Someone is giving me a Pom/Yorkie mix puppy that is only 4 weeks old. How should i care for it? Is it to soon?

Answer 1

Yes it is too soon. A puppy shouldn't leave it's mother until it is at least 8 wks old.

Answer 2

Chihuahua :) Make sure the holes in the nipple of the bottle are big enough. Often they come with only one small hole. Take a heated needle and poke a few more holes in it. He needs to be fed every 2-3 hours around the clock. You will also need to stimulate his bowel movements by using a warm wet cloth. Rub it gently over his tummy and bottom to help him go to the potty. He needs to be seen by a vet as soon as you possibly can. This way the vet can weigh him and get him on the right track for vaccinating, deworming, etc. In about another two weeks, if he is doing well, you can start introducing softened puppy food. Soak it in formula or just water until it becomes mushy. Offer this along with bottle feedings. Look for a higher quality food without corn, wheat, or soy. Many pups are forced to leave their mother at this age. While it isn't ideal and they most certainly ~could~ die...many pups survive and thrive. If you have other dogs in your home, make sure he gets some socialization. If not, he will have to wait until he is about 12-16 weeks or after his last vaccination to be around other dogs. One of the biggest things orphaned pups can suffer from is lack of socialization, especially if not raised with the rest of the litter. Good luck with him. ETA: Someone else made a good point...where are the rest of the pups? If your neighbor was considering just dumping them, then I certainly hope they aren't still with them. If so, get the rest of the puppies and contact a local rescue/shelter. They can get the dogs into experienced foster homes. If you feel overwhelmed or like this is too much for you, your pup can go there too. I have raised many orphaned or abandoned litters as a foster through shelters. ETA#2~ I misread...for some reason I was thinking it said 2 weeks not 4 weeks. Pups usually begin the weaning process at 4-6 weeks. Try offering some real food in addition to the formula. Are you sure about the age? It sounds like these people were pretty clueless. All the more reason to have a vet check him out and go from there.

Answer 3

Yes that is way too old. The puppy needs to be twice as old before it leaves its mom (which is 8 weeks minimum for those that can't do the math).

Eight weeks MINIMUM.
A couple more weeks with mom is even better.

The puppy needs to drink mom's milk to get important antibiotics to build up its immune system.

The mother also is teaching the puppies important socialization skills.

If you have a puppy that age and aren't experienced at caring for very young puppies, it might die.

Answer 4

4 weeks is really too soon to be taken away from it's mother. Unless it's mother is gone, then you will still have to bottle feed him/her. Yorkie is a small dog, so the pup is going to be really small. You shouldn't take a puppy until it is 8 weeks. It needs to go to the vet by the breeder at 6 weeks for it's first puppy shots. Hopefully, it's a special situation, and not a neglectful breeder letting the dogs go so early. Good luck!

Answer 5

YES!!! it is too soon. Have the people keep the pup with it's mother until it is 8 weeks old.
You do want a pup that has been taken from it's mother at 4 weeks...


Mark: go to your vet & stock up on puppy replacement milk , bottles & nipples. Also talk with the vet on how & when to start it on solid food, a mixture of replacement milk & a very good quality canned food (Canidae Chicken/lamb & fish in chicken broth). Also ask about worming & first shots, etc.

Answer 6

It is definitely Way Too Soon.
A pup shouldn't be taken from it's mother until 9-12 weeks. It won't get proper puppy/mother
socialization nor should it be weaned that early either...it might be eating food, but should still have moms milk for antibodies. It shouldn't have shots until 9-11 weeks and all that time it will be unprotected.

Answer 7

yes it is too soon, far too soon but, you'll make the best of it i'm sure, you look like a nice caring man and i'm sure that baby will be fine with you. You've a very hard job ahead of you mate, that little baby will need twenty four hour care so you're going to be very tired and ratty and unfed and you'll miss all your mates at the pub etc etc because you won't be able to leave that little thing until its at least ten / twelve weeks old! My little boy was four weeks old when i got him ( bastard breeder wanted her bingo money would you believe!!! ) and he was real hard work but i'll tell you something, our bond is so so strong its unreal! You'll have to feed him every two to three hours ( he'll let you know when he's hungry believe me ha ha ha ), you'll have to wash his little bits, thoroughly mind but gently, you'll have to put up with him messing himself ( he can't help it, if he did that with mum she'd eat it and you'd never know he'd been!!! ) he'll keep you up at night coz thats play time!!! You'll have to cuddle him all the time coz they hate seperation at that age and you'll have to teach him his manners and teach him how to interact with other dogs of his age ( that'll come when he's around 8 weeks ) You won't necessarily have to feed him a milk diet, mix up some weetabix with warm milk but make it drinkable if you know what i mean. Don't give him raw meat - ever! Give him meat, cooked and mixed with cooked rice when he's around 7/8 weeks and always make sure he has fresh clean water available. Give him his weetabix mix every three hours or when he calls for it ha ha ha ( trust me - you will spoil him! ) That little dog will become the major focal point in your life and you wil become so much more attached to him than if you'd got him at 8/10 weeks because you'll have done absolutely everything for him! You'll become over-protective of him and he of you and you'll have a bond no-one can ever,ever break! Good luck to you mate.

Answer 8

It is a little early but take heart you can care for the little thing just fine... get some puppy milk replacer and you can either give it a bottle or in a bowl... offer some some soft puppy food a couple times a day and give it lots of hugs and cuddles...

Answer 9

Yes, it's still too soon... it may not even be weaned yet. If it isn't weaned you may need to continue bottle feeding it and properly wean it off. If it is weaned.. you will have to prepare the food to where it's soft and can be easily chewed., and will need to eat 4-5 times a day. Puppies are alot of work, but they sure are cute. :-)
Ps.. it's best for the puppy to be with the mother.. but if the mother is not able to care for it for any reason. The puppy can still survive without the mother if you are responsible and attentive.

Answer 10

The puppy should stay withthe mom until 8 weeks.
realize if it's taken now it won;t have any immunity built up and can't get vaccinated until 6 weeks and can get sick very easy and die.
If you do take the pup this young do not let it go outside for anything and don't let friends around it as they can just bring things in on their clothes,etc.

Answer 11

I'm the poster Mark from Brooklyn. The problem is my aunt said the owner of the dog told her that the mother of this puppy is rejecting it that's why she's giving it away. What things should I buy for the dog or what things should I do to make sure i take good care of it and make sure it doesnt get sick.. ANyone have and recommendations?