for you and it's Saturday. You might check with your vet first thing Monday morning. This is my first litter of Yorkies, but I used to breed Boxers and always had them done within five days. Best of luck to you and so glad Mom is eating. Guess you can drink that beer now!

[ChestersMom]

Just a note to let you know I'm a little concerned about my litter too. They haven't lost anything (they're only 36 hours old), but haven't gained any either. Chloe's teats don't look real full and they seem to be forever nursing, but their little tummies are fat, their coats are shiny as glass, and they seem extremely content. I have been putting a little extra in Chloe's food to get her to eat more as I know she's putting a lot out of her system to feed five pups. They go to the vet on Tuesday for dew claws/tails. Guess I'll get his advice then. I think they'd be crying if they were hungry. Hope yours are thriving.

[cdain]

Congratulations Chestersmom!!! Five puppers - that's a handful! I know nothing about all of this but I can tell you what has worked for me in the past week The first 24 hours, they gained very little. The smallest was 3.05 and by the 3rd day was 3.25. The other was born at 3.50 and by the third day was at 3.70. A very nice YT person connected me with a breeder who told me to give the mother the concoction I mentioned earlier but it sound like your mom is eating - mine wasn't. I thought if you sqeezed the teets you should see milk and in the beginning I did but not now. Another nice person said when they nurse, the milk drops down so it sounds like you are doing everything right. Just weigh them in the morning. I don't know if I can get their tails docked. I may just let them be the way they are. Good luck to you. If you need the breeder's number, I'm sure she wouldn't mind me giving it out. She was very helpful.

[Amber_lv]

I would lookm around for another vet if you don't think this one is the best for your money we have switched vets 3 times for Peeka and Boo and after thier last set of shots we might switch again.

[ChestersMom]

I just took Chloe's temperature and it's 102. That is within the normal range isn't it? She's acting great, jumping around, eating, drinking and taking very good care of the babies. But she has moments when she pants and I got a little concerned. I have a vet appointment for Tuesday but will call him tomorrow just to check. I'll take her temp again in the morning and take off work if it's any higher. Hope we don't have any problems. She's such a sweetheart.

[cdain]

Sweet Pea's temp was 102 the day after giving birth and they said that was normal. Let me know what the vet says and how the pups are doing.

[cdain]

I think I need to find a vet that is familar with new born puppers. This vet is very good with older dogs but they have come right out and said that they haven't dealt with new born puppies in a long time

[fannie]

I'm glad to hear that the puppies are doing well. I have their tails doced at 7 - 10 days. It doesn't seem to affect them as much by then. As soon as I put them back with Mom, they quit crying. Plus, it's a good chance to get Mom checked out as well.

[cdain]

I'll call the vet today about their tails. It seems like it would hurt them, that's why I'm reluctent to do it. I took the mother and pups in last monday, the day after they were born and they gave Sweet Pea a shot to make her uterus go down and make her milk come in but it seemed to make her milk dry up for a couple of days. Do their tails HAVE to be docked?

[daisysis]

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

Just because you can not express milk does not mean mom does not have any. Milk tends to "let down" as the pups nurse..I could not get milk out of alot of my moms, but the pups grew and were happy.

The pups need to nurse on mom, the more they do, the more milk will come in...are they content, warm and not crying..if so they are getting enough food..you say they are gaining each day..some lose the first day and start gaining the second..so you are ahead.

I am not an eye dropper user JMO..too easy to asperiate the milk..a hungry pup will most always nurse a bottle..a not so hungry won't..they do not sound hungry to me. Keep them warm and weigh them..not sure what 4 times a day will tell you..the amount may be so small you can not see a gain and panic..AM/PM works well..but simply a matter of opinion.
Look for a "breeder friendly" vet if you breed again..some are not in favor of breeding and make it hard to get good answers and help.
Best wishes

I do not have pups yet but i think your advice is good i will remember it thanks. I hope the pups are dong well now

[cdain]

I just got back from having the pups' tails docked and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. They cried a little but were fine when they got back to Sweet Pea. I didn't have the dew claws removed - I felt like they had been through enough!!

[newmommy]

awe. how much do they charge to do that ??

[bravodarling]

Originally Posted by cdain

My vet is absolutely no help. I spent over $1,000.00 this week and they want to charge me $30.00 for a 20 minute phone consultation. It's not the money, it's the principle of it. Anyway, I have two puppies born last Sunday morning. They have each gained about an oz since then. Is that enough? They won't bottle feed and the mother doesn't have much milk it seems like as she won't eat much. She is drinking a little of the baby formula and a little Hills AD. They want to nurse all the time, but they have gained a little each day although I'm supplementing it with tube feeding which I hate. Can anyone out there tell me if they are gaining at a normal rate and if they are gaining, can I quit tube feeding them? Thanks so much.

I have a litter now that i am bottle feeding. The first hour they were born the Vet tried to bottle feed them and failed as the babies fought it and cryed turning there heads refusing to take it.
I brought them home bit more holes in the nipple, hoping the milk could flow better and when they started to open there little mouths i placed a finger on each side of the mouth to keep good suction going. If you hear them sucking they cannot get the milk. I have to really hold there heads tight so they cannot turn away then they such like little piggies..
I hope this may help you<> you are doing a good job and congrats on your babies....

[cdain]

After having paid over $1,000 in three days, I went to a different vet and to have the two tails docked was $54.95!!!! I couldn't believe it only cost that much!