Getting ahead of myself.......but a question - YorkieTalk.com Forums

luckylady · 07-31-2008, 04:46 AM

I have probably another year before I will have the pleasure of another litter in my house, so I am surely jumping the gun with this question, but it's on my mind alot, so thought I may as well ask now so I can quit wondering....

I believe my next litter will be a whole different experiance from my first. The first time; Lexie was 9-10 lbs when she got PG (yes, I know, over-standard; live & learn

); her stud was 4lbs. Her four pups weighed 5oz & 6oz. All went well for everyone.

Halle & Toby will be my breeding pair the next time. I expect Halle will be between 5-6 lbs and Toby is 4lbs. Due to Halle's size (compared to Lexies') and to what I know of their backgrounds, I expect the pups will be much smaller than Lexie's.
My question is this

: Do the smaller size puppies (2 oz-3 oz) always have trouble latching on and/or need supplementing due to their small size? Or does that problem normally stem from other reasons?
I've read so many threads where the smaller pups "won't/can't latch on!" and it just made me wonder if this was the norm or not.
Thanks for your help.............

GurleyGirl · 07-31-2008, 07:20 AM

I just had this discussion with my vet... My Wilma had 4 puppies back in June and two of the pups were in the 3 ounce range... one was 2 ounces and one was 5 ounces. Anyway.... the 2 ounce one was the only one to GAIN weight the first day... the others stayed basically at the same weight. They are now almost 8 weeks old and the 2 ounce one is the second largest.

There are tinies that MAY have problem latching on ... and other tinies that are just born tiny because that's all the room the had in the womb to grow.... never having a problem nursing.

Hope this helps.

luckylady · 07-31-2008, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GurleyGirl

I just had this discussion with my vet... My Wilma had 4 puppies back in June and two of the pups were in the 3 ounce range... one was 2 ounces and one was 5 ounces. Anyway.... the 2 ounce one was the only one to GAIN weight the first day... the others stayed basically at the same weight. They are now almost 8 weeks old and the 2 ounce one is the second largest.

There are tinies that MAY have problem latching on ... and other tinies that are just born tiny because that's all the room the had in the womb to grow.... never having a problem nursing.

Hope this helps.

Thank you Very Much for your response.
I kind of thought that problems latching on was NOT due to size, but still wanted to hear from some with that type of experiance. I'm glad that all of your babies are doing well

Anyone else? Would love to hear other's experiances or thoughts....

Sugar's Mom · 07-31-2008, 08:05 AM

doesn't have anything to do with latching on. Most of the time it is because the larger puppies push the smaller ones out of the way. About the latching on, some pups just won't the first day but once they get a good taste of mama they are good to go. You might have to hold the little ones up for a few days until they get strong enough to hold their own against the larger ones.

luckylady · 07-31-2008, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sugar's Mom

doesn't have anything to do with latching on. Most of the time it is because the larger puppies push the smaller ones out of the way. About the latching on, some pups just won't the first day but once they get a good taste of mama they are good to go. You might have to hold the little ones up for a few days until they get strong enough to hold their own against the larger ones.

Thanks Dee........I knew I would hear from you if you saw this thread!

Toby is doing tremendously BTW.........coming up on his 1st birthday here in a couple of months! He is still as awesome as ever!
How is your latest litter...born in June, weren't they? I'd love to see some pics if you'd care to share.

YorkieRose · 07-31-2008, 08:57 AM

Tinies need to be watched a bit closer..some need help if they had a larger mom..they can not reach the nipple as easily..but if a tiny is healthy, they are eager to eat like their bigger sibs..

HarrisFamily · 07-31-2008, 10:04 AM

I had a litter where the smallest was 2.4 ounces and the biggest was 5.1 and the little girl was just as tough as the big one, no problems at all.

She would latch right on and get in and fight for a spot, and there were four puppies. I watched her extra close, but I wouldn't say that just because they are small they will have trouble. This was out of a 5.5 pound female and 5 pound male.

Whitney

luckylady · 07-31-2008, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

Tinies need to be watched a bit closer..some need help if they had a larger mom..they can not reach the nipple as easily..but if a tiny is healthy, they are eager to eat like their bigger sibs..

....that's kind of what i was thinking (hoping), but it's nice to be assured by someone who knows.
Thank you for your help.

luckylady · 07-31-2008, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarrisFamily

I had a litter where the smallest was 2.4 ounces and the biggest was 5.1 and the little girl was just as tough as the big one, no problems at all.

She would latch right on and get in and fight for a spot, and there were four puppies. I watched her extra close, but I wouldn't say that just because they are small they will have trouble. This was out of a 5.5 pound female and 5 pound male.

Whitney

Thanks Whitney....more reassuring words.

Looking at my Halle who is about 5lbs now at 6 months, I try to imagine her carrying a litter of pups....and have also wondered how big of a puppy she can whelp. I know that is also dependant on how the female's frame is built; free whelping family history, etc...........I'm thinking Halle will do fine, just like her mom!

Olivier · 07-31-2008, 12:32 PM

Actually , I have a litter of 3 tiny puppies . They were born this morning , they started to feed as soon as I placed them near the mother .

luckylady · 07-31-2008, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olivier

Actually , I have a litter of 3 tiny puppies . They were born this morning , they started to feed as soon as I placed them near the mother .

Well CONGRATULATIONS on your litter!

I am feeling more and more confident with every reply.
Will we/I see pics in the nursery soon? How big were these tinies? Guess I'll go see what I can find.

