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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.

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