Hello
Its me again I am getting concerned over the smallest pup which were born yesterday it has lost 20g in weight and just does not want to suckle at this moment I have tried in between bottle supplement but still not very interested.  How much should I be trying to hand feed I am alternating this but I am worried that if I feed the pup by hand then it will not want to go on the teat but if I don't do something we may loose her and thats unthinkable.  Could I syringe the milk direct into the puppy as she hasn't got the hang of suckling quite yet the other 6 pups are fine.  I have tried the other suggestions without much success and I am getting quite anxious now we are going to the vets later today to have mother and pups checked.
Patricia 

One way or the other the puppy needs feeding so's not to dehydrate.If the puppy won't suck try using a pipette giving your formula drop by drop taking care to let the puppy swallow.I had a 4oz puppy but it would suck so I topped him up after every feed from mum so he was ready for the next feed 1 1/2 hours later.......at 10 days old he is now a whopping 1lb 2oz :) Good luck with your puppy.Gail :) :) :)

Loosing weight is never a good sign, your vet will give this pup something to help kick start her, as already said by Gail dehydration is a major concern, continue to hand feed you can't afford for this pup to lose anymore weight and keep placing her on the back teats inbetween, the minute this pup is awake pop her straight on teat before the others if possible, very pleased she is going to the vet. I have my fingers crossed for the little one. Let us know how she is. :-)

A very gentle way to get milk in to a new born is to make milk up and then
use an eyeshadow brush and drip the milk in very slowly.

We found the evap milk diluted 50/50 with water and our pups loved it,you could get her strength up with evap/water
then change to a puppy milk.

Also with life aid in the milk mixture works well too.I use 50% carnation milk,25% lifeaid and 25%boiled water given to the pup at body temperature.Gail :) :) :)

Life Aid has to be diluted down at a rate of 92ml water to 8ml life aid,it can be hard to get though but if you need a number PM me or if your local
to the Midlands I have some here you could have.

Never had to do it but have been told in extreme cases, you can give lifeaid neat.Thats what I`ve been told anyway It can be got, usually, at your vets or Hyperdrug sell it or I`m in cornwall and I have some here too if you can collect it. Gail :) :) :)

We had a very poorly pup once and life aid and best minced beef saved that pups life,
I wouldnt have a litter with out it.

Ive not heard about giving it neat as on the box it tells you to dilute even for sheep and cattle,but
who knows.

Hi everyone
Took mother and pups to the vet to be checked over all are fine even the smaller one. We have been feeding her every 2 or near enough hours with whelpi she will then have a suckle on her mum with our assistance so fingers crossed she will go on to be a strong puppy she looks so dainty at the side of the other pups but she is moving about and is now going to mum and mum is looking after her.

Thats fantastic news.Well done.As long as a puppy is healthy you can often keep even quite small puppies going with a bit of support.Well done once again and all the best.Gail  :) :) :)

Once she is suckling properly I would start to drop the supplements and make sure you get her on her Mum at every opportunity, every hour even during the day and a couple of times extra at night.

Puppy doing well she is gaining weight even though she still looks tiny against the other puppies. Could anyone give me their advice on the following, we have had a puppy list for the last few weeks of potential buyers some have had pups from us before and some are friends of theirs.   One such couple who were the first to enquire after our pups are going on holiday for 3 1/2 weeks on the 14th July returning 5th August they would like to have the first choice from the bitches and have asked if they can come on friday 13th July the pups will be 3 weeks old is this to soon what do you think?

I would have people come at 4 weeks because there is not so much to see before then but I suppose in the circumstances it is them that would be taking the chance as to whether they are actually making the best choice.  However if your breed has the sort of temperament that needs a little more matching to the right family and you want to narrow down the choice on offer I would definately want to leave it until later.

I would leave it until they come home, but I would tell the other would be owners that this couple have first choice. I don't usually let them choose which pup they want on their first visit anyway, as the one they like the look of might not fit their temperament. (Couch potato dog, people that do a lot of hill walking comes to mind ;) or vise versa :D) That way they will know that they won't be too disappointed if they don't get their first choice. I usually tell the people to have a look and choose which ones they like, in order that they like them. They then come back later for another look before deciding which one they want. That way you will be covered.

I have had this problem before with the first choice being away, in my case it was easy as they wanted a specific colour and there were only two, I just felt it totally unfair to keep my other owners waiting to choose their pup, it really depends on what breed you have and as to whether they are after a show, working, or pet.  If for show that is difficult for them to choose at 3 weeks, if for working then that is not so much of a problem as they will most probably choose the colour and size they like, if for pet homes then again it is not a problem to choose early, again they will choose by colour and size.

