New yorkie mom going back to work

[cindersellie]

Hi, I am a new mom to Cinders. I've had her a week, and I think she came from a puppy mill and hasn't been socialized to eat. She won't eat any food or water. On her 4th day with me we had to go to the emergancy hospital for low blood sugar. She's well now, and had a follow up visit with her vet the next day, who instructed me on force feeding . I've had mini schnauzers for the past 22 yrs, this is totally new since they ate everything..

My problem is that I return to my teaching job in a week, which means I'll be away from her for 8 hrs. Cinders is being fed with a syringe, and will drink very little from her bowl, so I give water that way too. I don't know if I should feed her well before I go and hope she's ok till I get home and feed her again, or try to find a doggie day care for her until she eats something on her own.
I've tried boiled chicken, macaroni, sausage, canned royal canin,dry iams puppy food,and the Hill's A/D food the vet said I have to make her eat. I'm hoping to get some samples of food to find 1 she will like. (just finished emailing dog food companies from the fantasic list in this forum). I've also tried 4 or 5 bowls, lids, plates, she doesnt like anything, and she doesnt eat from my hand. the spoon she used to like, she decided its not good now...lol..I should rename her princess or queenie because she definately has a mind of her own on what and when she will be eating.

Any advice on what to do will be greatly appriciated!

[Maritta]

I'm a teacher too and always see classroom pets. Yorkies are so small that maybe your principal would allow you to have her as a classroom pet provided there are no student's with allergies and you kept her confined in a crate. I think it would be an excellent learning experience for the kids as they can take turns feeding her and caring for her. The kids, no matter what age, would LOVE it and I don't see why it's much different than having lizards, guinea pigs, chicks, etc... Good luck and I'd bring in Cinders when you ask your principal so he/she can see how tiny and cute she is!

[cindersellie]

Hmmm, good idea. I'll stop and ask. She might let me bring her in since Cinders is so tiny. I'll post what my principal says.

[Maritta]

Yes, please do keep me posted. If they say no I would definately look into a doogy daycare until she is eating on her own. She could get really sick if she doesn't eat/drink for 8 hours. Good luck and make sure you bring her in, afterall, who can say no to a yorkie puppy!

[KazzyK810]

How old is Cinders?

Is there someone who could stop by & check on her while you're gone for the first few weeks? Depending on age (and whether all her shots have been completed), depends on whether you should be taking her to doggie daycare around other dogs.

Congratulations on your new pup!

[MikaTallulah]

I would find a close friend or neighbor to care for you baby furbutt. 8 hrs is too long IMO to leave a puppy. I am also leery of a fragile puppy at daycare even if separated from the other dogs. I doubt the principle will go for a class pet of a puppy idea but wish you the best.

[cindersellie]

Cinders is 10 weeks, and current on her shots. Everyone I know works.

[KazzyK810]

Originally Posted by cindersellie

Cinders is 10 weeks, and current on her shots. Everyone I know works.

At 10 weeks old she wouldn't have had her full series of shots and wouldn't have had her rabies shot yet. I would not think a doggie day care would take her.

Can you get home on your lunch break?

[Maritta]

I'd explain to your principal that it would just be for a few weeks and perhaps draft a letter with a picture explaining your situation to your parents in which they would all have to agree. Explain that she would be kept in a crate behind your desk and would only be brought out for feedings so it would not distract the children from their learning. Not sure your grade level but you could make it an entire learning experience in which the kids could weigh (kitchen scale) and graph Cinder each day, compare her weight and size to other objects, record her feedings, journal her progress, take photos of her, have a vet come and visit the class, each child could even research an animal of their choice. I really think it could be a very enriching educational experience. I really don't see how it differs from hatching chicks in the classroom or any other classroom pets. It'd not like she's a saint bernard!

[cindersellie]

Maritta, you have to be a wonderful teacher! I love that idea, and I'll really use it when I introduce Cinders to my principal. My principle is a lovely woman, understanding and caring. She may let me bring her in, or left me take an extra 15 mins to get home and check Cinders on my lunch break.

Kassy, I thought you meant current, but I see how a doggie day care will need her to have ALL shots. Rabies is the last one she'll get, and we just started shots. I do like the lunch time idea. I really didn't think she's ready to be on her own yet.

I'm also going to ask my vet for ideas. They adore Cinders and might know a good person to help me. My husband's work is closer to home than mine, and I'm trying to teach him how to feed her. He's afraid b/c Cinders is soo small. I'll keep working with him though I think that will be a nice way for them to really bond

[Lovetodream88]

If she having to be force feed and has already had hypoglycemia issues she might not make it 8 hours and that's not joke. If she has an episode while you are gone and there is no one to help her she could die. It would also be very risky to take her to a doggy day care at 10 weeks and with out all of her puppy shots. Also I know you are trying to get her to eat but giving her high in fat food like sausage could make her very sick and she could get pancreatitis.

[cindersellie]

Also I know you are trying to get her to eat but giving her high in fat food like sausage could make her very sick and she could get pancreatitis.

I thought that was a bad idea, so did Cinders. She just nudged it away with her nose. I'm just trying everything we're eating- a tiny speck- to see if ANYthing gets her interest. So far, nothing has.

I'm now sure I can't leave her for 8 hrs. I'll keep everyone informed on how I get this worked out. I'm really hoping I can just extend my lunch break and get home to check on her/feed her. The best would be if I can bring her in for a few weeks and we do learning activities, it would be fun for me and the kids , and Cinders.

[TxVicki]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

If she having to be force feed and has already had hypoglycemia issues she might not make it 8 hours and that's not joke. If she has an episode while you are gone and there is no one to help her she could die. It would also be very risky to take her to a doggy day care at 10 weeks and with out all of her puppy shots. Also I know you are trying to get her to eat but giving her high in fat food like sausage could make her very sick and she could get pancreatitis.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

If she having to be force feed and has already had hypoglycemia issues she might not make it 8 hours and that's not joke. If she has an episode while you are gone and there is no one to help her she could die. It would also be very risky to take her to a doggy day care at 10 weeks and with out all of her puppy shots. Also I know you are trying to get her to eat but giving her high in fat food like sausage could make her very sick and she could get pancreatitis.

I force fed a tiny little boy I bought back in 2002...that was the last thing I did before I left for work....he was confined in a playpen, and when I came home one morning, he was unconscious....rushed to vet after putting Nutracal in his mouth...he recovered, but that was toooooo close....vet said another hour and he would have died....so from then on he came to work with me.....I kept him in my locker in the nursing lounge....he never made a noise, I fed him every 2 hours, and he did fine....one day, my supervisor asked me if I knew anything about someone having a puppy in their locker...that was a health code violation and could possibly lead to diciplinary action...she said they would be having a locker check the next day, so if I knew anyone that had a puppy in their locker, they needed to make other arrangemnts.....I then had one of the docs give me access to his gate key card, and I parked outside the ER in that docs spot.....it was fall here so I had him all set up in my SUV in the back, with his little bed and pee pads, his little sweater and a "heating pad"....temperature in fall here does not drop below 60 degrees, so he did fine....the police sentry sits in the ER and kept an eye on the car for me....you can NOT leave that baby alone for 8 hours...4 hours is pushing your luck....I am really hoping you can talk your principal into allowing this.....

[cindersellie]

Me too. I'm taking her to work tomorrow to meet with the principal. Wish me luck!