missjenneygirl
Forums Enthusiast
I think our heaviest is probably around 10.5 oz. I groan when I get a pup at
9+ oz. I find they continue to grow, grow, and grow up and over. I really like to see 6-7oz birth weights. Sturdy and able to nurse.
The smallest I can recall was about 2oz. She quickly dwindled to 1.6oz. There was no way she could take a bottle. She looked like a baby bird in my hand. I do supplement with tube feeding as long as needed until they are strong enough on their own to belly up to the bar. You can tell when the scales tip, and the pup is strong enough to fight for, and hold a nipple. Then it is smooth sailing.
My thoughts are this...absolutely FIRST and foremost, it is a living thing that needs a helping hand to gain strength and thrive. Second, it could very well be my next Champion, and third, (and certainly least important, but still,...) that is a $1200.00 puppy. Everything in my being could never let me watch a puppy fade away. I think I would stop breeding if I did that.
I am so lucky that I don't work away from home, and can sometimes be attached to the nursery for days on end, where family and friends pick up the slack around the house and kennel.
Of course, not every one can be saved, but that is usually because something medically is not correct.
9+ oz. I find they continue to grow, grow, and grow up and over. I really like to see 6-7oz birth weights. Sturdy and able to nurse.
The smallest I can recall was about 2oz. She quickly dwindled to 1.6oz. There was no way she could take a bottle. She looked like a baby bird in my hand. I do supplement with tube feeding as long as needed until they are strong enough on their own to belly up to the bar. You can tell when the scales tip, and the pup is strong enough to fight for, and hold a nipple. Then it is smooth sailing.
My thoughts are this...absolutely FIRST and foremost, it is a living thing that needs a helping hand to gain strength and thrive. Second, it could very well be my next Champion, and third, (and certainly least important, but still,...) that is a $1200.00 puppy. Everything in my being could never let me watch a puppy fade away. I think I would stop breeding if I did that.
I am so lucky that I don't work away from home, and can sometimes be attached to the nursery for days on end, where family and friends pick up the slack around the house and kennel.
Of course, not every one can be saved, but that is usually because something medically is not correct.
even though we ended up the last 4 days before the c-section giving a progestrone shot to keep her numbers up because she started an early labor..they were still about 3 days too early..we kept them in as long as we could..they all ranged about 3.5oz..the smallest was I think 2.9 or right around there...we did end up losing 3 puppies 2 from being born too early, and the third I dont know why since we were tube feeding every two hours...I was lucky at the time to be out of work so I could devote day in day out to the puppies. I also now have a job with enough flexibility that if I need to take time off I can..
...But I did everything within my being to keep them going..I believe I brought them into this world I have to atleast give them a fighting chance and besides that could be my next CH as well, or my pick girl to continue on with!!
