Hypoglycemia

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Hypoglycemia: Also known as low blood sugar can be a possible problem with all Toy Breed Puppies Veterinarians often mis-diagnose the condition as a viral hepatitis or encephalitis. As a Toy Breeder or pet owner, it is important to recognize the symptoms of hypoglycemia and know how to treat it. Hypoglycemia is easily treatable in the early stages, but fatal if allowed to progress. The smaller the puppy the higher the risk. It can generally happen when the dog is under stress, food change, medication change, shots or wormer is given. It happens when the dog is tired of exhaustion induced from playing, not eating right, traveling and/or flying. Many puppies are lost needlessly to it because of ignorance on the part of their owner or veterinarian.

The first sign of hypoglycemia is the puppy slowing down and then acting listless. The puppy will then begin to tremble or shiver. This is the reaction caused as the brain is starved for glucose. The trembling is followed by a blank stare and the puppy lying on his/her side. The puppy may also experience convulsions. After a time, the puppy will become comatose. His/her body will be limp, lifeless, and the tongue and gums will be a grayish/blue color. The body temperature will be subnormal. The puppy may even appear to be dead

Symptoms Can Be:

• Tired or lethargic
• Excessive drooling
• Listlessness
• Weakness
• Depression
• Change in sleep habits
• Change in eating habits

Followed by:

• Muscle weakness
• Tremors
• Convulsions
• Wobbly/jerky
• Coma

If caught in the early stages, treatment is simple. Rub Nutri-Cal (Caro syrup will do if you don't have access to Nutri-Cal) on the pups gums, under the tongue, and on the roof of the mouth. (DO NOT USE HONEY) Get a heating blanket and slowly warm the puppy to proper body temperature (between 101 and 102 with thermometer in the rectum). Feed a quality of canned food right away (Mix a egg yolk with it) and continuously, be sure that the condition does not recur. Be sure to eliminate the stress that caused the episode if at all possible. You must always keep the puppy warm at all times. Do not over heat or dehydration will occur. In sever cases you may have to force feed for a time and give Pedialyte with a dropper. As your puppy starts to show improvement he/she well begin to eat on his/her own and then you can gradually phase back in his/her regular food.

Tiny dogs often do not have the fat reserves to supply adequate glucose in time of stress. When they over play or go to they're  new home, even when they don't eat regularly. Hypoglycemia most often occurs most often when puppy as not eaten for several hours. This is not always the case. A puppy can even eat recently and still show signs of Hypoglycemia if his/her system is stressed and the food has not yet been digested and assimilated. It is VERY IMPRTANT to FREE FEED Pom puppies a high quality food. Pomeranian puppies simply have too high of a energy level to be restricted to scheduled feedings. A small pup can go Hypoglycemia by going without food for as little as 2 to 3 hours. Most however do fine if switched to scheduled feedings in they're adulthood, they still must have access to food and water at all times when they are puppies. If you like to give your puppy canned food, you may schedule the feeding of the canned food, but allow access to kibble at all times.