Hey im new I don't know if this is where I should be posting this but.. We found a puppy on our doorstep tonight it is super tiny eyes closed and cord still wet. I already went to the vet and she stated that if it made it through the night she would be shocked. She sent us home with instructions on care and feeding which I as someone who has fostered puppies and kittens already know. My concern is I have never had raised a puppy this small. Is there any advice anyone can give me other than what the feeding and cleaning that I should know?? Thanks for listening. I haven't got a chance to post pictures yet but I will asap.

how's the pup today?

I have no answers for you. Just wondering if the pup made it through the night.

Good thing you got her. Keep her warm and give her nutritious food. I hope the pup is doing good.

She did make it through the night and is has been very vocal and energetic for the last few hours.

sorry to hear about your ears. but glad he / she made it through the night.

sad when people dump pups off. amazes me to see how cruel people can be. I don't understand why people think "its just an animal". they are living, breathing creatures. They want nothing more than to be cared for and given some time and affection.

I am sure with your loving care the pup will grow up and be a happy pup. Thank you for caring for this little fella.

[CorkyMax]

See you may still be in forum right now Please check your email message I just sent you!!!

[CorkyMax]

It's too bad you can't bring in a substitue "mother--or maybe even a male dog to help keep the puppy warm. It is also important to have another dog because--I will quote the whole paragraph: IT IS BEST TO DISTURB NEWBORN PUPPIES AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE---at least until they are a few wks. old. There is a theory that too much handling interferes w/the process by which puppies learn to identify and relate to their mothers and littermates.
These interactions are important in establishing normal canine behavior. When these early imprints do not proceed as they should, a puppy could develop problems w/shyness or aggression at a later date.
Newborn puppies seldom cry. Crying indicates that a puppy is cold, hungry,
sick or in pain. (you said he was making noises I believe?) I just thought of something---More pups frm this litter might of been dropped off at some of your neighbors---if so, you might consult with one another as to how to do things,etc. And it was in that book I mentioned to you in the email--about wiping the genitals with the warm wet washcloth---It also mentioned doing this on the tummy too. Will post more later. Hope everything is still going well.

[CorkyMax]

REVIVING A WEAK PUPPY--Quote: IF A PUPPY IS IMMATURE, WEAK,OR FADING, EARLY TREATMENT IS IMPERATIVE. New puppies are extremely fragile and can die quickly. Treatment involves slow warming to restore body temp, oral fluids to correct dehydration and supplemental feedings to provide calories. A CHILLED PUPPY SHOULD BE WARMED GRADUALLY. Rapid warming using a heating pad, for example, causes the blood vessels in the skin to dilate, increasing heat loss, expending more calories and creating a greater need for oxygen. This harms rather than helps. However, if the puppy's rectal temp. is below 90 degreesF, rapid warming under vet. supervision mat be required as a life-saving procedure. The best way to warm a puppy is to tuck him down next to your skin beneath a sweater or jacket, and let your own warmth seep into the puppy. If the puppy's rectal temp is below 90 degreesF, warming will take 2-3 hrs.----more on this in the next post----->

[CorkyMax]

