Caring for Unthrifty and Premature Shih Tzu Puppies

Your attitude at this time is very important. The manner in
which a Shih Tzu matron accepts or rejects her offspring is
often in direct response to your attitude or even the whelping
box site.

Normal Shih Tzu puppies are plump and firm at birth. They have
good muscle and skin tones. The skin on the abdomen, feet and
mouth is pink. If Shih Tzu puppies cry continuously or
constantly squirm and crawl, these are signs of infant distress.
Well-nourished, healthy Shih Tzu puppies are warm, quiet and
sleep most of the time. They yawn at awakening. Do not
excessively handle newborn Shih Tzu puppies. Do not allow others
to handle newborn Shih Tzu puppies. Only the breeder or
caretaker should handle newborn Shih Tzu puppies. Excessive
handling of more than one person increases the chance of
transmission of infections to the newborns.

Unthrifty Puppies

Unthrifty Shih Tzu puppies have poor muscle tone. Obvious signs
of discomfort are constant crying and initially high levels of
activity. Unthrifty Shih Tzu puppies appear thinner than
siblings and are limp to touch because of poor muscle and skin
tones. Unthrifty Shih Tzu puppies may feel cold to your touch or
cooler than their siblings. The skin over the abdomen, feet and
mouth interiors may appear reddish purple or paled when compared
to other siblings.

An unthrifty Shih Tzu puppy is usually incapable of sustained
nursing and readily loses nipple contact with the dam. They
become easily chilled. Such unthrifty Shih Tzu puppies may
respond positively to a few milliliters of raw liver juice fed
daily for their first few weeks. Supplementary tube or bottle
feeding for three or four days every four hours around the clock
may be necessary. If you notice a weak, unthrifty Shih Tzu
puppy, remove it from the litter and maintain it in the puppy
box. You can place the Shih Tzu puppy back on the dam at regular
intervals under your close supervision. This way the dam is able
to stay in touch with the weak unthrifty Shih Tzu puppy. She
will stimulate elimination, clean and nurture them at this time.
This regular periodic tactile time helps avoid failure-to-thrive
syndrome. Many weak and unthrifty Shih Tzu puppies can be
successfully saved.

Premature Puppies

The first 24 hours are critical to premature Shih Tzu puppies.
They must be maintained on an hourly schedule. The next 48 hours
requires an every 2 hour schedule around the clock. The
following 48 hours can be stretched to a 3-hour schedule around
the clock. By the fifth day, premature Shih Tzu puppies, can be
changed to 4-hour intervals. At one week, the night feedings
only can be set to a 6-hour schedule, resuming 4-hour intervals
during the day. This is a highly intense schedule for a breeder
or Shih Tzu puppy mid-wife. It must be maintained until the
premature Shih Tzu puppies are ready for their first semisolid
foods at about 13 days of age and after their eyes have opened.
Many premature Shih Tzu puppies can be saved on this routine.