orphaned pup

[dani]

My dog, a stray i adopted, just gave birth to a litter of 4 pups yesterday, and immediately rejected one. I had no choice but to take the baby and try to hand feed and rear it, as the mother absolutely refuses to nurse this poor thing. He is a beautiful little dark pup, and is drinking well, and eliminating normally. i am keeping him warm and clean, and i am praying for the best. Keep us in your prayers, he is a dear, strong little boy and i would love for him to pull through.

[marlowsix]

Good luck with your precious little one.

I don't mean to be negative here and I truly wish the best for that pup, but there may be a reason why mom rejected him. There may be a medical problem that you are not aware of and she is. I just thought you should be aware in case (God forbid) something should happen - I wouldn't want you to blame yourself.

Please keep us posted on his progress!

- Jayne

[wilkiecoco]

Good luck Dani - i'm keeping the little one in my heart and thoughts. I hope he thrives and goes on to make someone (maybe you Dani ????????:whistle: ) a very happy pet! Oh - and a pic of the wee one would be great!!

[Janie]

Good luck with the pup. It would be hard to sit back and not do anything when you see one that is rejected but unfortunately I've read and heard the same thing Jayne said in her reply. In nature, they seem to know things that we don't. Keeping fingers crossed and hoping for the best.

[dani]

I've heard that too, and it was my first instinct that perhaps the mom knew that something was wrong. However I also know that the mom is a bit moody and erratic, so I didn't want to just stand back and assume that the wee one didn't have any chance at all. Also, i definitely couldn't stand back and let him die, so no matter what happens, at least the poor babe was given a chance. :(

I am TRYING not to get too attached! Today is his third day, and he is wiggly and plump, tongue etc is pink and healthy, sleeping well and drinking and eliminating well. I will keep updating his progress. Thanks for the good wishes!

[Janie]

I didn't want to just stand back and assume that the wee one didn't have any chance at all. Also, i definitely couldn't stand back and let him die, so no matter what happens, at least the poor babe was given a chance. :(



Well, I couldn't do that either! I would also have to intervene if that happened to me. Years ago I had a miniature poodle that had puppies one time and she had no idea what was going on. After the 4th we thought she was through delivering and let her go out into the back yard and she dropped another one right there and walked back to the house. We also had to help her remove the sac from each baby. She was a great mother once she figured out what was going on but in her case it was not sheer instinct.

Good luck with that pup! Maybe she'll change her mind and start feeding him. Fingers crossed!

[michael]

I am TRYING not to get too attached! Today is his third day, and he is wiggly and plump, tongue etc is pink and healthy, sleeping well and drinking and eliminating well. I will keep updating his progress. Thanks for the good wishes!

Ok. Sooooo. Does he have a name yet instead of wiggly and plump? :whistle: You know Dani, as a one time breeder of Siberian huskies, over the three years we bred them we had two occurances of mothers rejecting one of their young. One litter produced nine pups and the other only four. Both rejected pups had turned out healthy as can be and both were made sure to go to good non-breeding homes. Besides the thought that mom was rejecting due to some deformity be it physical or otherwise we were told by a very good source that mother may have been conserving her resources for the strongest as well as herself and not necessarily for any other reason. Regardless, I feel these babies need a chance to survive as their ultimate care is so much dependent on humans. Its good to hear you were able to intervene before momma could maybe do some serious harm. Prayers for little wigglyplump......................:)

[dani]

hi everyone
She showed interest in him, and i returned him to her, and she killed him. I cannot tell you what i am feeling, i feel awful for returning him, I feel guilty, and I am hurting because of the way that he died. I loved him dearly, it's hard to nurse a newborn and not love him. I buried him, and I kissed his little body, and I know he is in a better place. Thank you for your good wishes.

[carrier]

:very_sad: :very_sad: :very_sad:

Oh my goodness! This is so very, very sad to hear. I am sooooo sorry you had to endure such a thing. Nature is cruel sometimes. Please don't feel bad..you did what you thought was in the best interest of the pup and it's not your fault.

Many hugs for you during this difficult time.

It is a tragedy, but it's not your fault.

[marlowsix]

Oh Dani, I'm so sorry. Please don't feel responsible. You loved that little guy and gave him more time here on earth than his mom would have. I would have done exactly the same thing you did - return the pup to mom. Never would I have thought that that would happen. You are not to blame. Nature is hard to understand at times.

- Jayne

[wilkiecoco]

I am so very sorry to hear about the pup. I mirror what everyone else is saying - you did what was right, trying to return the pup, and never could have anticipated what happened. You gave the young pup at chance of life, and loved him for the short time he was with you. (((((((Dani)))))))

[Janie]

Oh Dani, I am so sorry. Your momma dog knew something that we can't sense and while it's a terrible thing to witness my guess would be that it happens often in the wild. You did what you thought would be best and honestly, I think returning the pup to its mother was the best thing to try.

Just imagine how strong her instincts must have been to decide that the pup was better off dead than to face what ever might have been wrong, causing her to reject him in the first place. Again, I'm so sorry. :(

[michael]

Oh my gosh Dani. :( . I'm so sorry to hear this had happened. You and this poor pup both have my prayers...........I know there's not much that can be said to rid of the guilt feelings, but as caring poeple we just have to find a way through these things. As you know, all too often what we think and feel doesn't always match whats realistic in the animal kingdom. If only we could predict these outcomes before they happen, unfortunately we can't.......Pick yourself back up Dani and look to those who love you and need your care. Things will eventually get better. No matter what!

[dani]

Thank you all so very much, honestly you have helped me a lot. Last night was really harrowing for me, i could not fall asleep, and i could not throw out his little blanket and baby bottle, and i ended up deciding to keep them to remember him.

In the end i realize that what is meant to happen usually happens in life, and all you can really do is to mean well in your heart and pray for the best. i did love him dearly for the few days I had him, but he was an angel and a blessing and I know he has taught me something. This has also made me realize how lucky i am to have my wonderful animals in my life. Thanks, all of you. Your words really do help.

Dani and flock.