Today my girl had 9 puppy's 8 are beautiful and healthy and eating well, then  there is the problem. She is about 3/8th the size of the others and weights just about 100g, she is a fighter and is suckling but mum is not having any of her she licks her and flicks her away, we have been feeding her every hour and have been on to Donpipique for advice she is still going and crying for her food but is the thing to do, by letting nature take it's course, are these things done for survival of the fittest and by rearing her would she be a weakling all her life and suffer, or do I preserve all life at any cost. My 18 stone 32 year old son is in love with her and would cry buckets if anything happened, he would take her and try to rear her. but I want what is best for her future one way or the other but should we decided.

The problem is as p8ps are born very underdeveloped a tiny one like this may or may not have serious problems that may not become aparent until she should have matured more.  She may have internal systems undeveloped to go with the size and may die anyway, or she could survive babyhood only to succumb or be found to have a problem that will seriously affect her qyality of life as a dog.

If it was me I would let nature take it's course.  I would make sure she had a chance to feed off Mum twice as often as the others, but would do no more than this.  If she survives the first few days with this extra help and starts to gain then all may be well.  Mother rejecting her does make me think that there is something abnormal about her.

Have you checked for Cleft Palate?

Hi Britney, congrats on your litter!!

with regard to your little one I would personally try to raise her. I havnt had much luck when I have tried to raise a tiny one, but I always feel better for the fact I tried. Keep her warm, perhaps in a shoebox on a hot water bottle and bottle feed regualry, at least every hour to start with.

We used Bryonia and Carbo veg with the last pup we raised. The Bryonia dried out the pup and enabled him to warm up and the Carbo Veg helps with the metabolism. They are homeopathic remedies and do work  (sometimes) Do not feed milk if the pup is cold and wet. Must be dried out first. We also used fresh goats milk and the pup loved it.

With regard to your son, he may be more upset if he doesnt try, I would certainly let him have a go.

all just my opinion, by no means an expert!!  PM if you need any more help

Hi Britney - congratulations on your litter. I too had a 'tiny' pup in my last litter and he is now a bouncy healthy 7 month old boy. Personally I would not give up on your little one just yet - I think I live near you ( Elm near Wisbech ) and I have some liquid Life aid which I used to great effect on our pup - just call if you want some. You are also near Heather Ridley who works wonders with very small/weak pups and has saved many ( she lives in Guyhirn). Hope all goes well

Hi Britney,

I had this in a litter, where mum would push this scrawny tiny pup away, I raised the pup, only to have the heartbreak of having him PTS at 12 weeks, due to anus not growing.
Obviously on hindsight, would have been better to have let nature take its course, but if faced with a similar dilemma, I would probably do all I could to save the pup again.

Charm

How is she doing Britney?
Congrats by the way!

The little puppy is still hangin in, we had just about thought it would be better to let her go, but she is putting up one hell of a fight so I decided to do everything I can to keep her going, OH not of the same mind but he is still helping. but I think that is because before he retired he was a farm manager and when dealing with 5-6000 pigs he sees things differently, something like the survival of the fittest, I think we will loose but at least she had a chance.

The puppy past away this evening, very peacefully.

Congrats on ur litter :) Sorry to hear that :(

sorry to hear about your puppy Britony - :-( I'm sure te others are all beautiful !!

Sorry :(
You did all you could have.

I would fight tooth and nail for a life that could be viable - I think most people would.  So sorry.