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Original poster

Help 5 week old puppy

44 replies

bert3400 · 17/10/2020 02:02

We have just adopted a 5 week old puppy from a dog shelter . They couldn't stay in the shelter any longer and this is why we've got her while she is so young. I have had puppies before but 8-9 weeks and never had any issue with sepertion anxiety. My new little girl is obviously very young and crying all night for her siblings. I would normally let her cry it out but being so young I'm not sure this is the right path of action. Any advice for such a young girl. ? I don't want to get it wrong

OP posts:
IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere · 17/10/2020 03:05

Poor little thing.

I don't think I could leave a puppy that small to cry. She has had a rotten start in life and needs her mum and her litter. As that isn't possible you have to fill the gaps and that means warmth, company and play.

Can you put a blood heat hot water bottle wrapped in something furry in her bed? And a loudly ticking clock nearby to simulate the heartbeat. These might help but I would recommend seeing your vet as soon as possible for expert advice.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 17/10/2020 03:07

I’d take her in bed with me, or sleep on the sofa with her.

Original poster
bert3400 · 17/10/2020 04:04

Thank you, I had done the water bottle trick but no joy. She howled the house down. I came and slept on the sofa with her on my chest, we got an hour and half, so I'm pleased with that. Its going to be a tough few weeks for her and I'm fully committed to make it as stress-free as possible

OP posts:
lunalulu · 17/10/2020 06:02

Sleep downstairs with her. That way it will be easier to make the transition to her eventually sleeping in her own.

Don't ever take her to your bed unless you want her to sleep there always. It's not fair to do that then wean them off it. She's had enough stress 🥺

userxx · 17/10/2020 06:18

I'd have her in the bedroom with me, not everyone would agree though. Poor little pup, she sounds like she's in good hands though.

Veterinari · 17/10/2020 06:29

Why couldn't the shelter keep her? Did her mother and all of her litter mates die? I can't think why else she'd be rehomed so young.

Have a look at the puppyplan website for developmental info that will help you socialise and manage her effectively.
www.thepuppyplan.com

www.thepuppyplan.com/Media/Default/base/pdf/week-5.pdf

She'll need to learn bite inhibition and other aspects of social behaviour that would normally be picked up from littermate interactions. When she's older she'll also need training to settle and ensure she's comfortable being alone. For now though she'll need secure attachment so you'll need to stay with her almost constantly.

What is she being fed and how often? Has she been dewormed?

Original poster
bert3400 · 17/10/2020 07:25

@Veterinari

Thank you for your insight and the links, I will read up . The mum was dumped at a supermarket and adopted by a family not knowing she was pregnant. So the pups were born a few months later and mum's new owners looked after the pups as best they could but struggled with 5 pups and mum . It was agreed with the shelter that as soon as the pups were on solids they would come back and stay at the shelter untill they were ready to be adopted , but it was decided to get the pups to thier new families asap, not sure why apart from the shelter isn't a nice place for 5 puppies - so this is where we are. No one has done anything wrong, it's been a tricky situation for all involved.
We do have another dog who is nearly two, she is very gentle and I'm sure will guide the new puppy . But I'm glad you mentioned the biting and I will pay extra attention to this. She slept on my lap on and off all night and I suspect it will be like this for a few more weeks .

OP posts:
Original poster
bert3400 · 17/10/2020 07:25

And yes she has be dewormed

OP posts:
JayAlfredPrufrock · 17/10/2020 07:32

That’s ridiculous. The shelter should have looked after mum and pups.

Poor mite.

Tappering · 17/10/2020 07:39

Something's dodgy then, because any decent rescue would never let a puppy of that age go - it's just too young, as evidenced by the fact that she's stressed and unhappy. She'll be used to sleeping as part of a pile of a litter, so to lose that and her mum at this age is quite serious. I'm really shocked that the rescue think this is acceptable - the youngest I have ever seen my rescue let a dog go is 7 weeks, and that was because Mum had sadly died shortly after birth, his litter mate was critically sick and in the vet hospital and the remaining pup was pining. Even then he went to a very experienced foster home who knew how to look after young pups, until he was old enough and ready for a forever home.

As PP have said, lots of time with you. She will bond and imprint on you now, so you'll need to work with her once she's grown a bit to make sure that you can leave her, sleep separately from her etc.

userxx · 17/10/2020 07:41

That sounds very wrong. The shelter should have taken mum and the pups back in until they were old enough to be adopted.

vanillandhoney · 17/10/2020 07:46

Are you in the UK?

