I just took in 2 Orphaned Puppies

[Spatx]

I found myself with two orphaned puppies yesterday.. they are 2 days old today. I'm exhausted already from all the bottle feedings. :o

I'm so worried that they won't make it, their mother died after having 13 puppies, I'm fostering two pups. one boy, one girl. None of the pups got any of moms milk, and the mother herself was ill when she was dropped off at the shelter. So their start in life isn't very good :(

The pups seem to be doing alright, but when they whimper/whine I'm not sure what they want. I have them in a box with a heating pad with enough space to move off it. It's all lined with blankets/towels. I've been able to feed them about 1 cc - 3 cc a feeding. They are fussy and hard to get to drink their milk. I have a syringe and a bottle, but have had limited success with either.

Mainly I thought I would share my experience so far and ask a few questions :) How can I tell if the pups are getting enough milk? Are there any tricks to getting them to drink from the bottle?

I was shown how to feed them but it proves a lot harder then it looks with fussy eaters :laughing: But I can give them a break, they are hardly 2 days old. I really hope they will make it, I named the girl Molly!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/Spatx/Puppies/Day1/puppies1.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/Spatx/Puppies/Day1/puppies2.jpg

[Punkygirl0101]

They are georgous!! They look like Dachshunds...but a dachshund having 13 puppies? No way. i guess it could be possible..do you know what they are?

I have fostered puppies and kittens. None seem to like to drink out of bottles. I would stick with the syringe feeding..I personally find it easier. There is not really a way to tell when a puppy gets enough milk.. I would try and give each 6 ccs a feeding.

Have you been rubbing their genitals to make them go potty after every feeding? They could be whimpering about that....or because they are hungry.

[coppermom]

really cute pups I've never bottle fed puppies I think just give them as much milk as they will take I'm sure they will like it beter in a few days after they get use to it I hope they both make it And I'm sure your doing a fine job with them

[Spatx]

Yeah, I have been rubbing them. They are using the bathroom normally with my help. :) They seem quieter today, I fed them earlier and they used the bottle without much fuss. They're sleeping now, I think they had enough milk earlier. Maybe they were just hungry because they are sleeping nicely now.

I can't for the life of me seem to feed them with syringes. I've fed kittens with it before, but these pups don't want it at all. Luckily now they want the bottle but its much harder to tell how much they are getting. In the last feeding they both had about 4 ccs, which is more then they would eat previously. I'll try work up to 6, but after about 4 they don't seem to want anymore so I'll follow their signs on how much they want.

They are setter mixes (maybe with some sort of terrier ) so I think they should be bigger dogs. The puppies are bigger then my hands right now.

[FemaleCheetah]

awww they are so cute! I would LOVE to foster puppies and it seems like you are doing such a great job.

Please keep us posted about them and keep the pics coming as they get older :0)

[animalcrazy01]

I have fostered a kitten and a baby rabbit before..rub their stomachs after you feed them and take a warm wet cotton ball and rub the stomachs with it to clean them and help them digest the food...you also can clean their bodies with the warm cotton ball as their mom would lick them do not drench them though..
liz

_____________________________________________
:bunny1: 30 rabbits
-dog- 15 dogs
:fluffy: 8 sheep
:) 4 turkeys
:D 200 chickens
BIG FARM!!!!

[ronald]

this maybe a question totally off topic and i dont want to steal this thread but im just wondering what milk formula do you give puppies at that young age and where do you get the milk formula from?

Or is it home prepared?

[Punkygirl0101]

I am pretty sure the brand is PMR..puppy milk replacer.. it can be bought at some pet stores, and at veteranary offices. YOu can get it in liquid form, or dry form and make it yourself.

[ThePetDataBase]

What adorable little pups they are. Are you just fostering them till thier old enough for adoption or do you plan on keeping them? Best of Luck with them.

[Spatx]

I'm fostering them until they are old enough, but I really wish I could keep one. They seem to be doing well still, their fur is soft and shiny. They are sleeping well respond well to touch. I've been having difficulty getting the bottle nipple hole the right size, I bought some extras and have been trying to get it right. I think I finally got it, we'll see at next feeding :)

The puppies are eating more today, about 4-5 cc's. One seems to have a bit of diarrhea, the other seems fine. I'm going to watch that pup, but I think the stool should be better later once it gets out of her system.

