5 week old pup

Hi, I just got a pup and he's only 3 weeks old. The owner gave them away sooner then 6 weeks because the mother stopped nursing them.

I will be going on a trip in 2 weeks, my pup will be 5 weeks old at that time. Can he have his 1st shot before I leave?

He will be boarding at a Kennel with lots of other animals and I don't want him to get sick.

Please help.




Hi
Momma dogs naturally start to wean their puppies at around 3 - 4 weeks of age, that's when the breeder needs to begin offering them puppy food and water, not find them new homes! Your puppy is WAY too young to be away from it's canine family.

If you can return it to it's mom for a few weeks it would be much, much better for this little guy. However if that's not possible you are going to need to give him lots of love, attention and patience because he's just a tiny baby.

You will need to soak his puppy food in warm water for 10 - 15 minutes before you give it to him, and potty training won't be able to begin until he's around 8 weeks old and starts to develop some bladder/bowel control.

You're right to be concerned about the potential danger of illness or disease as he's at risk until he's received all his shots.

A puppy generally doesn't start vaccinations until he's 7 weeks old. In special circumstances a vet may begin the vaccination schedule earlier, maybe at around 5 weeks but you'd need to talk to your vet about this.

It will be very risky to leave this pup anywhere that there are other dogs at such a young age. In fact I highly doubt that any Kennel will take a puppy of that age. Most require that the puppy is at least 12 weeks old or more and is fully vaccinated (ie had the full course of three sets of shots plus his Rabies shot). Before that he isn't protected against disease and may catch or transmit something.

If you want to keep this puppy you will probably need to re-think your plans. Perhaps you can find a friend or relative, either without dogs or with dogs who are fully vaccinated, for your puppy to stay with while you're away.

You may find my Puppy Development and New Puppy Care pages helpful as you're a new puppy owner.

Best of luck with your little puppy.

Feeding a 9 week old pug

by Christie Ruml
(Letcher SD)

We have had a pug now for 1 week. he is currently 9 weeks old.

His stools were getting better but today i noticed some mucus and blood in it again. is this a problem i need to be worried about or is ihe still in some stress?

Also is Nutromax a good puppy food to give him? How often should he be feed currently we feed him twice a day with water at that time.

thank you

Christie





Hi Christie
Some blood/mucus in a puppys' stools, if he seems to be happy and healthy otherwise, may just be due to stress and the change in diet etc. If you've only had him for a week then that is still a possibility.

However, if he seems to be very tired, isn't eating/drinking normally, has soft stools/diarrhea, is vomiting, or seems sick in any way, take him to your veterinarian quickly. Many canine illnesses start with diarrhea.

Personally, I would recommend feeding him three times a day at the moment. You can reduce it to twice a day when he reaches 4 months or so. Small breed pups need to eat more often than the larger breeds as they have tiny tummies, and fast metabolisms.

I don't have the ingredient list for Nutromax, but if you check out my Dog Food Comparisons page, you can find a system that you can use to rate any dog food according to the quality of its' ingredients. You can also find a list of the ratings for some well-known brands on my Dog Food Ratings page.

Best of luck with your puppy.

MALE DOG NOT LIKING NEW PUP

I HAVE JUST GOT A PUPPY FEMALE WE HAVE AN OLDER MALE DOG HE DOESN'T SEEM TO LIKE HER.

HE WOULDN'T LOOK AT HER AT 1ST. HE LOST IS MUM 4WKS AGO. THE MALE IS THE DAD OF THE PUP




Hi
It's not unusual for a resident/older dog to resent/ignore or simply dislike a new puppy to begin with. Dogs don't have the kind of family connections as humans, and the fact that this puppy is his son is irrelevant to your dog!

It's good that the puppy is a female, as adding a puppy of the same sex as the older dog is usually more difficult. I would recommend that you read my Introducing A New Puppy page. It has lots of tips and advice on how to make this transition run smoothly.

Just give your older dog lots of love and be patient, he will most likely get used to the puppy given time, and they could well end up best of friends.

good luck!

New Puppy Play

by Maria
(Apple Valley, Ca )

Hi! I was just wondering about my new puppy and play. I just got an 10 week old german shepherd puppy mix and is in the process of getting all his shots cause he previous owners didn't give him any.

Well, I went to the vet and he said the puppy should be isolated cause he is in a vulnerable state not having all his shots yet. So I am not allowed to take him to parks or walks. What should I do for playtime?

This is my first dog and don't have any ideas what to do for exercise. Any suggestions would be great. Thank you.




Hi Maria
Congratulations on your new puppy! Yes, your vet is correct in saying that he needs to be protected from contracting any of the serious dog illnesses that are often found in public places.

He will need to have had all three sets of vaccinations before he is safe.

Don't worry though, there are lots of things you can do with your puppy at home. Play 'fetching' games, by throwing his toy and waiting for him to bring it back to you. Play hide-and-go-seek by concealing yourself (not too well!) behind furniture and then encouraging him to come and find you, a little bit of tug-of-war is also fun, but make sure that YOU always win the contest, and put away the tug toy when you're done.

Practicing simple obedience commands will be fun for your puppy too. Just remember to keep the training sessions short.

Your puppy really just wants to spend time with you, and any activity that you can both enjoy is fun for him, and helps you both to bond.

German Shepherds are big chewers, so make sure you have plenty of sturdy chew toys for him to amuse himself with too.

Best of luck with your new pup!

spaying

is it true or just an old wives tale that female pups should be allowed to have a first litter before spaying?


Hi
It's one of those old wives tales!

To get the maximum health benefits from being spayed, a puppy should be spayed before approx 6 months of age.

You can check out my Spaying Your Dog for all the information you need.

Caring for 9 orphaned puppies

by John Tyler
(Apple VAlley, Ca)

We have been raising nine puppies that were orphaned six hours after birth. They will be four weeks old in two days. We have been faithful in their feeding schedule (including the early morning times). The pups now weigh an average of 2+ pounds each.(They are husky-lab mix). We are in the process of introducing them to solid foods by using puppy chow mixed with formula and water. The pups seem to do well with this recipe.

My question is as follows: When should we stop the formula and just go with moistened puppy chow? Our concern is that they maintain a proper nutrition/caloric balance. Any suggestions would be appreciated.





Hi John
First of all - congratulations on raising these babies! It sounds as though you're doing a great job.

Your pups are old enough now that they don't need the formula milk anymore, water will be fine. Normally the momma dog starts to wean them naturally around 3 - 4 weeks old, and that's when you would introduce solid food and water, so you're right on track.

It wouldn't hurt to continue using milk for one feed per day for now, but by 5 weeks old they can be totally on puppy kibble and water.

Do make sure that you choose a high quality, premium food though, that way your puppies will get optimum nutrition. You can find a system you can use to 'rate' any dog food according to the quality of its' ingredients on my Dog Food Comparisons page.

You may also find my New Born Puppies and Puppy Development pages useful.

Best of luck with these little guys.

Puppy Pooping Blood?

by Tammy
(Indianapolis, In)

My puppy is part Rot/German Shepherd. He is supposed to get a dose of worm medicine today. He woke up this morning pooping blood.

He does not want to eat, or drink. What do I do? Not sure if he possibly ate something, or what?

