| Hypoglycemia info |
| I don't think there is enough education out there about hypoglycemia so i chose to put this on my site. Maybe it will save a puppy somewhere! Teacup puppies require extra supervision, warmth and supplemental feedings! Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar is a common problem with toy breeds. Hypoglycemia is the medical term for low blood sugar, which is a condition in which there is a drastic sudden fall in the level of blood sugar in the puppy. Veterinarians unfamiliar with the toy breeds often mis-diagnose the condition as viral hepatitis or encephalitis. As a toy breed owner it is crucial 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. Many puppies are lost needlessly to Hypoglycemia because of the ignorance on the part of the owner or veterinarian! If your puppy is not eating, buyers MUST syringe Feed their new pups 3-4 times a day approximately 5 cc's per feeding, 15-20 cc's per day! Gerber's chicken baby food mixed with waffle syrup for the first 10-14 days and you will never have a sick pup! (1 cc of waffle syrup per small jar of chicken meat baby food). Draw the mixture of baby food and waffle syrup up into the syringe and dispense into the pup's mouth. Creamy peanut butter on the roof of the mouth a few times a day works wonders also! These puppies are very stressed from leaving the only home they know and their litter mates so they sometimes will not eat. The most important rule is always have fresh food and water available for your puppy at all times and be sure you actually see them eat! If your pup wont eat dry dog food, then cooked hamburger or chicken breast cut into tiny pieces is great! You can hand feed every 3 -4 hours during the day along with the mixture of waffle syrup and baby food. A high quality food is a must! Teacups must replenish their energy more frequently than larger pups! Hypoglycemia is a condition where the blood sugar levels drop to an extremely low level, usually due to lack of food, or by using up all stored energy without being replenished (playing, running for extended periods of time, shivering out of nervousness or being cold, stressed etc). Teacups are prone to this because they have such tiny digestive systems and can only store a little bit of food (energy) in their bodies at one time. THEY MUST EAT! It is always easier to PREVENT hypoglycemia than to treat it. Always make sure your teacup is eating every 3- 4 hours, even if only small amounts and even if you have to hand feed (force feed). Nutri-Cal is highly recommended to give 1-3 pea size globs 3-5 times a day especially first thing in the morning and last thing before bed! Symptoms of Hypoglycemia are: gums that are pale in places or light pink means the blood sugar levels are dropping! If the gums are white your pup needs immediate attention to avoid a Hypoglycemia coma! If they are white Griffins waffle syrup on the tongue 1cc every 15 minutes until gums return to the normal pink color (3 cc's maximum first hour). Another sign is vomiting on an empty stomach, (clear liquid or bile) or saliva (foamy at the mouth). Other signs are acting listless, walking unsteady, shakiness, falling over and in extreme cases laying on their side and unresponsive! This is extreme and you MUST use Karo corn syrup, honey, sugar water and/or Nutri-Cal to raise the blood sugar quickly or death will result! You should see improvement in about 10 minutes. If not repeat and give more syrup. If you see no signs of improvement and pup appears comatose rush to the nearest vet office for glucose by injection or I.V. to save the life. PREVENTING LOW BLOOD SUGAR IS THE BEST TREATMENT! Monitor gum color, body temperature (teacups under 3 lbs cannot properly maintain the correct temp. and frequently get chilled, especially if they haven’t had enough to eat. Feel the ears, if the ears are cold, the pup is cold. If you are not sure, put your finger in the mouth, it should be very warm, almost hot, if not warm the pup with a towel or blanket out of the clothes dryer or a heating pad! Teacups are not for everyone! They are best suited for someone who is home all day or can keep their pup with them the majority of the time and ABSOLUTELY NO SMALL CHILDREN OR LARGE DOG HOMES!! |