Chilled puppies are usually HYPOGLYCEMIC and dehydrated. Correct mild to moderate dehydration by giving a WARMED glucose-electrolyte solution such
as Pedialyte, which can be purchased at drug stores and large groc. stores.
Give 1cc per ounce of body weight every hr. by eyedropper or baby nurser and warm slowly until the puppy is wiggling about. If a commercial solution is not available, as a temporary expedient you can substitute a solution of 1 tsp. of granulated sugar (my note here--DO NOT USE A SUGAR SUB.--DIET SUGAR---they are harmful to a dog!!) to 1 ounce of tap water. Severe dehydration, in which the puppy is too weak to nurse, should be treated by a
vet. NEVER ALLOW A COLD PUPPY TO NURSE OR RECEIVE FORMULA. When chilled, the stomach and small intestines will not digest or absorb milk. The puppy will bloat and perhaps vomit. Once the puppy is warm and wiggling about, begin supplemental feedings to restore liver glycogen and supply calories.
CARDIOPULMONARY SYNDROME (sorry in my attempt to get you imp. info, I
"danced" around the long chapter and should have given you this part before the above part on REVIVING A WEAK PUPPY, but here goes-) This is a shocklike state of circulatory failure that occurs in puppies under 5 days of age. Many affected puppies are physiologically immature. Inadequate consumption of mother's milk shortly after birth may set the stage for this problem. There is a drop in temp, heart and breathing rates. As the rectal temp. drops below 94 degreesF, there is further depression of vital functions. Gradually, the crawling and righting reflexes are lost and the puppy lies on his side. Gagging and fluid in the nostrils may be noted. Later, poor circulation affects the brain, causing seizurelike spasms, accompanied by
breathless periods lasting up to a min. At this point the condition is irreversible. Early treatment is imperative to avoid death. (see REVIVING a WEAK PUPPY--that I posted above). Vet. assistance is required.--MORE--->

[CorkyMax]

A crying distressed puppy crawls about looking for help and falls asleep away from the life-sustaining warmth of his mother and littermates. Later, he moves slowly and w/great effort. He sleeps with his legs splayed apart and his head bent to the side. His cry is plaintive and piercing. Such a puppy is
often rejected by the dam, who senses that the pup is not going to survive and pushes him out of the nest. The situation can be reversed if the puppy is treated and his body temp. is brought back to normal (See REVIVING a WEAK PUPPY--see post above)
THE IMPORTANCE OF NURSING: During the 1st 36 hrs. after whelping, mothers produce a special type of milk that is high in vitamins, minerals and protein. This is the COLOSTRUM, or 1st milk of the dam. Colostrum also contains antibodies and other immune substances (primarily IgG) that provide
protection against infectious diseases. Dams vaccinated 1 mon. before breeding have antibody levels high enough to protect puppies from distemper, parvovirus and other infectious diseases for up to 16 wks. Puppies often nurse 6-8 times a day, w/suckling sessions lasting up to 30 mins. Frequent nursing is essential to survival, because at this stage the energy for heat and metabolism is supplied principally through mother's milk. Neonatal pups have little subcutaneous fat, and reserve energy is supplied almost entirely by glycogen in the liver. The liver is the last organ to grow, while the brain is the organ that consumes the most energy, so a pup w/a brain too lg. in proportion to his liver rapidly runs out of energy. Accordingly, the weight of the liver at birth, should be at least 1 and a half times the size of the brain.
It's even better if the liver is twice or 3 times the size of the brain. But even
w/a lg. liver-brain ratio, energy reserves are limited. The potential for low blood sugar must be offset by frequent feeding. A puppy that does not nurse frequently, for whatever reason, is headed for trouble. more---->

[CorkyMax]

GENERAL CARE: Everyone who handles the pup should wash their hands before touching him---esp. if they have handled other dogs. Many diseases, including distemper, can be transmitted to the pup by someone who has recently handled an infectious dog. All feeding equipment should be thoroughly cleaned and boiled. Visitors should not be allowed in the nursery.
(I am repeating some here!)---Keep the pup clean w/ a damp warm cloth.
Be sure to cleanse the anal area and the skin on the abdomen. You can rub a little baby oil on these areas and on the coat to prevent dry skin. Change the bedding often to prevent urine scalds. If they do appear, a light application of zinc oxide ointment will help. If infected, apply a topical antibiotic such as neomycin or triple antibiotic. For the 1st 3 wks, gently swab the pup's anal and geital areas after each feeding to stimulate elimination. (This is something the mother would do.) A wad of cotton or tissue soaked in warm water works well. Then dry the puppy.
There are about 5-8 pgs more I'd like you to have--but I've been on this forum now for about 6 hrs and I just have to get off--If you want this info --see the email I sent you as to how I can get it to you.
Please keep us all posted---I'm sure other members are"holding their breath"
and hoping for the best for the little guy. I know you have your hands full right now but let us know as you have the time or even just touch base every day just to say the words--Everything is going okay. Good luck!
One more thing--You know the pup is very susceptable to catching diseases, etc. right now as it's immune system has not kicked in yet and doesn't have the mother's milk to protect it from this---I'm prob. not saying this right but hope you get what I'm trying to say here! This book says (can't find it now-the info) the pup should be vaccinated at three wks because of this vulnerability (not having the mother's milk for protection) I don't like the idea of vac. at that time--afraid it would be hard (fatal?) on the poor thing. If it was me, I wouldn't do it quite that soon BUT you have to make that decision--
take a chance and wait or not--I sure would make sure and keep things very sterile---no visitors, no being around other animals, etc. Don't know if you have kids---but I would be very strict about having them around it as kids are out and about and prob. around other dogs (animals) and also can carry things in on their shoes or clothes,etc)