Please advise.


Hi Tammy
This is serious. A puppy who is pooping blood and won't (or can't) eat or drink is sick and needs a veterinarian's attention as soon as possible.

There are many serious, contagious dog illnesses/diseases that a puppy can catch. All unvaccinated puppies are vulnerable to Parvo, which can be fatal. Rottweilers are particularly at risk for this disease.

Please let your vet check him over asap. Best of luck!

When do newborns open their eyes?

by Kathy
(Conord CA)

When do newborns open their eyes?


Hi Kathy
New born puppies usually open their eyes when they're somewhere between 10 days and 2 weeks old.

Their eyes may look gray/blue and cloudy at first, but this is normal.

Check out my New Born Puppies and pages for more information.

1 yr. old male dog still pees when excited or scared??????

I have a yr old mix male that constantly pees when ever someone comes to the door or in the house.

If you pet him he pees, if you play fetch with him he pees, its never ending?????

When or will this ever end??? I got him when he was 9 wks old so I know he wasn't abused, this is the first dog I have ever had do this.

HELP



Hi
Your dog is experiencing something called 'submissive urination'. It's actually quite common, has nothing to do with his being abused or anything like that, and is most often seen in dogs who are very eager to please and submissive in general.

It is a behavior that many pups outgrow eventually, but to help him overcome this you need to find ways to improve his self-confidence.

He urinates like this because it's a canine way of showing respect and he's trying to show you (or any other human), that he realizes you are superior to him. It's important not to scold him, or to get angry or impatient. He will interpret this to mean that he hasn't been 'submissive' enough, and will pee even more.

The best reaction is to ignore it when he urinates. Try to keep comings and goings low key, and don't greet him immediately you come home. Ignore him (no eye contact etc.) for a few minutes, then pet him quietly. As you've noticed, excitement only makes this behavior much worse!

Also, try crouching down when you greet him, you seem less threatening to him that way, and encourage others to do the same. Don't raise your voice (in anger or excitement) with him either.

I'd recommend working with him at home on some basic obedience training, and help him to succeed. When he does, praise him and give him a treat. Building up his self confidence is the best way to bring this behavior to an end. I would also recommend socializing him as much as possible, but take it slow so that he doesn't find it too overwhelming.

Once he is more confident, enroll him in a formal obedience class to continue this process.

If you're loving, patient and consistent with him, your dog will be able to overcome this behavior in time. Best of luck!

Dry Skin

by Amber A
(Gering, NE U.S.A.)

Hi! We just took our new female shih-poo to get her 1st grooming today and they noticed that her skin was dry and told us to get some liquid skin & coat supplement for her to help her coat.

They also said maybe to take her to the vet also because dry skin can mean maybe she has something wrong with her thyroid - what could this be or is this true?

will she just need some meds or like a vitamin? Is there anything over the counter I could get for her also?

Thanks for your help,

Amber A






Hi Amber
Puppies and dogs can suffer from overly dry skin for many reasons, including being bathed too often, using too strong a shampoo, the dry air indoors (made worse by air conditioning in summer and central heating in winter) and so on.

It is possible for a thyroid condition to cause skin problems, but I don't think that's something you need to start worrying about right away. Chances are it's something much simpler.

Giving your puppy a food supplement that contains omega oils/fatty acids, vitamins etc., can really improve the condition of her skin and coat. These are natural products and available OTC.

I would recommend checking out these two -



Dr. Harvey's Health and Shine for Dogs 90 ct.



Only Natural Pet Super Daily Vitamins Skin Coat 10 oz.



Give it at least 8 weeks or so, and if you don't see any difference, or it gets worse, then you could consult your vet.

Dry skin may also be caused by allergies, but I would suggest trying the supplements before exploring o other options.

Best of luck.

Puppy peeing all the time

by scott
(indiana)

I have an 11 week old bloodhound. I have trained several dogs and have never had anything like this. my mother has trained several more than I and she also thinks it is a problem.

The dog pees all the time and i don't mean every hour, I mean every 5 to 15 minutes. doesn't matter whether in its cage outside in the house. It pees on it's toys, on the dog bed, everywhere. I took it to the vet and they said it was ok, but I just don't know.

I'm tired of dealing with this and for the first time in my life am thinking of getting rid of an animal. It should no longer be doing this at this age it weighs 20 pounds and it pees in little quantities, it also drinks like i have never seen a dog drink before and eats a little crazy also.

I thought it had to have a UTI but they said no, any thoughts.




Hi Scott
You're certainly having some issues here with this puppy, and my gut reaction would be the same as yours - there's a problem somewhere.

My first guess would have been a UTI, but if your vet took a urine sample and has ruled this out after testing, it may be something else.

Kidney problems, or diabetes could be possibilities, due to the excessive urination and thirst. Cushing's Disease is another possibility, but is more often seen in older dogs.

I would definitely recommend that you take your pup back to your vet and ask for some more tests to be done. It sounds as though your little guy can't help this constant 'urination' and if that's the case, normal housebreaking rules/procedures won't be successful and it won't be his fault. If your own vet can't help your pup, don't be afraid to seek a second opinion or ask for a referral. Correct diagnosis and treatment are essential so that you can get back on the right track and your puppy will be well.

This kind of problem can be very frustrating and tiresome, but if your pup has a physical problem it's up to you to help him. I wish you the very best of luck with this and hope you can get it sorted out soon.

Rachael Ray Nutrish

Could you give me a food rating for Rachael Ray's Nutrish with real beef and brown rice. I came up with a rating of 55 using your system, but I'm not sure that's correct.

My dog currently eats solid gold wolf cub, but she seems to like the Rachael Ray Nutrish quite a bit more. I want her to be healthy so I'm sticking with the Solid Gold for now, but if the Nutrish is ok I'd rather she ate what she likes. She'll eat quite a bit more of the Nutrish than she will the solid gold, which makes me think the Solid Gold either makes her sick or doesn't taste that great.



Hi
If you have followed the procedure for Sarah Iricks' system correctly using the ingredient list on the bag, then you would come up with the right rating. I don't have the ingredient list for Nutrish myself, but the system is sound.

From what I've been able to find out from my research, Nutrish is not really a premium food, although it is marketed as such, and the percentage of grain is fairly high. It's better than the 'store brand' or other 'generic' foods, but Solid Gold is better in terms of nutrition.

It's also worth remembering that a dog needs to eat more of a food that has a low nutritional value than he does of one that is nutrition-dense. Perhaps your pup needs more Nutrish than he does of the Solid Gold.

Obviously it's a personal choice which food you want to go with, but if you want an alternative to Solid Gold, I personally think you should do a bit more research, Nutrish may not be what you're looking for.

Best of luck.

Looking for those who keep track of puppy weight growth.

We have a beautiful singleton born into our house on Dec 7th, a Jug (4th generation mix of JRT and pug) and no it wasn't an intentional breeding, because 80% of our animals are fixed or non breeders. He is just a special little surprise before daddy gets his onions peeled ( If you know what I mean).

