Hi was wondering if anyone had experience witha very weak pup? she is not doing well at all i have fed her a supliment milk that was a struggle. The mother gets quiet stressed if she thinks i have got her just very unsure what to do i cant get hold of the vets which is great 24hour cover!!! i just feel a bit lost and helpless...

For now keep the pup warm
you could gently open the pups mouth and attach it to the bitches
nipple and gently squeeze a little milk in its mouth.
DO not try to feed any pup that is cold
Cold is the biggest killer.

Is she evacuating? If you are not sure damp some cotton wool with warm water and squeeze out so it only just not dripping. With a circular motion rub the area very gently and pup will poo or pee if she needs to.  Dry her gently and throughly with kitchen roll. If the pee is bright yellow then the pup is dehydrating and needs fluid quickly. As previously said, keep her warm - the whelping bed should be a minimum of 75F and pref nearer 80F ( sorry I dont do new money :-) ).

If you give more formulae make sure you wash her mouth, neck and chest well with warm water afterwards as any left on the coat with take the coat off very quickly. Keep trying to plug her on the teat - depending on her size and the size of the teat. Some newborns cant mamage to feed from the best one which is usually the second to last at the tail end. This one usually has the most milk which is more easily got. If the teats/breasts are  going hard or hot through under use milk them out a bit first by hand to get the milk flowing and if the pup is going to suck, it will find it easier to get plugged on and get some milk.

If the worst happens and despite your best efforts the pup fails, dont blame yourself, even if you do everything correctly some pups just will not make it no matter how hard you try. Good luck.

Hopefully you wil be able to speak to the vet very soon.

Ellie is evacuating and i have the correct temp for whelping box is also in old money! she is warm enough maybe because she looks so frail and boney compaire to the others that doesnt help!
may be i am suffering from paranoid mothers syndrom that doctors often accuse us of! i just feel that it is such a huge responsibility and i dont want to fail my girl

she is warm and i have done as you said and mum didnt mind which i thought she might but i did that she latched on for about 3 minuets before she was shoved off so i am going to do that little and often.

If the pup is warm, then try the hand rearing, just 2ml of welpi every 2 hours day and night, keep the pup warm, like already has been said NEVER feed a cold pup.  If mum isn't having much to do with the pup make sure you stimulate it to do it's toilet business.  Out of my 2 week old litter, I had one pup drop from 13oz down to 8oz over one day,  she was very week and started looking really dehydrated.  But by doing all the above, we've managed to get her to nearly 2 weeks old, she is smaller than the rest, but at least she's heading in the right direction.

Does the little one sound at all chesty?  if so insist on Synulox drops, it could just save this pup.  Keep trying pup back on mum in between bottle feeds though,  don't give up just yet!

Good luck, I know exactly how you are feeling!

that is fantastic what you managed to do i dont think people realise what hard work it is! my mum even said oh dont worry about them they will be alright for a few hours while you go out! i find it hard to leave them when i need the loo! the little one is not chesty the vet should be here soon. they did try and get me to take them there but i wouldnt because i didnt think mum needed anymore stress! i will never give up on her she my baby

fingers toes,and paws crossed shes ok. :)
good luck!!!!!!! x x x x x x

sorry it has taken so long to get back to you all .....
Ellie(weak pup) seems to be doing ok thank you so much for the advice i guess its just a waiting game these dogs certanily know how to test us dont they, they keep us waiting for the pups and then they are here you are constantly watching and waiting for every breath.
Vet is coming out just to check all is well and i have got the dried milk and we are feeding that. She only weighed 340g when born is it right i should weigh daily?
Thanks again

For the first week I weigh my pups twice a day, just to make sure they are gaining or to catch early if they are losing!

Good luck, hope everything works out ok for you all.

If you weigh little Ellie again, see how her weight is going!  If she's gaining then she must be feeding from mum as well, if she's not then you need to concentrate on getting her to bottle feed, little and often, don't try and give her more than the 2ml to start with or you will give her an upset tummy, which could cause her to dehydrate.

i shall do that thank you so much for the advice whats the betting i will be sat here in a couple of months time being used as a teething ring!!

Glad she is hanging on in there. When you get her latched on to mum make sure the others dont push her off. Keep your hand supporting her while she is feeding so she doesn't have to use any energy staying in the right place so she can continue feeding and you can keep the greedy ones at bay, they can wait a few minutes if they are strong.

Help pup feed every 2 1/2 hours from mum from you get up until bedtime, and then a couple of times in the night if you can. The more she has from mum the better, formulae is a life saver but mums milk is best, especially if she is under 3 days she will benefit from as much colostrum/first milk as she can get.

You did the right thing keeping her at home and calling the vet out. If you can, depending on who else is at home to do this; when the vet comes, ideally get someone else to take the bitch out for a little walk round the garden on the lead so she does not witness the vet examining the pups. When she comes back she will know someone has been handling them but thats better than a stranger reaching down into the bed when she is there. It can really upset some mums, though some couldn't care less. I have been known to put a tiny smear of butter on each pups head before mum goes back in to them, she will be happy to lick it off each one and this distracts them from the "stanger  smell".
Get a foot dip of disinfectant ready for the vet to dip his shoes first before coming in the house and a polite " Would you like to wash your hands" before he goes into the family is advisable.

