Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is a health problem that affects many toy
breeds of puppies between 5 and 16 weeks of age, especially extremely small
dogs such as the Maltese and all owners must be on the lookout for it.
Hypoglycemia is recognized by a healthy puppy suddenly becoming weak,
listless, depressed, unaware of its surroundings, and even unable to stand or
walk. Advanced states include hypoglycemic seizures before lapsing into a
coma, which is sometimes followed by death.
If your puppy becomes hypoglycemic,
it is very important that you react
IMMEDIATELY!!!
Give the puppy Nutri-Cal, honey, or Karo syrup to elevate the blood glucose in
your puppy. If you do not have any of the following a last resort would be to
dilute 1 teaspoon of sugar with water to form a sugary paste. Administer the
honey or syrup with an eyedropper or if the puppy is too weak to take it, put
it on your finger and rub it on the roof of its mouth. If necessary, pry its
mouth open. Regardless of how you do it, make the puppy take the Nutri-Cal,
honey, syrup or sugar paste. ITS LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!!!
Nutri-Cal, which is available at your veterinary office or online is a fast acting,
high calorie supplement and may be given off of your finger.
Keep the puppy warm at all times and rub the puppy very easy, moving the
head from side to side slowly rotating it. Also move the legs so that the puppy
will not get stiff.
It may be necessary to give the puppy a couple of doses of honey or Nutri-Cal
to bring it back. If the puppy does not respond, CONTACT YOUR VET
IMMEDIATELY!!!
Hypoglycemia can occur without warning if a puppy is placed in a new home,
misses a meal or is otherwise stressed. You must remember that puppies
eat very small amounts, yet they exert large amounts of energy.
You should leave food and fresh water down for your puppy at ALL times. The
trick to avoiding Hypoglycemia is to make sure that your puppy eats very
well. DO NOT CHANGE THE PUPPIES FOOD FOR THE FIRST FEW
WEEKS. If you wish to change food later, do so gradually, after the puppy has
adjusted to its new home and life.
A puppy will play until it drops. It may play so much that it is too tired to eat.
It is up to YOU as its new owner to be responsible.
Very small puppies must sleep about 20 out of 24 hours. Please be very
careful not to over-tire your new puppy, especially for the first few weeks. We
recommend that you try to make the first few days together with your puppy
as calm as possible, and remember that this is a very traumatic time for your
puppy. Please resist the urge to take your new puppy to visit friends and
relatives during this period. Make this a special time to get to know your
puppy, and for your puppy to get to know its new home.
Remember if there is a problem with Hypoglycemia, it will usually happen
during the first few weeks while the puppy is adjusting, and the puppy
will out-grow this as it becomes adjusted.
breeds of puppies between 5 and 16 weeks of age, especially extremely small
dogs such as the Maltese and all owners must be on the lookout for it.
Hypoglycemia is recognized by a healthy puppy suddenly becoming weak,
listless, depressed, unaware of its surroundings, and even unable to stand or
walk. Advanced states include hypoglycemic seizures before lapsing into a
coma, which is sometimes followed by death.
If your puppy becomes hypoglycemic,
it is very important that you react
IMMEDIATELY!!!
Give the puppy Nutri-Cal, honey, or Karo syrup to elevate the blood glucose in
your puppy. If you do not have any of the following a last resort would be to
dilute 1 teaspoon of sugar with water to form a sugary paste. Administer the
honey or syrup with an eyedropper or if the puppy is too weak to take it, put
it on your finger and rub it on the roof of its mouth. If necessary, pry its
mouth open. Regardless of how you do it, make the puppy take the Nutri-Cal,
honey, syrup or sugar paste. ITS LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!!!
Nutri-Cal, which is available at your veterinary office or online is a fast acting,
high calorie supplement and may be given off of your finger.
Keep the puppy warm at all times and rub the puppy very easy, moving the
head from side to side slowly rotating it. Also move the legs so that the puppy
will not get stiff.
It may be necessary to give the puppy a couple of doses of honey or Nutri-Cal
to bring it back. If the puppy does not respond, CONTACT YOUR VET
IMMEDIATELY!!!
Hypoglycemia can occur without warning if a puppy is placed in a new home,
misses a meal or is otherwise stressed. You must remember that puppies
eat very small amounts, yet they exert large amounts of energy.
You should leave food and fresh water down for your puppy at ALL times. The
trick to avoiding Hypoglycemia is to make sure that your puppy eats very
well. DO NOT CHANGE THE PUPPIES FOOD FOR THE FIRST FEW
WEEKS. If you wish to change food later, do so gradually, after the puppy has
adjusted to its new home and life.
A puppy will play until it drops. It may play so much that it is too tired to eat.
It is up to YOU as its new owner to be responsible.
Very small puppies must sleep about 20 out of 24 hours. Please be very
careful not to over-tire your new puppy, especially for the first few weeks. We
recommend that you try to make the first few days together with your puppy
as calm as possible, and remember that this is a very traumatic time for your
puppy. Please resist the urge to take your new puppy to visit friends and
relatives during this period. Make this a special time to get to know your
puppy, and for your puppy to get to know its new home.
Remember if there is a problem with Hypoglycemia, it will usually happen
during the first few weeks while the puppy is adjusting, and the puppy
will out-grow this as it becomes adjusted.