Thank you everyone for the concern. Corky/Max especially a big thank you to you that was super info!!!! I have already had her to the vet the min we found her I put her in my shirt to start warming her slowly. She is being kept very well care of she is ridding around in a sling type thing I made for her so that she can have contact and isn't alone. My vet myself and my family are so suprised at how well she is doing. She was so tiny and cold I honestly was really worried. So I have stayed up all night and most all of today with the exception of a short nap. She is being fed warm puppy replacer every 3 hours and I am tending to the cleaning at potty times. I have set up a little box with a warming light and checked the tempeture to make sure its not to hot. Sorry for not getting to my email sooner we have had storms here all day and my cable internet connection is iffy.

NEChick, I certainly can't top the great info Corky/Max gave you... what a lifesaver!

I'll be saying prayers for you new little angel. And I'll be looking for pictures when you're able to think about more frivilous things!

Ok these pictures are kinda fuzzy and don't mind the camera lens cap. This puppy is tiny I have really small hands so you can about imagine.

I will have more soon I didn't even take time to focus them very well. Tonight im really tired so that will be it for tonight. Thanks for the prayers they are always welcome here!!!!

cute pic of the pup

You know it very well could have been a stray dog that landed the pup on your door step. I have seen dogs just drop puppies as they are walking, really! The poor dog probably did not even know what was going on with her.

I don't want to go into the full story, too long..but honest this could be the case.

I feel so bad for abandoned stray dogs, I wish I could take them all in...and I can NOT STAND people who abandon dogs or are cruel to them in anyway.

Sick O's

AND YES listen to Corky/Max

"One more thing--You know the pup is very susceptable to catching diseases, etc. right now as it's immune system has not kicked in yet and doesn't have the mother's milk to protect it from this"

I did not see if anyone posted, but at some pet stores, farm & fleet, you can get some formula for the pup.

Hotdog yes we have puppy replacer the vets around here recommend using this canned milk / egg / corn syrup combo but I didn't feel it was enough we went to Orchlens its a farm supply store here and bought the top of the line puppy replacer. I know it isn't as good but close as we can get. We have developed our own method of feeding her to she won't take puppy bottles or the human bottles. She dosn't like the flow of either she can't seem to get the puppy bottle working fast enough and baby bottles are to fast. Here is what we do I place my pinkie finger in her mouth and she sucks on the tip while I put the feeding syring at the corner of her mouth suprisingly she gets most all of it and its the perfect speed. She is doing awesome the only problem we have run into thankfully is she dosn't really care for being left alone or put down at all which we are working on. I want her to be secure with being alone for a little bit at a time so while I clean house she is left in her box with her stuffy and a nice warm heat lamp.

[CorkyMax]

:-DHi!

I'm so glad to hear the puppy is doing so good! Your doorstep must have been the one of choice for a reason (fate) as you really seem to know what you are doing---very glad for the puppy!! Bet it is keeping you busy taking such good care of the little guy. It will be interesting to figure out what kind of breed(s) he is later when he gets a little older. Lol, should have him as a
"mascot" for the forum! :mrgreen:

Just came back in here to say--Gee, I was thinking it was a "he" and just reread your post and find that it is a girl--I have a habit I guess of always thinking he, as my 2 dogs are males.