Thank you for that excellent advice what a stars you all are
thank you so much

Unfotunatly Ellie has not made it and has gone on her journey across rainbow bridge
may god be with you little ellie
xx

Poor Ellie, I was reading this post with such hope. You did all you could do and it just wasn't meant to be. She is needed for an angel. So sorry for your loss. xxx

thank you for your kind words i havent cried so much for such a long time i have layed ellie to rest with rocky who we lost during birth breeding dogs is such a mix of happiness and sadness

So sorry :-(

Thank you

Hi Emma,

So sorry to hear of you little dog.

This is the hardest thing for sure.  I had a litter of 2 last year a boy and girl and lost the boy at 2 days old. I didnt think he was going to make it but it didn't make it any easier.  The little girl was hand reared as the mother never got any milk.  She has turned out a lovely bitch.

Keep your chin up. xx

what an inspiration you are. I am so grateful that the others are healthy it has been  like a part of me has been lost today ppl have asked me how are the puppies and i havent been able to say anything without crying its really knocked me for 6

I was the exact same also , didn't think I would be but I was.  I think it is made hard because  you are so physically and mentally tired also. 

I think the first time you loose them it is the hardest. Sometimes there can be something wrong we just can't see.   I remember when my little dog died I was so determined the little girl wouldn't.

If you can get some rest and a bit fresh air you will feel better. Think of the other little fighters you have there.  Have you got someone who can take over for a few hours and let you get a break?

BFN

Hi
How right you are Blue. I think you are so tired that you can't think straight. I have 3 12day old pups but we started with 4. I have only had 4 litters in 22 years and this had never happened to me before. He was only 20 hours old - I took him at 1 am to try to warm him up as he felt so cold and kept crying. He died at 4.30am and by that time I had only had 2 hours catnapping in 48hrs & I was a wreck. Cried most of the next day. Yesterday I was looking at the photos on the digital camera & saw the one with four little heads feeding - thats all I needed to start me off again.
It will get easier - like Blue said try and get someone to watch them while you have a rest.
Take Care
Helen

Well after another long nite of light sleeping we lost another weak pup i feel so emotionally drained. Mum woke me at 1;30 with the little darling in her mouth i guess she was trying to get me to help the pup. There was nothing i can do. I have had the vet out again this morning and she has checked the rest and she says they are all strong and healthy so fingers crossed.
I just feel so guilty that i have let my girl down. I know there is nothing that could of been done but it is so heartbreaking.
Thank you again for all you support it is very much needed at this time.

I am so sorry and sad to hear that :-( you poor thing, it must be horrible to have to cope with the loss. Please try and keep your spirits up for the pups that are still here, they need you and you are doing a great job. Nature can be so cruel sometimes but there was probably a good reason why those pups couldn't survive, so even though it is heartbreaking it is the way it is meant to be. Chin up girl and keep up the good work. Big hugs.xxx

Emma,

Sorry to hear about the pup. Nature is cruel and forgets our heart strings at times :-(

This won't help at all just now but it is worth mentioning so you don't beat yourself up that what is happening is nature in a lot of ways. If the pups are maybe not meant to survive. Statistically 25% of all puppies don't survive past a week . Unfortunately some breeders feel that they get more than others.

Not sure how old your puppies are now but if you get the rest to a week the rest should be OK.

Edited as I notice they are 2 1/2 days old now. I think it was a fairly big litter also which often can result is a few weaker ones.

Don't feel alone.

Take care.

the total was 12 one stillborn and two that have died since. I know that i am lucky that 9 have survived and i guess its natures way, its just the helpless feeling the surviving pups are looking so strong and big so i am very hopeful we will reach the week and beyond <<<<< losts of positive thoughts>>> 
Thank you for your kind words

i am feeling more relaxed i have just been out i havent been out apart from mad dashes to school!my friend has been here which has been great as she has been through the same and lucy thinks the world of her and is very relaxed when she is here so far so good. I know i have said it already but i would really be lost without u guys.

so sorry about the pup,hope the rest are ok.
take care sarah x

they are fine <<everything crossed>> just a waiting game!
Thanks for the message

Fingers all crossed for you and the 9 pups :-) Lets hope the ones that are left are the fighters.

Keep us posted with their rapid growth and naughty little ways, would love a picture when you can ;-) ;-) ;-) Grovel grovel

Morning Emma,

I know the pups are doing well now. Keep up the good work and thank you for the photos, they are adorable and boy you are going to have your hands full in a few weeks time :-D

Good luck and keep us updated with their growth etc.xxx

HI EMMA,  sorry to hear about the 2 puppies you have lost, like everyone on here says keep up the good work, in a few weeks when the puppies are running about driving you mad you will sure have your work cut out,
keep us updated as to how things are going

well i am slightly more positive today! 9 healthy chubby pups they are all putting weight on and lucy is managing to leave them now and have a snuggle on the sofa!
so fingers crossed the emotional rollercoaster is over well until they have to leave i am trying to convince the other half after the stress i have had surely we should keep at least one!!
Thanks for all the good wishes and advice
very very very much apriciated

Hi Emma

Glad the other pup's are doing well. It's one big rollercoaster ride,,but worth while when the pup's are bouncing around causing havok.
All the best

I am hoping we have been through all the dips of the rollercoaster and we are on the nice steady part just before the end!
i cant believe how quickly they develop their personalitys (sp) i really do not envy one of the puppys new parents he is such a little monkey already!!
Thank you for your kind words