I took mum for all her prenatals and found out that the football team in her tummy numbered one and was backwards. X-ray (Totally committed to C-Section and Spay on the half-shell, heck did it myself with my fourth kid). He arrived the way he wanted, all 260 grams of him. He is now 14 days old and weighs 845 grams. I know he is a big boy, but I have taken daily, sometimes tri-daily data on his weight.

What I am having a hard time finding is, weight range charts. He has a healthy upwards swing, that increases by 5 grams of increase per day. Is anyone else weighing their pups so that I can compare? Just for ratio purposes, I will do the math myself if you weigh in ounces. I'm more interested in the trend rather than who is is winner.

Thanks for any data you can supply. Date and weight is all I really need. Number of pups and size of dog is only helpful. Breed might matter, but I have held smaller newborn Labs in my hand than this 2 week old monster of a toy breed.



Hi
A single puppy gets maximum benefits of his mommas milk and lots of TLC, and it's very natural for a pup in this position to be MUCH larger than a pup who is one of 4, 6 or more.

This doesn't usually affect adult size all that much though, it just seems to speed up weight gain while the puppy is very young. It will adjust and become more within normal limits in time.

Regular, consistent weight gain is what you aim for, and normally a pup will at least double it's birth weight somewhere between 7 and 10 days. Yours is ahead of the game by quite a bit :o) but this isn't surprising.

I tend to judge pups by the 'look and feel' rather than exact weight measurements, and don't keep those logs once the pups are grown, so I can't help too much in terms of exact figures.

If anyone is familiar with whelping and raising small breed dogs, maybe they can give you some more information/specifics.

I wish you the best of luck with this 'little' guy!

my newborn puppy fell

i was holding my newborn puppy i put him on my legs and he slipped and fell on the floor and hit his little head.

so i was wondering what happens 2 a puppy if it fall and hits his head on the concrete floor?



Hi
If your puppy hit his head, he could well have been injured. Is he acting the way he did before he fell? Or is he crying, extra quiet or shaking?

If you're concerned that he hurt himself, take him to a veterinarian and get him checked out. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

Newborn puppies should be handled as little as possible at first, and should stay with their momma. They need to nurse, be kept warm, and sleep a lot. After a couple of weeks, then you can begin to get them used to being handled (gently) by people.

Best of luck, hope this little guy is okay.

water

by lizzie
(california)

My puppies are about 3 weeks old when do i start putting out water for them?




Hi Lizzie
When the puppies are somewhere between 3 and 4 weeks the momma starts to wean them naturally, by refusing to nurse them for long periods. She will often remain standing while they nurse and she may even get pretty 'cranky' with them.

This is when you need to begin offering them dry puppy food (soaked in warm water) and water to drink. They will be pretty messy with it at first, but they catch on quickly.

You may find my New Born Puppies and Puppy Development pages helpful.

Good luck!

DIARRHEA

MY PUPPY IS 12 DAYS OLD AND HAS FOUL SMELLING DIARRHEA



Hi
This isn't normal, and most likely indicates an infection of some sort.

Young puppies get dehydrated very quickly, and this can be serious. If a puppy of this age gets sick, it needs immediate treatment.

I'd strongly suggest that you take him/her to a veterinarian as soon as possible, it's not one of those occasions where you should 'wait and see' I'm afraid.

Best of luck, hope your pup is doing better soon.

my puppy is very sick

by yolanda fernandez
(San Jose, CA )

he started getting sick this day

My puppy is sick, wont eat, is very weak, and I can see blood coming from the butt. He looks so sad and i hate seeing him this way.

What do you recommend for home treatment? Please i don't want to lose him. He's my baby.



Hi Yolanda
I'm so sorry, but your puppy is very, very sick. It sounds as though he may have Parvo. This is often fatal, and without treatment your puppy really doesn't have a chance.

Unfortunately he needs antibiotics and most likely intra-venous fluids, you can't do this by yourself - your puppy needs to see a veterinarian immediately.

It is possible that it isn't Parvo (especially if your puppy is fully vaccinated), but from the symptoms you describe, he still needs to see a vet for help, right away.

I wish you the very best of luck and hope that your puppy gets well.

Maltese joint knee problems

by Jack Courtney
(sandston va.)

I have a maltese dog about 14 months old.He has been having joint knee problems for about a month or some. The vet told me he needs a joint operation.

His knee keeps popping out of place but he seems not to be in pain. Should he be operated on while he is young or want till he shows he is in pain and will his problem in the joint area just get worse.

Thank You, JACK!




Hi Jack
It sounds as though your dog is suffering from a condition known as 'luxating patellas' - basically the knee cap keeps 'popping out of place' or 'dislocating'. This is actually pretty common in many smaller breeds.

There are different grades of severity, ranging from Grad I (where the 'popping' happens just occasionally), all the way to Grade IV (where the knee is permanently out of position/disclocated).

A lot depends on your own veterinarians' opinion and normal procedure, but in Grades I and II, surgery in not always necessary. However, Grades III and above generally need to be treated surgically.

Treating a pup early (ie before 6 or 7 months of age can help prevent the lower leg bones from becoming misshapen due to this condition) but after that age this will already be a factor. If your dog is experiencing frequent dislocations and the leg bones are becoming curved due to this condition he needs treatment. If it's left untreated it will likely get worse and can lead to arthritis and other conditions too.

I would discuss it with your vet some more, it's also okay to seek a second opinion before you make a decision. Check out this link for more information on Luxating Patellas.

I wish you the best of luck and hope that your dog is free of this problem soon.

how much to feed a chi pom pup 5 mons. old

by betty
(pearl ms. usa)

I have two chi-pom pups five months old I keep dry food out all time, they poop too much.

How much should i feed them and when do i put the food up?





Hi Betty
Free-feeding (ie leaving their food bowls down all the time) is not a good idea. It can lead to eating problems and doesn't help them to regulate their bowels.

Small breed puppies benefit from being fed three times a day until around 6 months of age, then you can feed them twice a day, even when adult.

Start with the recommended amounts given on the bag of food that you use. This is a guideline and you may need to increase or decrease it depending on your individual pups' appetites. As a rule of thumb, give a puppy as much as it can/will eat in 15 minutes, then pick up what's left.

Make sure you choose a premium puppy food specifically formulated for small breed puppies. Puppies have very specific nutritional needs. Low quality/generic foods have much lower levels of nutrition and your pups will need to eat more of them than a high quality food. Due to the amount of fillers and 'junk' in poor quality foods (your pup doesn't digest/use these), there is also a lot more 'poop' coming out the other end. Not what you want!

You can check out my Dog Food, Puppy Kibble and Dog Food Comparisons page for more information on feeding your puppies, and how to 'rate' dog food according to the quality of it's ingredients.

Best of luck with your puppies.

Runny eyes

by Alison
(Norfolk)

Hi
I have just bought a German shepherd puppy, she is 8 weeks old, and she has runny eyes, the water is clear but around her eyes it looks bald, what can I do to stop this.

Many thanks Alison


Hi Alison
It could simply be allergies or irritation causing your pup's problems, but mange, conjunctivitis (infection), or other conditions are possible.

The fact that the discharge is clear is a good sign, but I would definitely recommend that you take her to a vet for a check up.

Different problems require different treatments, and it's better to be safe than sorry. Inflammation, infection etc. in the eyes can lead to serious complications if left untreated.