I'm pretty sure it's illegal here to rehome puppies before 8 weeks of age under the latest puppy farming laws.

I don't know of any shelter who would do something like this, unless the puppies were staying with an official foster.

Original poster
bert3400 · 17/10/2020 11:18

No I am not in the UK . I am an experienced dog owner but obviously not at such a young age. She is going to sleep in with us untill she is at least 8 weeks old . I will do whatever it takes to make her secure. She is a happy playful girl . I don't want to criticise the shelter, they do amazing work in really awful situations - as I said we are not in the uk. Thank you to all of you who have given me solid advice .

OP posts:
ChardonnaysPetDragon · 17/10/2020 11:19

What are you feeding her?

Formula milk might be best.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 17/10/2020 11:19

Or goats milk, that's good as well,

vanillandhoney · 17/10/2020 12:08

Ah okay, it makes a bit more sense if you're abroad.

I think you need to let her sleep with you while she's so young - either in your bed or right by you with a hot water bottle, an alarm clock wrapped in a towel etc. to stimulate the feeling of being with mum.

Good luck!

Original poster
bert3400 · 17/10/2020 12:39

Thank you.
She is on puppy dry food but doesn't like it. I gave her some boiled chicken breast last night cause I was worried she was hungry, she has gobbled that and the same this morning. Sent DH out to get some wet puppy food as she isn't isn't liking the dry food. She will sleep in with us tonight. Fortunately we work from home so will be with her constantly. I can get DH to get some dog milk if such a thing exist ?

OP posts:
ChardonnaysPetDragon · 17/10/2020 13:19

I don't think there is anything like dog mild, use formula or goats milk.

Lozzie51 · 17/10/2020 13:27

We got our dog in Cyprus. Puppy was dumped at about 2 weeks old. Our vet recommended I keep her with me, feed her every few hours. I got a little puppy bag for her to carry her in when I went out as she wasn't allowed to be on the pavement before her vaccines. She slept with us at night. We have been really lucky, she's 11 now and the most loving, gentle dog. Maybe look at some websites for shelters in Cyprus and other countries where sadly dogs removed from their mothers shortly after birth and abandoned is not unusual.

CMOTDibbler · 17/10/2020 14:04

At 5 weeks, she needs to be having her dry food soaked in hot water to make it soft, and should be having puppy milk as well, to a total of 7 feeds a day at least - 4 food and 3 milk over 15 hours. She's going to struggle to keep warm as well, and will generally be very needy from the early separation. If you can have her in the bedroom with you, I would for both of your sakes
I've had foster puppies at that age (and my last two came at 6 weeks) and they are very hard going. Bite inhibition is a big issue, and you have to work hard on socialisation. Put a rucksac on your front and then you can take them with you everywhere to see the world
She'll need worming now, and then every month until she's 6 months to deal with encysted worms from her mum

tabulahrasa · 17/10/2020 14:08

You‘ll need to soak dry food in boiling water till it’s soft still - they struggle with dry food still at that age.

You do get puppy milk - both a formula that’s a complete food and supplemental stuff, how easily it’ll be to get will depend where in the world you are tbh... try a vet maybe?

ekidmxcl · 17/10/2020 14:08

In the UK you can get puppy formula milk. Puppies can be orphaned so it’s necessary.

I would put that poor tiny pup on your body at night. I would have thought that a little pup would sleep touching the bodies of her parents and siblings at that age, so I’d definitely put her on your chest or similar.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 17/10/2020 15:06

I didn't know you can find puppy formula.

That's helpful.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 17/10/2020 15:08

When one of mine was puppy he tried to sleep the tightest possible space, we used to find him napping behind the sofa and actually managed to lose him a couple of times until we started checking under every single bed and armchair. He was trying to recreate the feeling of sleeping in a pile of siblings.

QuestionableMouse · 17/10/2020 15:22

www.animeddirect.co.uk/royal-canin-babydog-milk-2kg.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwrKr8BRB_EiwA7eFapkIyQ8mLEE_BPEHAii80Z7OUUfWWVpuf799d42_WdFEg-gMFJGee_xoC4w0QAvD_BwE

Puppy formula.

You can also get special weaning food that's very small and can be soaked so it goes to mush.