A few weeks ago someone on a local rescue site was talking about her 'tea cup' chi and that she was pregnant. I kept out of the thread until it got to the saturday evening on day 61!!!!
The fluffy brigade were all going oooohhhh arrrrrrrr your in for a long weekend.
I TRIED to be the voice of reason and say if she was mine she would be down the vets now for a c section as normal sized chis dont go over let alone sall ones.
She said she would go on monday, after quite a few messages trying to persuade her she shouldnt leave her until Monday, I eventually said that I hope the puppies and bitch will still be alive by then.
I got shot down ten fold by the fluffy brigade for all of my messages and I eventually left the group after saying there is no such thing as tea cup just small, deciding that the group was a good group but some of the people spoil it.
Well looking on another site over a week later it transpires that she did leave it, and yes the puppies died!!!!!
I just hope that now some of my words will be ringing in the fluffy brigades ears and especially the owner,
Unfortunatly I dont think it will stop her trying again, I bet she mates the poor dog again :( :(
Lea.

At least you tried -and fingers crossed a lesson was learned. It's like when people here complain that we're too hard on first time breeders etc, but I for one could not sleep at night if I just ignored comments that made it clear harm could be done to a bitch and/or pups and indeed the breed in general.

Well done for trying anyway Lea.  I have trouble comprehending the lack of not just basic animal husbandry knowledge but plain common sense in some of these groups.  Have been involved in a couple of similar online conversations this year.  In one of the them breeder of the bitch was giving "expert" advice to the owner of a small chi cross.  The bitch was not very big for 7- 8 weeks pregnant and I advised a trip to the vet for a scan to see if only 1 pup, which would increase the chance of a C section.  The bitches breeder "examined" the bitch and assured the owner at least 2 and possible 3 pups.  I tried to say, tactfully, that it is impossible to determine numbers manually at that stage of pregnancy.  The bitch went 3 days over, but after a traumatic whelping did deliver 1 very small pup.  She struggled on to 6 weeks old and sadly died.  The breeder is urging her to mate again next season as she is due a pup back!

So very many of the "fluffy pups ahhh" don't want to hear!

Fingers x someone has learned something but unfortunately, I very much suspect they will find a way of telling themselves it wasn't their fault, there was nothing they could do, yadda yadda..

I've seen it time and time again and it is indescribably frustrating, you want to shout 'yes, there WAS something you could do..' but after the fact it tends to look like you are just being horrid to someone who has had something very sad happen. Grr.

I would be very tempted to go back on with sympathy but then to say I told to so and if they had not been so lapse and bull headed the pups may have been a live to day and how did they feel about that on their conscience.

Harsh I know but sometimes people need it spelling out and should realise accountabty on matters like this.

It's one of those FB pages where you have to tread on eggshells giving advice which may be unpalatable.  You want to sit them down and say, "Look this is how it is, you must do X & Y or the pup and bitch will likely die", and instead you have to be "That may not be such a good idea, it is very important you don't leave things too long, please think about taking her to the vets "  any mention of bitch or pup dying brings up accusations of bullying and being bossy!

Oh dear! Fingers crossed she has learned a lesson, I would be keeping an eye out and perhaps finding a tactful way to remind her that you had suggested a vet visit and perhaps she might consider that sooner next time.