Article Title: Shih Tzu Getting Shih Tzu Puppies Started
Author: Connie Limon
It the absolute best that Shih Tzu puppies nurse from their
mother right away.
Shih Tzu puppies are born incompletely developed their ears and
eyes sealed. Shih Tzu puppies can smell at the time of birth.
Newborn Shih Tzu puppies are somewhat aware of their siblings.
Shih Tzu puppies will vie with each other, seeking heat and
life-giving colostrums and milk from their mother. Early Shih
Tzu nursing is highly important because colostrums antibodies
are absorbed only the first two days of life. The Shih Tzu dam
also receives benefit from the first Shih Tzu puppies' nursing.
The Shih Tzu puppy nursing action aids uterine contractions that
help her deliver the rest of her Shih Tzu puppies.
Because of the Shih Tzu dam's abdominal distention, the first
one or two Shih Tzu puppies may not be able to nurse right
away. A Shih Tzu dam's breasts are often taut during the
whelping process. Shih Tzu puppy nursing can be difficult until
pressure impeding the Shih Tzu dam's flow eases and the glands
become relatively flaccid. Usually by the third Shih Tzu puppy
delivery, enough pressure has been relieved in the dam that
sufficient Shih Tzu puppy nursing may begin, aiding her uterine
contractions. If the Shih Tzu litter is small, the dam may not
encounter this problem.
If a Shih Tzu puppy fails to nurse right away, but continues to
nose around, you will need to help the Shih Tzu puppy along. Put
the Shih Tzu puppy to one of the dam's teats and express a small
amount of colostrum. If the Shih Tzu puppy continues to nose
aimlessly, open the Shih Tzu puppy's mouth to initiate sucking.
Express some colostrums from one of the Shih Tzu dam's mammaries
and rub a small amount on and around her nipple area to help
entice the puppy in the correct direction. Gently insert her
nipple into the Shih Tzu puppy's mouth while expressing
additional colostrum/milk. Do not worry if the Shih Tzu puppy,
being one of the first born, still refuses to nurse. Shih Tzu
puppies can go one or two hours without nursing and remain
healthy.
Not every Shih Tzu puppy is born vigorous toward nursing.
Sometimes Shih Tzu puppy sibling rivalry stimulates a newborn
Shih Tzu puppy. If a Shih Tzu puppy is reluctant to nurse two
hours after birth, one or two tube feedings may be necessary to
prevent dehydration.
Any instinctive Shih Tzu puppy behavioral aberrations from the
norm should be reported to your vet. The Shih Tzu puppy could
have an unnoticeable birth defect preventing an ability to
nurse properly. Such Shih Tzu puppies should be mercifully and
humanely put to sleep as soon as possible.
Shih Tzu birth defects are not necessarily either congenital or
hereditary. In some cases, they can be caused by an
insufficiency or surplus in diet. Two beautiful and health Shih
Tzu dogs can be brought to a union that looks good, genetically
speaking, on paper. Genetics is a science. It is not exact.
Because both desirable and undesirable Shih Tzu genes are
passed from one generation to the next, one can never be
certain what will be presented in a Shih Tzu litter. There is
always some risk in Shih Tzu breeding. Shih Tzu breeding is not
for the fainthearted or for those not willing to devote a lot of
time, money and energy.
This article is FREE to publish with resource box.
About The Author: Connie Limon is a Shih Tzu breeder. She
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