Only you know what your pups will be homed for if it is for pet or working I personally would let them choose at 3 weeks now so that others on your list are not left waiting for their own choice or colours, sizes, sex.

Use Parvocide on your floors, get them to take off their shoes, (though most people do that anyway) ask them to wash their hands if you are to allow them to touch the pups, better still ask them to choose without touch. :-)

If they have older children or specific requirements then hold up your list for temperaments to come through.

Unless they are experienced exhibitors/breeders, I don't let people choose their pups.  I match the right temperament to the right families because they only see maybe a 60 minute snapshot when they visit and I spend every waking hour observing for 8 weeks! :)

Thanks for your replies, my puppies are just for pets even though my bitch was mated with a good quality show dog  My gut feeling is that because this family have asked after a bitch almost from day one (as soon as they knew I had mated Ivy) then they should have a choice which bitch they like.  I did point out that 3 weeks is a little early to get a good idea of the puppies personalities and that I would not like them to be handled, the answer was he knows what he is looking for as he has had this breed before and he can tell just by seeing the way the pups are around their mum he is travelling a fair distance and I don't want him to be dissapointed.  When I went to view puppies they were 5 to 6 weeks old and were very active. I would certainly make them wash their hands and use a mild disinfectant.  The other potential buyers are coming when the pups will be 5 weeks old.  I cannot make my mind up whats best for the puppies.

I'm sorry, but I don't see how anyone can tell what the pups temperament is going to be at 3 weeks. Mine are now only 8 weeks and I know that their personalities didn't really start to show until they were 4 - 5 weeks old. How can he tell in just a few minutes (whether it's 10 or 110 doesn't matter) I have one in this litter that was very quiet until this past week. Now he's a terror ;) Personally I'd let him know that you want to make sure that the right pup went to the right home.

I'm sorry, but I don't see how anyone can tell what the pups temperament is going to be at 3 weeks.

They absolutely can not tell any personality/temperament whatsoever. ;-)

This guy is obviously just going to choose the biggest pup, as that is what most novices would consider to be the boldest when infact it is usually just the greediest. :-D

What a load of tosh! :rolleyes:

Unless they have different markings/colours, he will have no idea which pup he chose when he next sees them!

Hello
Just to let you all know that my smaller puppy is not doing so well she is going to the vets soon she is lethargic and squealing all the time doesn't want to know her mums teats or even bottle shes not contented my gut feeling is we are going to loose her. Will keep you posted

I am sorry, but often there is a reason a pup does not do well, and it is better to know sooner than later.

Ahh sorry to hear this.   My mum's smallest pup is doing really well and I don't know whether it was the Enervite that she smothered on the mother's teat but he's doing really well.

Will keep  my fingers crossed but as Brainless says there's usually a reason why they go this way.

Hello
We did loose our smaller pup the vet said she was struggling and kinder to let her go now as she would just fade. A few tears were shed by both myself and my husband even though he won't admit it.  I have decided in my earlier post regarding viewing pups at 3 weeks old not to let this happen I have now re-scheduled all prospective buyer and they are coming to view from when the puppies are 6 weeks old.  I feel a lot better about this I do not want anymore mishaps

So very sorry to hear this sad news, you worked so hard to save her, I guess it was just not meant to be.  (((Big hug))) and God bless to the little one.

Aww so sorry about the pup............you are doing the right thing.
Karen xx

I always get people to come at 4 weeks, though there again I suppose it does depend on the breed.  My Spanish are up and about and retrieving, sitting etc. to command at 4 weeks, not like our Pomeranian's they are only just up on their feet and the boy was 3 weeks today and the girls are tomorrow.

coming from a non breeders prospective i would feel better seeing the pups at 4 weeks old or more, and if it was a small breed which take longer to 'come out of their shell' then 5 to 6 weeks. just so i know the pups can choose me rather then me choose them which is how i think things should happen or you can at least see a bit more personality, thats how we chose Mitz our bitch , we had no idea which pup we wanted but she kept coming up to us for cuddles and the rest were playing just ignoring us. also the dam can have a say as when we picked up certain ones she would nuzzle our hands to make us place them down, but with Mitz she just looked and didnt come near us, she seemed happy with our choice!

Also im so sorry about your loss,its such a shame, but cherish the ones you have in her memory as she'll never be forgotten xxx