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Hypoglycemia is a
disorder of the central nervous system caused by low blood sugar. It
occurs mostly in toy breeds but can occur in larger breeds as well.
Hypoglycemia can occur without warning when a puppy goes to a new
home, misses a meal, becomes chilled or overtired from too much
handling or playing. Signs are depression, weakness, being wobbly or
jerky (the head appears to be tilted to either side and the neck
appears stiff and the body may soon appear the same way and teeth
may be clamped tightly), convulsions, seizures or coma which can
result in death. The gums will appear white or gray instead of pink.
All though you may want to show your puppy off to everyone you know,
remember it is only a puppy and needs its rest too.
TREATMENT:
The blood levels of glucose must be restored IMMEDIATELY! DO
NOT HESITATE. YOUR PUPPY'S LIFE IS AT RISK If the puppy is
conscious, give it a little karo syrup (light) under its tongue, or
rub it on its gums. Do not pour excessive amounts into the mouth of
the puppy as the puppy could easily choke or aspirate liquid into
its lungs. You can pour karo syrup into warm water and dissolve it
and put it in puppy's mouth with an eye dropper or syringe. If you
don't have karo syrup on hand then use sugar and dissolve in water
and administer with eye dropper or syringe. Honey also works well if
you have that on hand. Nutri-cal is a excellent supplement that
should be given to a puppy for stress and will help prevent a
hypoglycemic attack. If you have that on hand (your vet and most pet
supply stores carry it) then give the puppy some either by
dissolving it in water or rubbing directly on the gums. If the puppy
will still lick, it may lick it off your finger or from the tube.
Just remember that if you have to take the puppy to the vet, that a
blood count will be higher due to the administering of a glucose.
Don't be fooled with the numbers, the puppy is still under extreme
stress and needs to be kept calm, warm and fed several small meals
to stabilize the puppy, plus given karo or some other source of
glucose/dextrose until the puppy is completely back on its feet.
Your vet may have to administer dextrose intravenously in order to
save your puppy's life. Do not waste any time if you feel your puppy
has any symptoms of hypoglycemia. You can loose a puppy, and it is
totally unnecessary if the puppy is given any of the suggestions
above. Remember this is a baby and needs to be treated as such.
PREVENTION:
Feed your puppy several small meals a day. Use a high quality food.
The breeder you bought your puppy from should have suggested some
food choices or given you what the puppy was eating when you got it.
The puppy should have a dry kibble available to it at all
times, and given a moist food at least 3 to 4 times a day so you can
monitor what the puppy is eating. Yorkies are small dogs and will
not eat like a large breed puppy but you should see the puppy eat
enough that you know it has eaten what it can. Yorkies have a habit
of picking at the kibble so it is essential that a moist food be fed
until you know that the puppy is not under any immediate stress and
can sustain on only a kibble. It doesn't hurt to give your adult an
occasional can or cooked chicken etc. You have to watch your dogs
coat and weight and teeth. |