There is an eye condition known as 'Pannus' that sometimes affects German Shepherds, it needs to be diagnosed by a professional and treated with steroids to prevent complications. Chances are that is not what is going on with your pup, but it's better to be cautious.

best of luck with her.

my yorkie was suppose to give birth last week she was to be pregnat about 4.27.08, it takes two months and now its july 4 2008 what should i do

by Emma
(New york)

please help =[


Hi Emma
Canine pregnancy lasts 63 days, give or take a day or two either side.

You calculate this from the day of conception, which is of course an 'educated guess'.

Your female is most fertile around day 10 of her season, but could get pregnant at almost any time. If she's mated several times, you will never know for sure exactly when she conceived.

So, to sum up, it could be that your dog conceived later than you thought, and her pregnancy is average. If you are certain that she is over the 65 days, if she's acting as though she feels unwell, if she's been contracting and no puppies are forthcoming - consult your vet right away.

He will be able to give you advice and assistance. Best of luck!

Constant urination

Hello! I have a retriever/terrier mix that is approximately 6 months old. I've had her since she was 8 weeks old.

She is partially puppy pad trained and she goes outside. She hardly ever poops inside and if she does- it's always on a puppy pad.

She has always had problems with urinating constantly. It's like she cannot go all at once when I take her outside, so she will pee multiple times in the house even if I take her out every hour or so.

I've tried staying outside longer for her but she just pees in such small amounts and doesn't seem to have any pain when doing so.

Is this common at this age? I also have an 8 month old puppy that hasn't gone once in the house and can hold it for like 8 hours even when we are sleeping.

She is very well trained so you can imagine how frustrating it is with the other one whom we have had much longer and try to train constantly.

Any suggestions?



Hi
What a cutie she is! I would suggest that you have your puppy checked out by your veterinarian. Even though she doesn't appear to be in pain when she urinates, it could be that she has a UTI infection which is causing her to pee so often and in such little amounts.

There are other causes of excessive urination as well, such as Diabetes or kidney problems. You want to make sure you rule out any underlying health issues, so take her to your vet first.

Small breeds also need to pee more frequently than larger ones. They have very tiny bladders, and sometimes poor bladder control. It sounds as though this is something she can't control and your vet may have some suggestions that will help you (and her). The fact that she poops outside or on the pad shows that she understands the 'potty training' rules, so I would guess that this frequent urination is something she can't control and needs help with.

Keeping her outside for longer periods, and allowing her to pee as many times as she needs before bringing her back in may help. Crate training may help, as she will try harder to 'hold it', but if she has a physical problem this likely won't be successful.

Best of luck, I hope you get it figured out soon.

puppy

by Melissa
(tx)

When is the right time to give your puppies away?




Hi Melissa
Puppies are ready to leave their momma and siblings by about 8 weeks of age.

They need that amount of time so that they can get the maximum health and social benefits from their canine family.

You might find my Puppy Development page helpful.

british bulldogs

by andy
(england)

Do british bulldogs need help to open here eyes or do you just leave them to open on there own?




Hi Andy
I don't breed Bulldogs myself, but I've never heard of any breed actually needing help to open their eyes routinely.

Most puppies will open their eyes somewhere between 10 days and 2 weeks of age. Some could be earlier, others later, but not by much.

If you're concerned about your puppies eyes, I'd strongly suggest that you have your vet take a look at them. Don't try to open them yourself or anything like that, you could cause damage.

Good luck with your puppies.

8 week old husky Dies 3 hours after vet visit

by Jason
(Florence KY, US)

I had a 8 week old husky pass away 2 days ago. the vet that i took him to was highly recommended in my area. when we got there she asked if he has had diarrhea or vomiting and i told her a little bit of both mainly diarrhea, he also was previously diagnosed with having worms from another vet 2 weeks earlier.

the vet then checked him out and said he appears to be pretty healthy, she was very informative about vaccinations and the importance of them, after her lecture she gave him a deworming medicine followed by the first vaccination shot. when she was done with that she gave me a free sample of heartguard and a capstar flea pill, and instructed me to give him both when i get home.

when i arrived home i gave him the heartguard and the flea pill, approximately 3 hours later i fed the pup some iams, and right after he had finished his bowl he starting running around and gagging, so i immediatley thought he was choking, as i tried to help him he started to foam out of his mouth, a couple seconds later he pooed, gasp for air, then began do bleed from his mouth. i got in my car and rushed him to the vet but it was to late, he was dead, i believe he had actually died in a matter of a minute and a half.

the vet i rushed him to said he does NOT think it was a coincidence that this happened shortly after his medications. i would just like a second opinion on the matter because ive heard it is extremely rare for this to happen due to meds or vaccines. but to me it seemed like alot of meds to be given at one time. if u can, post back as soon as possible




Hi Jason
I'm so sorry to hear about what happened to your puppy, that is a terrible thing and I would imagine very rare.

I'm afraid I'm not a veterinarian and have no professional experience in this area, so all I can do is give a personal opinion/advice.

I would tend to agree with the vet who saw this puppy after he collapsed. It seems to me that something the puppy was given, or possibly a combination of them, may have been the cause of his death. I can't begin to say what it may have been though.

Mild allergic reactions to vaccinations are fairly common, but severe reactions that disrupt breathing and cause death are usually seen almost immediately after the vaccination is given. Reactions to flea medications are also seen, the same with dewormer, but they are generally not life-threatening. Vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea and hives/welts are possibilities.

I believe you can ask the veterinarian you took him to last to do an autopsy on his body to try to determine why he died. If this is an option, then I would do that if I were in your shoes.

It sounds as though the first vet you went to was very knowledgeable and everything she did and told you to do seems pretty standard. Personally, I don't think the sort of reaction your puppy had couldn't be predicted or expected. As far as I can tell through research, these medications/vaccines should have been okay to be used/given together, but as I said earlier - I'm NOT a veterinarian I'm afraid.

I would suggest that you talk some more with the vet/s who saw this puppy and try to figure out what happened. It could prevent that happening to another pup.

Again, I'm so sorry for the loss of your puppy.

How do I get my puppy to stop testing me? How do I potty train him?

by Tiana

Riley =)

I have a 3 1/2 month old mini Daschund, I got him at 2 months old and he was very good at first as I'm sure most sleepy 2 month old puppies are.

I spend almost all of my time with him and I've taught him how to sit and shake, he's a smart little guy but now he's driving me crazy! I love him to death, and he can be so sweet at times, but whenever I say "uhuh" (not the actual uhuh but ahuh or however you spell it) he'll usually stop what he's doing if he's satisfied himself first.

For example, my roommates have cats, so the cat food and litter box is on the floor. Whenever I go out there he RUNS for the cat food and I'll yell "UHUH" but he won't stop until hes dove his nose in and got at least one piece. Then he'll continue to jump towards the food and just wait for me to say 'uhuh' before he jumps back, like he's waiting to see if I'm paying attention to tell him not to do it, and if I don't say it, he'll be stuffing his face.

