Terriable Sad News

[Raziel]

WOW, why are all these puppies dead?
And what kind of breeder would ask you if you wanted 3 week old pups?
I dont think you should take them unless you are an experienced breeder or vet tech or something. I would be very sad if I tried to nurse them & they died in my care.

[RebelGSD]

A friend of mine lost a litter of rescue pups because the mom had mastitis, a subclinical form. The puppies kept dying and by the time they figured out what was wrong, they were gone. Apparently the milk was toxic to the pups (because of the mastitis) and was killing them. It was very sad and the babies were crying and suffering.

If the mom has mastitis, it is best to take away the pups ASAP. Again, in the case of my friend's litter, it was not obvious that the mom had mastitis. At 4 weeks the pups are quite able to feed themselves with soaked kibble, for example. I have raised a litter starting from 4 weeks without the mom, and it is not that bad. Hand-raising during the first three weeks is a major challenge and you won't have to deal with that.

Again, the mom may be the source of the problem and moving the pups from her may save their lives.

[FuryanGoddess]

Good luck. Poor pups. I'm sure you'll get lots of help and guidance here.

[AgileGSD]

The good news is that these puppies are nearly old enough to be weaned. Raising a 3 week old litter is not nearly as hard as raising newborns, as they don't need fed as often, can begin eating real food and lapping out of a dish and can potty on their own. Between four and five weeks they can be eating much of what they need on their own, providing they are offered the proper things. If possible avoid using commercial formula. This is a good resource for info and has a good recipe:


http://leerburg.com/pdf/bottlefeedingpuppies.pdf

Also if you take these two puppies, resist the urge to keep both of them and educate yourself about "littermate syndrome":

Stan Rawlinson explains the problems of rearing Two Pups from same litter

Raising Siblings

[trish07]

The shelter where we bought Phenix had that kind of problem with the previous litter. Someone who visited her shelter brang a virus and it killed all puppies. Now, nobody is allowed where the moms give born until puppies are strong enough.

Sorry to hear....

[Lauri & The Gang]

Originally Posted by ChristenHolden

I jus found out my puppy Uley Passed away. Out Of 14 pups Blackie only has 2 left. 2 girls. They told me I could have both. But I had to take them to raise now. There 3 weeks old and now I'm not sure to take them or not. How would I raise 3 week old pups. I need help.

I would ONLY take the two remaining pups if you are prepared and understand that they might die.

I'm sorry to sound heartless but it's experiences like this that make people with NO understanding of breeding dogs think twice about doing it again - which is a GOOD thing.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Raziel

I dont think you should take them unless you are an experienced breeder or vet tech or something. I would be very sad if I tried to nurse them & they died in my care.

Hand raising pups from 3 weeks on is not difficult in the sense that you need veterinary training if the pups do not have some kind of underlying serious medical condition that is causing them to die. I've hand raised quite a few pups, the youngest from 5 days old and onward...it's very do'able.

However, with that said, it will require round the clock care, a serious dedication to keeping them warm, clean, and well fed. Developmental wise in the later weeks is when it gets important to ensure they are around other (puppy "proof" ) dogs that can help teach them doggie manners, bite inhibition, etc.

[ChristenHolden]

I know full well about I may loose both pups. I'm nt sure why they all died. I think its inexperance and smothering. I also think ill try and keep both. I have a pair of dogs from the same litter. Gabe and angel. There almost 3 yrs now and never had a prob with litter mate syndrom they love me and DH mind well. Mama was a stray rat terrier we bright home and few weeks later here they where. And all 3 get along wonderfull and lve us very much. I'm waiting to hear if their still alive. News chanel said we were only supposed to get a little snow now I'm looking outside at over a foot deep and knee deep in some drifts. I'm snowed in and can't get out. I'm so worried about them.

[AgileGSD]

Originally Posted by ChristenHolden

I know full well about I may loose both pups. I'm nt sure why they all died. I think its inexperance and smothering. I also think ill try and keep both. I have a pair of dogs from the same litter. Gabe and angel. There almost 3 yrs now and never had a prob with litter mate syndrom they love me and DH mind well. Mama was a stray rat terrier we bright home and few weeks later here they where. And all 3 get along wonderfull and lve us very much. I'm waiting to hear if their still alive.

Are these both females? Please research the issue of keeping littermates together before opting to do it. More often than not it causes behavioral issues. In same sex littermates especially females, fighting is extremely common as they mature.

[selzer]

While this is true about littermates, I think that taking them, nursing them for five weeks and then rehoming one is a possibility. Much better in my opinion than separating the babies at this point.

Fighting will occur with littermates sometimes. In fact, so far Babs and Jenna have never scrapped. Jenna got out of the whelping area and went on a tour of the house before waking me up where I was sleeping with Babs about a week ago. She had pups two weeks ago, and yet did not try to pick a fight with Babsy.

Whit and Babsy are a year apart and they were out together without an issue.

Heidi and Tori will likely kill eachother though if they find themselves together.

Ninja will go after Milla given the opportunity.

Generally you can keep them together without any issues up past a year or a year and a half. If they are your only dogs, if you had them spayed so there are not raging hormones, if you do not also have a dog (it does make a difference -- kind of like how a stadium full of guys will change in behavior if there is one woman present).

Keeping two puppies in the beginning is easier than just one. But after 8-12 weeks, it gets more difficult because there is much more training and socialization time required, and neither dog gets the full complement.

So take both, raise them for five weeks, and place one with a good friend or family member.