Hypoglycemia In Puppies 

                     CAN BE DANGEROUS                                                                               

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Small dogs are often little bundles of energy, until they run out of steam and then they’re down for the count. Some little dogs can even be prone to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and hypoglycemia can be dangerous. It is not a disease but a potentially dangerous medical condition that you can prevent.  Yorkies and other toy breeds are particularly prone to canine hypoglycemia.

Transient Juvenile Hypoglycemia is common in toy dog breeds such as the Yorkshire Terrier, Pomeranian and Toy Poodle etc.  It can also occur in puppies 5 to 16 weeks of age.  Puppies bred for their tiny size are more predisposed to transient juvenile hypoglycemia in dogs because insufficient muscle mass makes it difficult for the body to store glucose and regulate blood sugar properly.  For this reason, Yorkies and other small dogs should be fed a high quality diet several times a day.

Transient Juvenile Hypoglycemia in Yorkies is often caused by not eating.  Generally, hypoglycemia can occur after just eight hours of not eating.  For small puppies and toy breeds, it can occur in less time. If your Yorkie puppy does not eat for a long period of time, a hypoglycemic attack is likely to happen.  Make sure your pet is eating in regular intervals.

Puppies might not eat, but it is never intentional. There can be many reasons why your Yorkie or Designer puppy may not be eating, including

·         1) Activity and Play –  I know how it is when you get a new yorkie or Designer puppy and you just want to play. If a puppy is more captivated with playing than eating then he may not be getting the rest and nourishment he needs.  Every couple of hours, take away his toys and be sure he gets some food and rest.  Avoid over-handling young puppy, this is real important when first taking a puppy to his new home. Over handling your new yorkie puppy and not allowing them to get enough rest can cause problems with low blood sugar. Please keep in mind that they are babies and need lots of sleep.

·         2) Changing your yorkies food can cause diarrhea, resulting in hypoglycemia. It is best to slowly mix in a new food with the older food .

•       3) Stress of moving to a new home. Please pay very close attention to your new yorkie or Designer puppy when you take them home. It is quite a transition for them. They have just left their mother and litter mates. Most of the time they will be fine, but some will become stressed and stop eating.  Traveling too much, change of home environment, a thunderstorm, etc. are all things that add stress to your puppy and in turn he may not want to eat.

·         4) Exposure to lower temperatures for longer periods of time can cause hypoglycemia in your new Yorkie or Designer Puppy and dogs.  A Yorkie’s body will adjust its body temperature to compensate and this can lead to a change in metabolism. All of which leads to hypoglycemia.  Keep your Yorkie in areas where it stays around 70 to 74 degrees.

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When it comes to hypoglycemia in Yorkies and Designers, it is best to avoid an attack in the first place. But If your Yorkie shows symptoms of hypoglycemia, treat it immediately before the condition gets worse. A  puppy experiencing hypoglycemia is very scary.

                         Symptoms of Hypoglycemia in Dogs

If your Yorkie suffers from hypoglycemia you will be able to tell at once.  Early signs of hypoglycemia in dogs include weakness, confusion, frothing or drooling, and wobbly gait.  The puppy may be shivering and trembling, and the body temperature will drop. The gums and tongue will appear pale and grayish white rather than a healthy pink.

As the condition progresses the Yorkie may appear limp and lifeless.  His eyes may become unfocused and unresponsive.  If not cared for properly and promptly, Yorkie puppies can go into a coma or convulsions.

Buying a supplement such as NutriCal or NutriStat is the easiest way to do this.  If you do not have any supplement on hand, use something that has sugar in it to restore your puppies blood sugar.

 Use maple syrup, honey or Karo syrup to treat your Yorkie’s hypoglycemia.  Place the supplement or sugar on the tongue and gums.  Make sure your puppy stays warm.  If necessary, wrap your puppy in a blanket.

A hypoglycemic puppy will usually get better fast when given sugar.  If for some reason your Yorkie does not get well within a couple of minutes, take the puppy to see the veterinarian right away.

      Tips for Preventing Hypoglycemia in Yorkie or Designer Puppy

Nutri-cal or Nutri-stat paste is wonderful for preventing hypoglycemia. I recommend using 2 times a day, especially first thing in the morning, after playtime or before bed. Just squeeze about 1/2 of an inch of paste on your finger and rub on the roof of your yorkies mouth. Nutri-cal and Nutri-stat can be found at Petco or Wal-Mart, pets Mart for about $8. Its also nice to have on hand when your older Yorkie just may not be feeling well and just not eating as well as you would like.

Put a few Honey Nut Cheerios in your Yorkie or Designer puppies’ food bowl. The sugar on the cereal helps keep their sugar level up. Also add a few mini marshmallows to their food! I also like to give Honey Nut Cheerios and mini marshmallows while training.

For the first few days that you have your puppy you may think about putting just a little sugar in the water bowl. Don’t do this for ever but it can be helpful for the first few days.

Feed your Yorkie or Designer puppy a palatable meal. If your puppy doesn't like their food, they are less likely to eat it.