He does the same w/the litterbox, which doesn't surprise me. When I take him outside he pretty much stops listening to me all together. He's interested in what's in the neighbors yard or what's on the ground that he can eat or even trying to chase cars that seldomly drive by and he's only 5 lbs!!! (That's why his name's Riley, because hes not afraid of anything at all)

Potty training him has become a big problem. I don't crate him, he sleeps with me at night and likes to lay on the bed when I'm gone (he only cries if he hears someone in the house, which I want to set up a tv in my room to help break that) plus I can't afford a crate right now. When I first got him I took him out allll the time because I knew he couldn't really hold it. Now I wait a little while, like a few hours, but if he decides that he has to pee and hes walking around on the floor in my room he'll plop right down in front of me, look at me, and start peeing!

I'll yell "UHUH" and take him outside and usually he'll stop mid-pee and finish outside but then its play time outside, he doesn't listen again, won't go poop and when I bring him inside he'll start sniffing around and get ready to poop, of course I'll catch him and bring him back outside where he'll forget all about the fact that he just had to poop. Maybe I should keep him on a leash when I bring him outside? if I lived near a busy street he'd always be on a leash but cars hardly pass by here. Plus he's never actually ran out to the street, he just loves to run from our yard to the neighbors especially to play w/their pit bull, whose very nice and they're good friends, but the pit bull has become such a distraction.

Speaking of distractions, that all there is outside my house. The pitbull chills in our backyard because he's busted a hole in the privacy fence, so I keep Riley on the outside of fence on the other side to keep him from running over there and forgetting about going to the bathroom. But then there's a ditch that construction workers have thrown bones from their lunch all over which Riley hunts for and I constantly have to snatch them from him, and in the other direction is dun dun dun the front yard! he loves it bc he knows there's cats and cat food on the front porch too, so sometimes he'll make a b-line along the side of the house, across the front yard, up on the porch and into the cat food.

Please help, I know a leash is probably the only solution for the outside problems, but what about the fact that he has no problem going to the bathroom inside, even if i'm watching?




Hi Tiana
It definitely sounds as though you have your hands full there, and look at that adorable face - like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth! Who'd have guessed he had so much spunk in him?

Of course, all of the behaviors you're describing are absolutely normal. Puppies are just like little children and want to do what THEY want to do, and they don't care if it's forbidden, or dangerous or whatever.

You're his momma though, and it's up to you to show and teach him what is acceptable and what isn't, and most of what you describe (although normal) isn't acceptable. The only way to teach him is to discipline him when he disobeys and reward him when he does obey you.

Of course, I don't mean that you should smack him or hurt him, or even shout necessarily, just give him firm guidelines. For example, when he heads for the cat's food bowl, don't just say "uhuh". Instead tell him "NO" firmly, take him away from the foodbowl and redirect his attention to one of his toys. If he keeps going back to it, when you tell him "No", also give him a (gentle) shake holding him by the scruff of the neck, and take him to his toys. You will need to repeat this over and over again. When he does listen to you and leaves the food alone, tell him what a really good boy he is and take him away from it and give him a treat.

Puppies have very short attention spans and need constant repetition to learn something. You will need to be patient and consistent with him.

When you're outside, keep him on a leash until he's learned to listen to what you tell him and will 'come' when you call him. This is for his own safety as well as your peace of mind. It only takes him dashing in front of a car once, for his life to be over. And trying to eat/swallow bones and trash is hazardous too.

As for the potty training, he most likely still needs to be going outside for a break about once every hour during the day. He's still a baby. He's pretty small, so a crate shouldn't be too expensive, and you may be able to find one second-hand through Craigslist.org or your local classifieds. I really, strongly suggest you get one to use as a housebreaking tool. It will help a lot.

He simply hasn't yet learned that it's not okay to pee and poop indoors, and you need to break this habit now.

I would recommend that you read my Puppy Behavior, Basic Puppy Training and my Crate Training pages. You'll find lots of tips and advice to help you.

Best of luck!

guessing the age of a puppy

by MARIA
(CALIFORNIA)

how can i know how many months does my puppy have? they told me his 3 months but i want to make sure he is 3 months..he can run he has has teeth he can bite and he's very playful!




Hi Maria
It's impossible for me to tell how old your puppy is from just a description I'm afraid. Your veterinarian would be in a much better position to give you an accurate figure.

A puppy usually has all their teeth by around 8 weeks of age, and can run and play much earlier than that.

I'd strongly suggest that you take your pup to a vet and have him examine him and give you an estimate of his age. You will also need to get him vaccinated and treated for worms.

You may find my Puppy Development and New Puppy Care pages helpful.

Best of luck with your puppy.

how do I get my puppy to stay outside in a enclosed back yard alone

by Jacci
(Syracuse New York)

My puppy, 7 months old cockapoo, is house trained, he will bark or go into the kennel when he has to go. But when I take him outside, he will not stay outside for any time alone.

The backyard is enclosed, he likes to run and play but once he sees me at the door he takes off to come in. If I leave him outside he barks and hits at the door.

How do I get him to stay outside alone at least for a while?



Hi Jacci
Your puppy is old enough to stay outdoors for at least a little while by himself, but of course he'd much rather be with you!

If possible, I'd suggest staying outside with him whenever possible, but for those times when he just needs to be in the yard without you why not fence off an area or set up an exercise pen for him to be in.

That way he can play and run around, and eliminate whenever he's ready. He also won't be able to follow you back to the door or bang on it to be let in!

Obviously don't leave him outside if it's too cold, pouring with rain etc., but on suitable days he could spend some time in his own little area quite safely. He will get used to the 'routine' if you follow the same sort of schedule/pattern each day. Puppies are creatures of habit, and once he gets familiar with being in his own area, and knows that you will come back for him soon, he should adjust just fine.

best of luck!

newborn puppy behavior

by mfig
(temecula ca)

Is it normal for my 2 day old puppy to cry while its feeding?




Hi mfig
This isn't something I've noticed happening with any of my litters. It could be that the puppy is extremely hungry, or it's tolerance for stimulation is very low.

If it seems to be getting enough to eat (ie is warm, plump and sleeps between feedings without crying and wriggling), then I wouldn't worry too much about this right now.

If the puppy seems thin, is often cool/cold, and cries a lot in general, then there is a problem of some sort. In that case you need to have a vet examine him to figure out what's wrong.

You might find my New Born Puppies page helpful as you raise this litter.

Best of luck!

Pup puppy nose and breathing problems

I have a 7 week old female pug puppy. She has always had loud breathing as her nostrils are too small. The vet who checked her for the breeder said she may outgrow it. If not, there is a surgery she can have but it is not necessary.

Today she has a lot of mucus in her nose and raspy breathing. Because she always sounded a bit raspy I don't know whether this is normal or if she is sick.

She is still playing and eating. She appears to be her normal self except for the excessive mucus and raspy breathing.



Hi
Mucus could well signal an infection, and if her breathing is raspy or wheezy, the infection could be getting to her chest.

I would definitely advise that you take her to a veterinarian as soon as possible. She may well need antibiotics. Untreated upper respiratory tract infections can turn into pneumonia, and in a little puppy this could be very serious indeed.

As she's still eating and playing normally, chances are good that you're catching this in the early stages and as soon as she gets the treatment she needs she'll be absolutely fine.

Best of luck with your puppy!

