newborn yorkie puppy gasping and listless

by susan

Any advice in how to save a Yorkie puppy who is gasping and listless? It was born in a double placenta and looks a bit premature.

The dam is just pushing her away. I have her on a heating pad, gave her a drop of karo syrup on her tongue and she is now making a little cry but still very cold and looks half dead, she is moving very slowly.

The other puppies appear to be doing fine. Any advice?

Thanks,

Susan






Hi Susan
The momma probably knows that this little one is in bad shape and she's following her natural instincts by ignoring it.

However, we don't have the same instincts and this little one deserves the best shot at life it can get. If the other puppies aren't premature then this one shouldn't be either, but it may have some developmental/health issues.

Keeping a newborn puppy warm is the most important thing, as if they get too chilled their organs shut down and it's very difficult to revive them.

Keep her in a draught-free box under a heat lamp and with a small well-wrapped hot water bottle or heating pad. But make sure that there's an area that isn't heated so that the puppy can get away from the heat source if she gets too warm. Once she's warm and a bit more active you can try to get the momma to let her nurse. If she won't then you'll need to try to bottle feed or tube feed her.

My New Born Puppies page has tips and advice on taking care of little ones like this. It's always a bit more difficult with the tiny breeds like this as they're so delicate, but it can be done. I'd also recommend contacting your vet and seeing if he/she can give you any advice or help. Sometimes they can.

All you can do here is do your best, sometimes a pup will literally 'come back from the dead', sometimes it's just not meant to be. I wish you the very best of luck and hope this one makes it.