When our puppy drinks

This question is about our Yorkie pup. I know this is for "maltese only", but I don't know where else to turn to on the net. I hope you don't mind and can offer some help.

Whenever our puppy drinks, milk runs out of its nose. The puppy is small and does not seem to be growing very rapidly. Is this normal? Will our puppy outgrow this problem?
Ron

• Ron -- I don't know the age of your puppy but if it has been weaned I would not be giving it a dish of milk to drink. The puppy needs to have fresh water and then some good puppy food. When I wean my puppies I start with a formula of canned condensed milk and baby rice cereal. Then I gradually add some puppy food (like IAMS, Natures Reciep, Natural Balance, etc) soaked in water until soft and then smooshed with a fork. I also use some of the Gerber's baby food (meat varieties -- lamb, chicken, beef, veal, turkey) and by the time they leave home at 12 weeks or more they are just eating the soaked puppy food with a little Gerber's. Once your puppy is weaned milk is not good for it and can give the puppy diarrhea.

  As for weight -- the biggest spurt of growth for a puppy is 1 - 4 weeks and then gradually slows down. I have a postage scale with a dish on top I use to check weight progress. Postage scale is good as it weights up to 10 pounds which should be more than adequate for a Yorkie or Maltese for their lifetime. If you have something like this (and you need this type as it weights down to ounces -- not human scales that are not calibrated at that level) you can chart the weight growth.
  Bobbie Linden

• You don't mention the age of your pup in your post? I'll make an educated guess anyway that it is likely that your puppy has a cleft palate. This is a birth defect involving the mouth and nose. With cleft palate the bones between the mouth and nose do not form completely. Therefore, there is an abnormal opening between the oral and nasal cavities that allows for passage of food and fluids between the two. Cleft palate can sometimes be corrected by surgery. However, the hereditary aspects of the disease should be considered. If the defect is corrected, the puppy should be neutered so that the condition is not passed on to more puppies. Puppies with surgically corrected cleft palates can be good pets. You should have your puppy examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

• Thank you Bobbie and Jay for your replies. I am sorry I didn't mention the puppies age. they are only 2 weeks. I did take him to the vet and he did have a cleft palette. The vet is going to try to take care of it. We have another appt tommorrow. Thanks again for your help.