Puppy at 13 weeks

by Jamie
(South Carolina)

Hello! I am on the wait list to get a boxer puppy. They are ready to go to their new homes at 8 weeks.

However, I currently am having a work conflict and will not be able to get the puppy until about 13-14 weeks.

Will waiting that long cause problems? Am I missing out on important 'bonding' stages of the puppy's life? Would it be better for me to just wait for the next litter?

Thank you for your time.




Hi Jamie
I understand your concern, in fact I've been in a similar situation myself in the past, and I found that it isn't necessarily a big issue.

A lot depends on how the breeder raises and takes care of the puppies. If a puppy is left exclusively with it's canine family for the 5 or 6 weeks it remains with the breeder, and isn't receiving human interaction and socialization, then it could have a negative effect on his personality. Possibly causing undue shyness and anxiety. However, that also depends on the puppys' individual personality.

If your breeder raises her puppies indoors, spends one-on-one time with them every day, and gives them appropriate socialization, then those extra weeks shouldn't be detrimental overall. If she does any housebreaking/crate training/basic manners training etc., so much the better.

In my own personal experiences, I haven't found any issues with bonding, even in a puppy several months of age. Once with you, that pup will come to rely on you for everything and will naturally bond with you. His bladder/bowel control will be better than that of an 8 week old puppy, so provided he has been introduced to the crate and not allowed to eliminate anywhere and everywhere he chooses, house training may be quite straightforward.

Of course in the end, it's a personal decision. You will miss the tiny 'baby puppy' stage, but that definitely has pros and cons. I would recommend talking it over with your breeder and discuss the points I mention above. After that, it's really up to you.

If you feel happier waiting until the next litter, when your schedule will be more accommodating, you can always do that. Just think it all through before making a decision. Best of luck.

found newborn puppy

by Sandra
(Sanford,NC)

Hi my son found a newborn puppy (i think it is a newborn) when he found it in the woods it was wet and where it's cord was it was very pink - he found it stuck under a tree root and had to break the root to free it.

Anyway he got it home and we washed it with warm water and baby shampoo, it was not very thin but we could see that it was hungry. His eyes/ears are closed and it eats a lot. My question is when he does drink from the bottle he drinks a lot till his belly is very big and still he whines for more - he makes a funny noise from his nose and moves his tongue a lot like he is still sucking. Is this normal?

We have had him going on 5 days now and these issues have been going on for 2 days now Please help me and set me in the right direction. And yes we plan on keeping him.




Hi Sandra
Wow, this is one very VERY lucky little puppy! The fact that your son found him soon enough after birth that you were able to keep him warm and feed him is amazing. Great job.

It does sound as though he's still hungry after you feed him. His tummy may look bloated if it's overfull, or he could be swallowing a lot of air when he nurses, and the air is preventing him from getting enough milk.

When you feed him, you can 'burp' him just the way you would with a human baby. You should do this half-way through the feed, and at the end. Hold him upright against your shoulder and gently rub or pat his back.

You will also need to stimulate him to pee/poop after each feed by gently rubbing his lower belly/genital area with a warm cloth or cotton wool ball.

I think you may find my New Born Puppies page helpful as it has lots of tips and advice on hand rearing pups.

Best of luck with this little guy, keep up the good work!

puppy

by Debra Montgomery
(Waxahachie,Tx, usa)

when do the puppies eyes open.




Hi Debra
Puppies usually open their eyes when they're somewhere between 10 days and 2 weeks old.

Check out my Puppy Development page for more info on the stages of puppy growth.

puppy weight

by Lee
(Wilmington NC)

How much should a 9 week old rottweiler puppy weigh??

Is 7lbs normal??



Hi Lee
7lbs is on the small side for a Rottweiler puppy at this age.

Many Rottweiler pups from American lines are lighter/smaller than the ones who have solid German/European bloodlines. An average weight for a Rottie pup of 8 weeks old of that type would be somewhere around 8lbs +.

My dogs are from German/Yugoslavian lines, and the average weight of one of our pups at 8 weeks would be 10 - 12lbs. This would probably be true of many pups from this type of background/ancestry.

Of course, bigger isn't always better! A smaller pup from good, solid bloodlines, and with the correct conformation and good health would be preferable to a big puppy with unknown/poor lineage, and questionable health/temperament.

Puppies Bark when I am trying to get them out of create

by BARBARA LARGE
(MOUNDS VIEW, MN US)

Hello,

My 12 week old puppies are in a crate at night and we are using it for house training.
We cover the crate as it seems to sooth them faster and they are less distracted since they can't see anything or any one.

We have two cats that are wondering around and we have some times late home comings and goings. So covering the crate seems to be the best option.

So my question is how do i get them to not bark when i come to get them out of the crate to go out and go potty? I know they are excited to see me and more than ready to be out of the crate but the barking is getting a little old.

any suggestions?



Hi Barbara
First of all, if your puppies are crated together, you may want to buy another crate and start getting them used to being in individual crates.

Crating them together as adolescents or adults is going to be problematic, and it's better to get them used to being on their own in a crate now, while they're young.

Covering their crates for part of the time they're crated is no problem, but I wouldn't recommend doing this all the time. They need to get used to being in their crates, while normal household activity goes on around them. If they were more able to see what's going on, and feel part of it (even though they were confined) they will likely feel less isolated and therefore less over-excited when you approach them.

Don't let them out of their crates WHILE they're barking. Teach them that they need to be quiet before the door gets opened. Being that they've already got into the habit of barking and then being let out, this may take some time and patience but it can be done. Having them in individual crates will make this easier too, as you're waiting for one puppy to stop making a noise at time!

If at first when you approach the puppy barks, tell him "NO BARK" and turn your back, or walk away, when he's quiet try again. At first you may only get 20 seconds of quiet at a time - use it! Make sure to praise him as you let him out when he's quiet saying something like "good boy, no bark".

Puppies are creatures of habit and it just takes time and repetition to build up the correct habits and associations.

You might find my Crate Training and Puppy Behavior pages helpful.

Best of luck!

Pup vomiting

I have a 5 month old pointer/boxer mix. He had a queasy stomach this morning and vomited some light yellow liquid. It didn't look to be bile because it was not that bright yellow/orange color.

I made him white rice and will head to the market to get ground beef to cook for him too. His stomach is making loud gurgily noises..I am assuming it is empty. He seems to be in great spirits running around and wanting to play. His nose is also cold and wet.

So, can I give a puppy Pepto Bismal like my last older dog? If so, how much? Do you think he could just have an upset stomach, or do I need to take him to the vet?

Ann



Hi Ann
It does sound as though this may be bile or stomach acids, as it is yellow and just fluids.

This kind of vomiting, if it happens in the morning, can be caused by a too-empty tummy. Some pups need to have a little bit of something in their tummies overnight to prevent this. One or two plain dog biscuits at bedtime should do the trick.

As he seems fine otherwise, I wouldn't worry too much yet. But if he starts to lose his appetite, has more vomiting or diarrhea or seems sick in any way, consult your vet right away.

Pepto-Bismol can be given to your pup, but it's always best to talk to your vet before giving any medication, even simple over the counter stuff. I believe the usual recommended dose is 0.5 - 1 ml of regular strength Pepto Bismol per pound of body weight, given every 6 to 8 hours. Don't ever give this to cats though as it could be fatal.

