Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Shit, I have somehow acquired a puppy...

377 replies

Theoneandonlyitchymcitch · 25/03/2016 23:59

Help!! She is a teeny tiny baby shitzu crossed with something equally obscure. She is slightly larger than my foot. I have zero experience with puppies. What do j need to do? I've made her up a bed with towels and puppy food in a dish near her. I got her a baby bottle to try and get her to drink milk (kitten milk!) from that. She is ignoring all my efforts and is snoring on my foot...

OP posts:
Thread gallery
22
tabulahrasa · 28/03/2016 22:26

So 3 days?...

What/how much are you feeding?

Has she come from somewhere where it's likely she wasn't being fed?

yoomoo · 28/03/2016 22:33

I've been googling and the general consensus is that as long as she's happy running about, eating, drinking and being picked up etc then she's probably just a bit anxious and is holding it in or is constipated but either way the vet tomorrow will be able to advise what's best. I'm sure she will go during the night when you aren't watching! Do you have any puppy pads you can leave out? I know they are frowned upon but I think they have a scent which encourages puppy to use them? Might be worth it to get her to poo.

yoomoo · 28/03/2016 22:37

Another thought maybe try giving her a bit of human food? Our pup likes ham, chicken and peanut butter but it does loosen up his poo (sorry TMI!) so might be worth a go. I'm no expert though, hopefully someone with more experience will know what to do!

SistersOfPercy · 28/03/2016 23:22

My mum has had 2 'little shits' since she retired. They toilet trained VERY easily so I'm surprised to read that they don't. She had no magic trick, just lots of standing in the garden saying 'wee' repeatedly.

The one she has now can wee on command and wipes his feet when he comes in from a walk. He's certainly a lap dog. Mum is 80 and on her own since dad died so he's certainly her best friend and incredibly spoilt.

Your girl is beautiful.

ChipsandGuac · 29/03/2016 00:21

I think you said earlier that you were picking her up around your garden? Can you just let her run around for a bit? It's generally the walking element of a dog walk that gets my dogs going.

Also, don't presume that shaking and jumping up is because she is cold. My little dog does that when they're scared and then tries to bite the nearest stranger It's better to work out any insecurity issues now whilst she's tiny than a few months down the track!

I remember the exact moment I fell in love with my first dog in the same way I remember falling in love with my children! Those little fur balls just toy with our emotions! Grin

yoomoo · 29/03/2016 09:30

How are you both doing this morning? Hope poogate is over Smile

Original poster
Theoneandonlyitchymcitch · 29/03/2016 16:40

Hi yoo still no poo!!! That I have witnessed at least... Getting worried, and can only see vet on thurs... Also, turns out that her actual date of birth is 12th feb, so she is younger than we suspected... Going to take her in anyway on thurs to just get her checked. I am guessing she will have to wait a bit longer for her jabs then? Vet is going to think I am a complete idiot, as need to ring them back to inform them... She is a happy little thing, been following my mum around all day, done some wees outside and on her puppy pad, and was so excited when I got home. Spent the whole day getting updates about her and worrying something awful was going to happen to her whilst I wasn't there! Even though mum was with her all day... Going to sort insurance out this eve, I know there were lots of good recommendations on here, but don't have time to scroll through the whole thread... Any recommendations??

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 29/03/2016 16:48

I'd try and get her seen before Thursday tbh...

Just phone them and tell them you have a possibly 6 week old puppy (that's what my maths makes her) who hasn't had a bowel movement in 4 days and can they squeeze her in to be seen sooner.

Yes she'll have to wait for inoculations though.

Insurance - Petplan, without a doubt...I went with a cheaper company, I regret it now as the prices have jumped to ludicrous prices after claiming (petplan do not do that) and they're trying to wriggle out of paying for my last claim.

Whatever company you choose though they have a 2 week exclusion period where illness isn't covered.

Original poster
Theoneandonlyitchymcitch · 29/03/2016 17:07

Thanks tabulah I shall get on it with pet plan then. Just letting her eat, then going to try her with a run in the garden. See if that helps. Then if still nothing will ring vets again, and try and get something for ASAP tomorrow...

OP posts:
DixieNormas · 29/03/2016 17:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheoriginalLEM · 29/03/2016 21:03

I second not waiting until thursday if she hasn't poo'd yet. Has she tried to go?

Original poster
Theoneandonlyitchymcitch · 29/03/2016 22:20

She seems to be straining a bit when I take her outside, but she is running around happily, and peeing loads... I will give her til tomorrow morning...

OP posts:
Original poster
Theoneandonlyitchymcitch · 29/03/2016 23:13

Ok, just checked puppy's bum and she seems to have a poo. Just spent a good ten mins wiping her arse. It seems to be a reddish browny colour though... It was all round her bum, and all over my Tshirt from when I picked her up... She is still running around and playing. But seriously?? Help. Am not going to get any sleep tonight, I am too worried.