The formula I use is called Esbilac (spelling?) I'm not sure if that is the name or brand. The vet gave it to me in a clear ziplock bag (since they had a big bin of the stuff, scooped me some )

I'll take photos later or tomorrow. :)

[animalcrazy01]

this maybe a question totally off topic and i dont want to steal this thread but im just wondering what milk formula do you give puppies at that young age and where do you get the milk formula from?

Or is it home prepared?

shes right pmr and their is kmr (kitten milk replacer) FOR RABBITS AND KITTENS:rolleyes:

[Spatx]

A few pics from today (Day 3)

They are eating more and sleeping longer in between feedings. I'm feeding them every 3 hours starting tonight and they seem to be responding to it well. They sleep the full 3 hours with only normal puppy twitching as they sleep. I'm taking them to the vet on Saturday for a check up and to get some more formula.

I'm overly paranoid that I'm feeding them too little or too much, but my mom tells me that if they are sleeping contently after feedings for 2-3 hours then it must be right. They don't feel skinny, thats for sure!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/Spatx/Puppies/Day3/pupday3pic1.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/Spatx/Puppies/Day3/pupday3pic3.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/Spatx/Puppies/Day3/pupday3pic2.jpg

[Punkygirl0101]

They are darling! And you are doing a good job taking care of them. If they were not getting enough food, trust me, they would tell you ;)!

[animalcrazy01]

Soooooooooooooooooooooo Cute!!!!

[maryjane238]

adorable - sounds like you are doing a great job! Tyler, my GSD, was bottle raised and was around this size when i got him. he's a healthy, happy, 100 lb 2 year old now!

[Spatx]

Some bad news - Molly is sick. I took her to veterinarian and she is dehydrated with bad diarrhea. He gave her a fluid injection and is now on two medications. The worst part is if she doesn't improve in 24 hours he said it might be best to euthanize her. :crybucket

The boy, Charlie got checked out as well but he is doing fine. I really hope the Molly will make it. The vet said she was still alert and has some hope she will improve. After the medicine and injections I actually got her to eat some. She seems more mobile then earlier. Hoping that she will make it.

[Punkygirl0101]

I was wondering, is it possible for a puppy that young to get parvo?

Thats horrible to hear! I hope the baby pulls through and lives!!!

[Spatx]

I'm not sure, I think parvo is more frequently found in puppies 2-3 months. The vet didn't say anything about parvo. Her stool isn't bloody luckily.

She's on Amoxicillin and Paracur. She still had some diarrhea earlier today, but it was definitely less watery then before. Keeping my fingers crossed she will improve. She seems stable right now - she's not getting super dehydrated but isn't fully hydrated either. It's definitely a tiring battle trying to save her life. :/

The boy is doing great, I just hope she will pull through. I've been able to get her to eat today so she doesn't look undernourished like yesterday. He said if she doesn't improve in 24 hours.. I call what I see today a big improvement. She's actually crying and moving a bit and is drinking her milk. Yesterday she was listless and silent and would refuse all foods.

I'm worried about what effects this might have on her though - her growth is a bit stunted compared to the boys. I hope that if she does make it that her body will repair itself and start catching up on growth.

[Jimmyness]

I'm crossing my fingers for you Spatx,
keep up the good work

[S t e p h]

Aww, They're So Cute!!:D

[maryjane238]

punky - puppies still have immunity from their mother's milk until they are 6-8 weeks old so they rarely get parvo before 8 weeks of age. of course, if they are being bottle raised, they won't receive nearly the amount of immunity they would if breast feeding. so i suppose bottle raised puppies would be more susceptible to parvo at an early age

[Spatx]

Bad News - They didn't make it :(

The mother dog was very ill and died during birth (I think the rest were C-Sectioned) So none of the pups received any of her milk. They were high risk puppies, and I took them in knowing that but it doesn't help ease the loss at all. :(

I've had a very rough past couple days fighting for their lives and many many trips to the vets. *sigh* I tried my best, but it wasn't meant to be. :(

[daddysgurl9245]

I'm so sorry. *hugs* You tried your best...:candle:

[TiaMaria]

I'm sorry they didn't make it, I know what it's like fighting for a animals life, it's hard stuff. I'm glad that you had an opened mind and had a great big heart to try for the little guys. You did try your best and all you can do is continue to move on and try your best everyday. You're a good person!

[TiaMaria]

As For Parvo, it is possible for them to get the parvo virus being that young especially if they haven't drank any of their mommies milk. So Punky is correct.