Good luck, hope your pup is feeling much better soon.

6 week old puppy

Yesterday I was surprised with a wonderful christmas present...an adorable puppy. She's a 6 weeks old american eskimo mix(adopted from a shelter).

The problem...
I just started (today) a new part time job at a vet hospital. I thought it would be alright to "board" her there while I'm working but 1) she can't be around other dogs because she's not fully vaccinated yet and 2) there isn't enough space available.

My hours will range from working mornings (6 hours, including commute) to working a full day's shift (10-12 hours, including commute)The full day's shift will be once or twice a week.

I'm worried about leaving her alone. I realize that she is too young to be potty trained or crate trained (can't control her baldder yet). My husband can't watch her since he works full time in an office. My mom lives near where I'm working and could watch her...every once in a long while...but not all the time.

Is it ok to leave her in the kitchen (blocked in) while I'm gone? She'd have toys, bed, food, and water...but will be alone. I'd try to have my mom watch her when I'm gone for a full day...but will she be ok if she's alone for 6 hours?





Hi
Your new puppy is very young still, and you're right to say that housebreaking etc. is not practical yet. Once she reaches 8 weeks or older you can start with crate training but this will still be challenging due to your work schedule.

Physically, she will be okay being left in a gated-off room or puppy playpen with a litter box (better than pee pads), safe toys and her crate. However, it won't help her housebreaking. It would be better not to leave her food down while you're gone, although she will need her water.

Just feed her three times a day (morning, when you get home and then again around 6:30). If you're gone all day you will need your mom (or another friend/relative/neighbor to come in and feed her at lunchtime and give her some company and exercise.)

You will need to start her vaccinations at 7 weeks of age and once the course is complet (usually at around 12 weeks) it may be easier for you to take her to work with you. Or she could attend a doggie daycare or something similar on the days you work long hours.

All puppies are different, and some cope better than others with being alone for hours. I think it will be a kind of 'trial and error' situation for you and you'll need to figure out what works for you both.

As long as she gets lots of love, attention and exercise when you're home and someone helps you out on the longer days she should be fine.

As a new puppy parent you may find my New Puppy Care page helpful. Best of luck.

my puppy is vomiting and diarrhea

by Drema
(gary wv us)

I got a puppy 3 days ago he was outside until then now he stays inside and today he started throwing up and having diarrhea.

Is there something that i can give him to help stop it? he is 8 weeks old and just took away from his mom, and I have been feeding him can dog food with a little milk.


Hi Drema
Vomiting and diarrhea in a young puppy can mean cause serious problems pretty quickly as they get dehydrated easily.

These symptoms need veterinary attention, and quickly. Your puppy could be suffering from an canine illness or disease such as Parvo. Only your veterinarian can make an accurate diagnosis, so please get him checked out asap.

Best of luck.

hair loss in a puppy

by mark
(manchester uk)

My 15 week old bichon frise is losing his fur.is it normal?




Hi Mark
No, I wouldn't say this is normal. Hair loss could be due to different things such as skin conditions/parasites (mange or fleas for example) or allergies.

Canine allergies can cause dogs to scratch excessively which results in irritation and hair loss.

There are also other underlying health conditions that could be the reason for this problem. I would recommend taking your pup to the veterinarian for a check up, that way you'll be able to find out what is going on and get it treated correctly.

Of course, dogs do shed hair at times. Particularly during the major season changes (winter to summer and vice versa), and if a dog has been kept in a cold climate or outdoors and is then kept consistently in a warm climate or outdoors, it's coat will go through some changes. However I doubt that this could be what is causing your young pup to lose hair.

Best of luck, hope you find the solution to this soon.

Puppy Respiration at Night

by Amanda
(Texas)

I have a 15 week old Yorkie puppy that has problems breathing at night. She is very active and sleeps well most of the time, but every few nights she will be sleeping and her respiration becomes very labored.

She is still asleep but her chest heaves quickly and she shakes as if she cannot catch her breath. I have caught her doing this twice in the past three nights. I put my hand on her side or chest to press slightly and she calms after a few seconds. Tonight her nose kept twitching after she stopped the laborious breathing.

Can you give me some advice?




Hi Amanda
It's difficult to say whether this is a problem or not, as many puppies breath heavily/quickly at night, and twitch, wriggle, whine etc. It's just because they're dreaming and they may even look like they're running, or try to bark and so on.

If your puppy seems perfectly happy and healthy otherwise, is eating and drinking normally, and doesn't seem to struggle to breath when playing, exercising or when she is excited, chances are that she is perfectly fine.

However, it's always better to be safe than sorry, and I would recommend that you talk to your veterinarian about this. You can take your pup in for an examination if he thinks it is necessary. He will be able to check her heart and respiration and hopefully put your mind at rest.

Best of luck with your little girl.

Sniffles

My puppy has the sniffles, can I give it Robitussin?




Hi
No, please don't give your puppy any type of human medicine without checking with your veterinarian first.

Puppies and dogs don't get coughs and colds the same way humans do. 'Sniffles', sneezing, coughing, discharge from the eyes or nose etc. could be signs of an upper respiratory tract infection, kennel cough or something more serious such as Distemper. There are many different dog illnesses/diseases that young puppies are susceptible to.

If your puppy seems unwell, have your vet check him out and then you'll be certain that you have the correct diagnosis and medication.

Best of luck!

Pugs and puppies!

by Kayla
(US)

Okay, I have a Pug here and she is having puppies but for some reason she's not wanting to feed the puppies.

What do I do?


Hi Kayla
During whelping your dog may be too distracted and uncomfortable to want to nurse her pups.

Once all the puppies have been delivered though, she should settle down. You may need to help the puppies get 'latched on' to the nipples, but most do manage this by themselves. They have very strong natural instincts.

Nursing during the first 24 hours after birth is very important, as that is when the momma is producing colostrum (a sort of pre-milk) which contains the anti-bodies the pups need for their bodies to fight off infection.

If she refuses to feed them, and does reject them, you will need to feed these babies yourself. I'd recommend reading my New Born Puppies page for help and advice in taking care of them.

I would also suggest letting your veterinarian know what is going on, you may need his/her advice and help also.

Best of luck.

Timid Mini Schnauzer

by Kay
(Baytown TX)

I have a 6 month old mini schnauzer named Maddy. She is the sweetest dog ever, but can be very timid (like she is always in trouble).

My husband and I treat her like a queen so I know it is not because of us. Could she just be the runt? We got her at 4 months old.

Could her previous owner have treated her badly and she is still not used to us? What can I do to help her not be so timid?




Hi Kay
It is always possible that her previous owner treated her badly, or harshly, and at a young age that could obviously affect her temperament. But it's also quite possible that this is just her personality.

Some pups are bold and fearless, some are eternal clowns, and others are gentle and timid. As long as she isn't showing signs of fear-based aggression (snapping or biting when afraid), which would need some professional behavioral help, it's likely that she just needs to improve her self-confidence.

A dog who is timid is usually very sensitive and is often strongly bonded with their owners and very eager to please. Gentle discipline when necessary is often all that is needed in terms of corrections.

