What is Hypoglycemia?
It is low blood sugar,
a sudden drop in the level of blood sugar in a yorkshire terrier puppy. It can occur in many small breeds from the weaning
stage until around 4 months of age. Signs of Hypoglycemia are a weakness, confusion, wobbly gait, drooling from the mouth
and sometimes seizure. The gums will be pale, almost a grayish white in color rather than a healthy bright pink. The puppy
can go into shock and, if not cared for properly and promptly, may even die. A puppy can be playing one second and in another
can experience Hypoglycemia.
What causes a puppy to
experience Hypoglycemia?
Yorkie puppies do not eat
a lot at one time and can run out of fuel. Being chilled, being handled to much, not getting naps and being stressed are some
of the reasons for Hypoglycemia. Yorkie puppies can have reoccuring attacks of Hypoglycemia. Yorkie puppies MUST be feed several
times a day. One can not put food down for the yorkie puppy and walk away. The yorkie puppys food intake must be monitored
to make sure it is eating each time it is fed.
More about Hypoglycemia....
Hypoglycemia, low blood
sugar, is a disorder that occurs mainly in small breed puppies between six and twelve weeks of age.
It is often precipitated
by stress and can occur without warning. It might appear after the puppy misses a meal, chills, becomes exhausted from
playing, or has a digestive upset. These upsets place an added strain on it's energy reserves and bring on the symptoms.
Hypoglycemia is
a real threat to these tiny puppies, watch for your puppy to become tired or droopy. The first signs are those of listlessness
and depression. They are followed by muscular weakness, tremors, and later convulsions, coma and even death. The
puppy may appear depressed or may be weak, wobbly and jerky, or the puppy may be found in a coma.
If your puppy has
any symptoms of hypoglycemia you must act fast. If the puppy is awake, give it Nurtical, honey, or Karo syrup by mouth.
first rub karo syrup on the gums (or something very sugary). You should see signs of improvement in thirty minutes.
If no improvement, then call your veterinarian at once.
Prevent Hypoglycemia
from happening by allowing only twenty minutes of play at a time, followed by rest or sleep. Do not allow the puppy
to overtire at first. Supervise closely with children to make sure puppy is getting enough rest. Keep puppy warm,
don't let it become chilled.
Prevent attacks by feeding
a high quality diet. See that puppy eats at least every couple of hours.. More often if
he is very small. Keep dry food and water available at all times. You can give 1/2 teaspoon of Nutrical
morning and night for the first couple of days to help prevent the low blood sugar that can come with the excitement and stress
of going to a new home.