Help Tiny puppy

[StacyT]

I have been offered a tiny boxer puppy he is 16 weeks but is smaller than most puppies at 8 weeks.There were 4 puppies in his litter one of which had a heart murmur.He has not been diagnosed with anything yet just that he is very small which to mee seems that it could be his heart.
Has anyone else come across a puppy who seems 100% normal but isnt growing.I dont want to set my family up for heartbreak but I am willing to take on a special needs puppy.
Stacy

 

[ELubas]

Hi. Is he just smaller than his littermates or actually not growing? Makes a big difference... He could be very healthy and just be on the small side but if he is not growing that is more of a concern

 

[BxrMommieNAZ]

I agree with the above. A failure to thrive type of case is very serious and IMO more than just "special needs" but if he's just smaller than his littermates he could just be the "runt of the litter" so to speak.

Has this puppy been to a vet and checked out with some bloodwork and had a professional medical doctor's opinion on if he is healthy or not? I would find a very good vet and take him prior to taking on any commitment and have a full blood panel workup done as well as an examination to see what your vet thinks.

Good luck.

 

[StacyT]

He is growing just super super slow. I talked with my vet and he said he could just be super tiny or it could be a liver or heart problem.He said if it is the heart he could live till 5 years old liver would be another story.He also said it could be worms or a vitamin deficiency.So I am waiting to hear back from the breeder to ask more questions.I just didnt know if anyone had experienced a 16 week old pup that was the size of a normal 8 week old.
Stacy

 

[gmacleod]

Is it absolutely certain that the puppy is 16 weeks old? And have you seen his larger littermates?

I ask that because yes, there have been occassional threads about small puppies on the forums in the past. But in a few cases, it has turned out later that the puppy wasn't so unusually small, but rather a great deal younger than the new owners were told. Since I have no idea where/from whom this pup is coming, it seems a reasonable question to ask

 

[BxrMommieNAZ]

I would also like to say I would absolutely NOT pay money for this pup.

 

[StacyT]

Ohh he is not charging me for the puppy he would just give him too me.I have not seen the littermates but the breeder also shows his dogs and said this male is half the size of the smallest female in the litter at this age.The vet said he has seen some breeds pick up on size later some due a vitamin deficiency or even worms.This puppy has had all shots and wormings.I am waiting to hear if he is vomiting at all cause my vet said that would be signs of a liver problem if it is often enough.Stacy

 

[gmacleod]

OK Well, that sounds a lot less like its some BYB trying to pass off an underage puppy (it does happen).

If he seems otherwise healthy and your vet has no great concerns about him, then I would accept that at face value. There is a difference between "small" and "runt" - the latter being sickly. Simply being small, with no other signs of health problems, should not cause you great concern and he may very well catch up as he ages.

 

[paulws]

Bellas was just over 11 weeks when we got her and she was 6 pounds. Could actually walk under my Toy Rat Terriers. She grew slowly and steadily and is now 4 and weighs 48 pounds. I think she was about 27 pounds at 7 months. She is petite but all boxer.

 

[StacyT]

Wellafter thinking about it long and heard and talking with the breeder some more I decided to pass on the puppy.There was another one in the litter that had a heart murmur and this one had a bout where it walked like on its front elbows for 2 days. It worried me that the breeder didnt take him to the vet and he had another person who was willing to give him a good home.We did find a lil girl that we are getting next week with a nice health guarantee I think that is a better route for us.
Stacy