Olivier · 07-31-2008, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luckylady

Well CONGRATULATIONS on your litter!

I am feeling more and more confident with every reply.
Will we/I see pics in the nursery soon? How big were these tinies? Guess I'll go see what I can find.

2 are 2.3 oz , and one is 2.4 oz .

Sugar's Mom · 07-31-2008, 01:58 PM

rose, i can't remember which girl is Toby's mother. Anyway, Frankie and kandy were both in the five pound or just a hair over and ceeby weighs 3.8 most days. I have always have a couple of tiny ones in all their litters. BUT, I have had those big five ounce babies too..

luckylady · 07-31-2008, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sugar's Mom

rose, i can't remember which girl is Toby's mother. Anyway, Frankie and kandy were both in the five pound or just a hair over and ceeby weighs 3.8 most days. I have always have a couple of tiny ones in all their litters. BUT, I have had those big five ounce babies too..

Hey Dee..........Kandy is Toby's mama. He was one of five from Kandy and Ceeby's last litter. Thanks for all the reassuring words.

sweetsophia · 07-31-2008, 06:36 PM

My six pound girl has had nice size puppies every litter. Her puppies are usually in the 4 ounce range and she spits them right out. The last time she had puppies she had a singleton that weighed almost 6 ounces and spit her right out without a word. I think it depends on several factors as to the size. The smallest puppies I have ever had were 3.4 and 3.2 ounces and they were very fiesty and got right in there at nursing time. It really is an individual and case to case thing. I have learned with these guys to always expect the unexpected and to be thankful when all goes smoothly. Best of luck!

07-31-2008, 04:46 AM	#1
luckylady Living My Yorkie Dream Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 6,114 Blog Entries: 6	Getting ahead of myself.......but a question I have probably another year before I will have the pleasure of another litter in my house, so I am surely jumping the gun with this question, but it's on my mind alot, so thought I may as well ask now so I can quit wondering.... I believe my next litter will be a whole different experiance from my first. The first time; Lexie was 9-10 lbs when she got PG (yes, I know, over-standard; live & learn); her stud was 4lbs. Her four pups weighed 5oz & 6oz. All went well for everyone. Halle & Toby will be my breeding pair the next time. I expect Halle will be between 5-6 lbs and Toby is 4lbs. Due to Halle's size (compared to Lexies') and to what I know of their backgrounds, I expect the pups will be much smaller than Lexie's. My question is this: Do the smaller size puppies (2 oz-3 oz) always have trouble latching on and/or need supplementing due to their small size? Or does that problem normally stem from other reasons? I've read so many threads where the smaller pups "won't/can't latch on!" and it just made me wonder if this was the norm or not. Thanks for your help............. __________________ Rose Lucky,Toby, Hannah,Camie, & Reggie Heartland Biewers and Yorkies

07-31-2008, 07:20 AM	#2
GurleyGirl YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Scott City, Missouri Posts: 1,879	I just had this discussion with my vet... My Wilma had 4 puppies back in June and two of the pups were in the 3 ounce range... one was 2 ounces and one was 5 ounces. Anyway.... the 2 ounce one was the only one to GAIN weight the first day... the others stayed basically at the same weight. They are now almost 8 weeks old and the 2 ounce one is the second largest. There are tinies that MAY have problem latching on ... and other tinies that are just born tiny because that's all the room the had in the womb to grow.... never having a problem nursing. Hope this helps. __________________ Joanne Gurley's Yorkies

07-31-2008, 08:57 AM	#6
YorkieRose No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 8,577	Pups Tinies need to be watched a bit closer..some need help if they had a larger mom..they can not reach the nipple as easily..but if a tiny is healthy, they are eager to eat like their bigger sibs..

07-31-2008, 08:05 AM	#4
Sugar's Mom BANNED! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 9,248	doesn't have anything to do with latching on. Most of the time it is because the larger puppies push the smaller ones out of the way. About the latching on, some pups just won't the first day but once they get a good taste of mama they are good to go. You might have to hold the little ones up for a few days until they get strong enough to hold their own against the larger ones.

07-31-2008, 10:04 AM	#7
HarrisFamily Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 227	I had a litter where the smallest was 2.4 ounces and the biggest was 5.1 and the little girl was just as tough as the big one, no problems at all. She would latch right on and get in and fight for a spot, and there were four puppies. I watched her extra close, but I wouldn't say that just because they are small they will have trouble. This was out of a 5.5 pound female and 5 pound male. Whitney

07-31-2008, 12:32 PM	#10
Olivier Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 2,999	Actually , I have a litter of 3 tiny puppies . They were born this morning , they started to feed as soon as I placed them near the mother .

07-31-2008, 01:58 PM	#13
Sugar's Mom BANNED! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 9,248	rose, i can't remember which girl is Toby's mother. Anyway, Frankie and kandy were both in the five pound or just a hair over and ceeby weighs 3.8 most days. I have always have a couple of tiny ones in all their litters. BUT, I have had those big five ounce babies too..

07-31-2008, 06:36 PM	#15
sweetsophia Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 646	My six pound girl has had nice size puppies every litter. Her puppies are usually in the 4 ounce range and she spits them right out. The last time she had puppies she had a singleton that weighed almost 6 ounces and spit her right out without a word. I think it depends on several factors as to the size. The smallest puppies I have ever had were 3.4 and 3.2 ounces and they were very fiesty and got right in there at nursing time. It really is an individual and case to case thing. I have learned with these guys to always expect the unexpected and to be thankful when all goes smoothly. Best of luck!