Don't pander to her nervousness though. For example, if she's scared of something, don't 'coddle' or try to soothe her, this may make her feel that she really does have something to be afraid of! Instead always use a happy, upbeat, confident tone and attitude and never show her that you feel sorry for her, just be breezy and positive in all situations.

If you haven't socialized her much, I would suggest starting now, but you will need to take it slowly as you don't want to scare her. I'd recommend reading my Socialize Your Puppy page for tips and advice on this. Also, if she's fully vaccinated, enrolling her in a Puppy/Basic Obedience class at a local Dog Obedience School would be a good idea. It will help her to be around other dogs and people, and a qualified instructor should be able to help you with any 'issues' that she has.

I would also recommend doing some basic 'manners/obedience' work at home with her. Take it easy, help her to be successful and praise/reward her when she is. This will help to build up her confidence level too. You can find some tips on this on my Puppy Training page.

With lots of love and patience I'm sure that you will be able to help Maddy feel more confident and that will add extra enjoyment to her life (and make you guys feel happier too!). I wish you the very best of luck with her.

My baby yorkie is sick...

(Youngstown, Oh)

Buckeye

Hi, I have a 4 LB 1 1/2 year old yorkie and he's been experiencing difficulties the last few days that no vet can figure out. I took him to an emergency clinic and to his regular vet, 2 sets of x rays, 2 shots of cortisone and still no luck. Here's what is happening:

It started in July of this year when he couldn't use his rear right leg, it looked as if he had injury it in a fall or something.. we took him to the vet, shot of cortisone and he was fine before he even got back home.

Well now all of the sudden last Friday, he started with the limping again, but that was it so we waited a little bit to see if he'd be ok.. well with Saturday only came more problems, the leg had gotten worse, and it seemed as if his back had a crimp in it.. we weren't sure if it was because his leg hurt or another problem was happening. We immediately drove an hour to an emergency clinic and that vet claimed neurological problems and told us to go to our regular vet on Monday. This vet gave Buckeye (thats our babys name :) ) a short acting shot of cortisone.. and after we came home he went to sleep all day and night.. Sunday came.. and its even worse now.

He can sometimes use his hind legs.. it depends, one min he'll run for a second (just to fall) and the next he wont be able to get up. Now, though, his head bobs up and down left to right.. he falls over and if he tries to sit he literally barrel rolls over.. he can't eat on his own because if he stands for too long he falls to the side or falls forward.. he can't even go to the bathroom on his own, he has to either lay down and pee or we have to hold him up. Its now Monday, and we just left our vet who gave us a number for a neurologist and a long acting shot of cortisone.. I know I'm not going to be able to afford this.. between the trip there, the visit, and i'm guessing surgery will be his only option.. if a 1500 dollar MRI will be needed... all of this.. we have spent 700 already in one weekend.. the food money for me and my girlfriend to survive this month just to see if our baby will be ok.. I feel so helpless and alone in this, he looks so sad.. he just wants to play and run around like he does everyday and he knows he can't.. and its killing me.. this dog is what has kept me alive.. and gave me more joy then anything could ever give me in one lifetime.

This is my first dog and he gets treated like a prince.. I just don't know what to do.. does anyone know what might be happening to Buckeye?

What can I do to save the life of my baby?



Hi
I'm so, so sorry to hear about what's happening to your dog, I can imagine how heartbreaking this must be and I know that financially this sort of thing can also be devastating.

So far, you've done everything that you possibly could have, and it seems as though the veterinarians' believe it is a neurological problem. From the symptoms and progression you describe I think they could well be right. The steroids (cortisone) are reducing some inflammation apparently and are helping in the short term, but obviously he's deteriorating and needs much more help.

I'm afraid the only answer is to visit the neurologist your vet has recommended. Specialized testing is needed so that the vets can find the root of your dogs' problem. It may be due to a bacterial or viral illness, or it could be a degenerative condition, or other options. Only a specialist can tell you. In many cases there are treatments that will control and alleviate the symptoms.

Of course, this kind of help has a price. But many veterinarian's and clinics are open to setting up a payment plan if you can put a certain amount down in advance. Try calling this specialist clinic and explaining the situation to them, they may be willing to help you work something out.

I really wish I could be more helpful, but I'm not a veterinarian and can only give a personal opinion and advice. I'll say a prayer for BuckEye and really hope that you are able to get him the treatment he needs soon.

I wish you the very best of luck.

lump

I have a 7 week old dachshund puppy that i noticed has a lump on her shoulder. it's kind of puffy and you can feel the edges and under it. no pain




Hi
If your puppy recently had her vaccinations, this could just be a reaction to the shot.

Many puppies experience reactions of some sort, ranging from a lump/knot at the site of the actual vaccination, to generalized swelling/rashes/fever and so on.

A lump resulting from the shot is usually nothing to worry about and could last for several weeks. If it's not causing your pup any pain etc., just mention it to your vet at the next vaccination appointment.

If your pup hasn't had any shots yet, this lump could be the result of an being hurt while playing with other puppies, a cyst, an infection or almost anything else. It's unlikely to be anything such as a cancerous tumor etc., but needs to be seen by a vet to get a correct diagnosis.

Best of luck with your puppy.

puppy's biting

I have a 9 week old maltese that's constantly nipping me. I have given her every kind of chew toys i can think of but she had much rather bite me!!

She even follows me through the house hanging onto my pant leg. I tell her no and give her a toy but in the next instant she does the same thing over and over.

Please, I need advise on how to stop her from doing this.

Thanks,
Millie






Hi Millie
As annoying and frustrating as this is, you can rest assured that it's perfectly normal puppy behavior! All puppies bite and nip, some are just more stubborn about it than others.

Of course, just because it's natural, doesn't mean it's okay, and your puppy needs to be corrected whenever she indulges in this habit.

Biting and nipping are usually attention-seeking behaviors, and the best way to stop it is to withdraw your attention!

You can find lots of tips, advice and information on dealing with (and eliminating) this problem on my Puppy Biting page.

Good luck with your puppy.

growth stages of puppies from birth to 8 weeks

by Holly
(Newport, VT, USA)

When do they open their eyes? When do they start eating food other than mom's milk?

Is 8 weeks too soon to sell? What is the worming, shot scheduling. The Vet's appear to be in conflict as to timing in my area.


Hi Holly
Puppies usually open their eyes between 10 days and 2 weeks. Their eyes may look gray/blue and/or cloudy to begin with, that's normal.

Their momma will begin to wean them naturally somewhere between 3 and 4 weeks of age. She won't let them nurse for long, and will start to get impatient with them. In the wild, wolves will sometimes regurgitate their own food for their puppies, as a kind of 'starter meal'. Domestic dogs will do this occasionally.

As soon as you notice this (and no later than 4 weeks old), start to give the puppies dry puppy food soaked in warm water. They can also start to learn to lap water.

Puppy vaccinations normally are given in three sets of combination vaccine, starting at 7 weeks of age. A Rabies shot follows these at around 12 - 16 weeks. Regular de-worming is usually done at the same time as the shots.

Your puppies are ready to go to their new homes by the time they are 8 weeks old.

I think you might find my New Born Puppies and Puppy Development pages helpful.

Best of luck with your litter.