?? On buying a puppy

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?? On buying a puppy
by Karen
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
?? On buying a puppyI am in the process of trying to buy a puppy. I have a few questions that came up while talking to different people. Please help me to figure out which are true and which are not if you can!! Thanks May be it is all true.

1. Do black points come in later then 12 weeks on the pads sometimes?
2. Can a puppy hypolycemia occur sometimes when a puppy goes to a new home or do they just have it if it is a concern to the breeder?
3. Can you always determine the size by the parents size?

Thanks Again

DISCUSSION:

Hi Karen!

Question #1-- Yes.

Question #2--I don't really know what you're asking. My youngest malt Annie has low blood sugar. The breeder I got her from informed me of this before I bought her. I give her Nutri-Cal everyday in the morning. From what Annie's breeder and my vet have told me about hypoglycemia it is easily treated. If you chose not to use Nutri-Cal--you MUST make sure the puppy is eating regularly. If not, the pup can go into hypoglycemic shock and die. That is why they recommended I use the Nutri-Cal (which is a high calorie food supplement that also stimulates the pup's appetite). It comes in a toothpaste type tube and is in a gel form. You can put a little on your finger and put in on the roof of the pup's mouth--but he/she will love the taste and eventually start licking it off your finger.

Question #3-- No. I thought so, but I believe I was wrong. I think maybe you can get a general idea of the size by the parents--but a breeder will be able to give you a for sure answer on this question. Take Care! Happy puppy hunting:)
Angel

It is good that you ask questions ! Yes, black pads can come in as late as one year and is only important if you have a show quality dog, right now it seems ,that is not what you are interested in. I would not worry about that at all ! Hypoclycimia however is the lack of proper feeding ie: twice a day etc., A young puppy especially a toy breed is very different from a big dog/puppy, they only nibble at their kibble and never eat a full meal therefore it is highly recommended that you leave plenty of fresh water and dry food out all day long, a young puppy in my opinion , should be fed at least twice a day dry kibble softened in addition to dry all day ! I use ProPlan chicken & rice puppy. Now, the size of the parents ! It is true, that you cannot rely on the parents size at all ! I have seen different sized babies from different sized parents and it would really surpise you sometimes ? No telling why that is , but i truely is ! Further more, keep in mind, that when you look at the mama dog, you will be looking at a brood bitch, which is normally bigger/sturdier anyway, bred to the proper male ( 3-4lbs) she will throw anywhere from 3-12 + lb puppies ! Hope this helps !
Olympia

Everyone I have checked with says black points can come in later. I have a new pup and am waiting to see what will happen with hers. If the breeder mentions a problem with Hypoglycemia, I would definitely look for another breeder. Hypoglycemia shouldn't be a concern as long as the pup has food with it at all times. Also, get Nutri-cal from your vet and supplement it with the food. I feed mine Eukanuba Small Breed food and give her the Nutri-cal a few times a day. My vet said to keep food with her always while she is young because they are so small that they tend to fill up fast and need fed more often than a larger breed puppy. A pup's size can depend on even up to three or four generations back. If a larger pup is a descendant three generations back but the parents are small, you could still end up with a larger dog. Be sure to check out not only the parents but also the grandparents and great-grandparents of the pup, especially if you want a specific size. Good luck finding a puppy!
Cindy

Karen, black foot pads can come in before or after 12 weeks of age or they all may never turn black, ever. All depends on the dog and there is no way that I am aware of to positively predict that.

Hypoglycemia can occur without warning when a Maltese puppy is placed in a new home, or while being shipped or it might appear after a puppy misses a meal or becomes exhausted from too much playing or digestive upset. These upsets place an added strain on the energy reserves of the liver and bring on symptoms IF the Maltese is susceptible. Hypoglycemia is a "disorder". A "condition" exists in which hypoglycemia is persistent vs. periodic.

On the weight issue. If size is that important to you, I would like to see the offspring of the same sire & dam from a previous litter. That would give you a MUCH better idea of what a your new pup might grow into more so than looking at the parents. Ask your breeder if he/she could give you a phone number of someone who has one from a prior litter that is an adult now and contact them. Good luck.
Jay

Karen, regarding hypoglycemia, both my boys had an "episode" shortly after I got them. Baxter must have missed a meal or something, I don't remember, but the main symptom is lethargy. Baxter just hadn't been his playful self all afternoon. I brought him into the kitchen and put him on his pillow and his little head just rolled to the side. I frantically called the breeder and she said to put some sugar on the tip of my finger and try to get him to lick it. Literally, within a minute he was bouncing around the kitchen. Unfortunately, sometimes more is better with me and I overdid the sugar. He was up for hours "rearranging" his crate when we were trying to get to sleep. With Rudy I was a little wiser, but Christmas at a relative's house was just too much stress for him with all the people and excitement. Again, I had to give the sugar treatment. Neither have had an episode since. A couple of hints: Before you subject your puppy to a stressful situation (vet visit, etc.) make sure he has a good meal. Leave dry food out all the time. Put 1/4 tsp karo syrup to 1/2 cup drinking water till they are six months old. Good luck.
Marie

Karen, a little girl was petting my 6 month old Puff as I held her the other day when she got this worried look on her face and told me my puppy's paws were sick. I looked at one of her pads and little girl pointed out that they were half pink and half black, she thought they were infected. I just smiled and told her that was normal and they would get all black eventually. She seemed relieved.

I never had trouble with low blood sugar, although the woman I got Puff from said she had to eat 4 times a day or she could go into shock. Puff eats when she is hungry and has never had any problem, I just keep her food out all the time.

I still dont know just how big my Puff will get, but I hope she doesnt get much bigger, I like her on the small side, she weighs between 4 and 5 pounds. Good Luck :)
Sandy and Puff