OP posts:
TheoriginalLEM · 29/03/2016 23:20

you are fretting too much! go to bed now and take her to the vets tomorrow. She will be fine x

Original poster
Theoneandonlyitchymcitch · 30/03/2016 00:19

Ok, I need to calm the feck down. Thanks. I have put her to bed, shitty arse and all. I am just so worried about her!

OP posts:
Original poster
Theoneandonlyitchymcitch · 30/03/2016 00:23

Argh. What if she really has a prolapsed arse and she dies?! Can they die from prolapsed arses???? Please tell me no, otherwise I will never get any sleep this evening... Oh wait, it's morning. This isn't funny anymore, I was joking about when I was talking about her pooing... Now I just want her to be ok... Sad

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 30/03/2016 07:30

Bit late as it's morning now, but...if she was really ill, you'd know, honestly, she'd not be running about playing.

TheoriginalLEM · 30/03/2016 12:52

hoping you got her to the vets today for the sake of your sanity

TheoriginalLEM · 30/03/2016 12:54

oh and insist on being seen. this is no longer a pup needing an initial check as they will still be catching up after easter so tell them the issues and stop worrying. you are a brilliant mummy Grin

yoomoo · 30/03/2016 13:29

Sorry for missing the updates yesterday! Just coming along to say the same as others hopefully you've managed to get a sooner vets appt, she's so young bless her. Hope she's ok X

OrlandaFuriosa · 30/03/2016 13:54

You are brilliant, she loves you. That's all that is important, other than getting her to the vet.

Original poster
Theoneandonlyitchymcitch · 30/03/2016 17:05

Thanks for the messages: Chiara update, she has pooed (mainly around her bum which I have just spent about half an hour cleaning with warm water and a sponge, and trimming her flipping fur! Bum looks much better than yesterday, phew!!!) she has had a lovely game of tug of war and chase the various objects, had a brush and is now having her third meal of the day. Going to take her for a stroll around the garden. Spoke to vet to confirm her true age, and they are happy to see her tomorrow still, as she is running around, eating and drinking and generally causing chaos (in the cutest way). We shall see if we can get proper movement from garden frolics. Phew, this is tough, I have felt guilty all day for being at work, and kept worrying. Nearly cried this morning (I need to woman up). She has been very good with her puppy pad, although bit of a regression on the outside wee front (possibly getting confused due to puppy pads...) is it worth me putting down a tray with a puppy pad in it outside to encourage her to wee in both places? Or shall I just stick to what I was trying before? Her crate should arrive tomorrow. Any tips on how to introduce her to it?

OP posts:
Original poster
Theoneandonlyitchymcitch · 30/03/2016 17:07

Ps you lot are keeping me sane, with all your helpful advice and support, thank you! it feels like I am the only person in the world who is attempting to do this. How stupid is that?? And can't believe I just spent half an hour trimming and checking her arse, I even lifted it up for a sniff.... Ick, now that is a smell that I won't forget in a hurry!

OP posts:
OrlandaFuriosa · 30/03/2016 17:38

Phew a poo !

We just put basket, blanket, toys into crate, introduced him into it with door open and showed him he could come in and go out. It's his place if I'm cooking in the kitchen or working there, or if he needs to get away.

yoomoo · 30/03/2016 17:43

Yay so glad she's pood (can't believe I just wrote that!) perhaps it was just the anxiety of a new home.
Ah bless you, not stupid at all. Haha the joys of life with a dog, although ours is short haired I do always check his bum is clean before he sits on me just in case!
Re the puppy pads I don't know if we did it right but we got him comfortable with the pads indoors first and going on command using certain words and then once he was getting that right we took him outside, didn't put a pad outside he seemed to be ok on the slabs/stones in our side alley. Now I can put him outside say the command (toilet for wee, get busy for a poo) and he'll go! If he faffs about I let him back in for 5-10 minutes then back out again, he almost always does a wee though. Sounds weird but we wrote a diary of when he hate, drank and then peed and pood as when we started taking him outside we knew how much 'safe' time we had until he needed to be put out. Now he's nearly 4 months old he is able to go longer after each drink/meal but I'm paranoid so let him out every hour!
With the crate, we popped it in the kitchen with a new bed (he's got 2 now makes it easier if one needs a wash!) blanket and some toys then let him explore it himself. We've never put him in it as such, the first night he walked right in, sat in his bed and chewed some toys happy as Larry! We closed the door a couple of times and he didn't freak out so I'm guessing the breeder may have used a crate for him before. When it's in the kitchen the crate door is always open as he has free reign in there, it only gets closed at bedtime as he's in our bedroom then or when the cleaner is here as he just gets in the way. But he's perfectly happy with the door closed as long as he's comfy in his bed with some toys to chew. I have read never to put them in as a punishment and so far we've been able to do that so for him it's a calm place for sleeping and when the cleaner is here with the nasty Hoover Grin