Hypoglycemia
** New Chihuahua Owners Need To Read! **
Because Chihuahuas are so small they can be prone to hypoglycemia. Many people find these tiny babies impossible to resist. But they are very tiny dogs and do have special care requirements to keep them active and healthy. If you are the proud owner of a Chihuahua puppy it is very important you are aware of Hypoglycemia.
Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is not a disease. It is a syndrome caused by tiny, active dogs being too playful, getting too excited to eat properly, losing their appetites with all the excitement of a new home or just the stress of changing their environment. Many times your new puppy will bounce and play until they are completely worn out! What happens in a case like this is that the puppy’s body uses up all the available sugar in its bloodstream for energy and has no reserve to draw on like an older puppy would. As that occurs, the puppy loses it’s appetite, making the problem worse, as he does not eat to replenish it’s energy needs. A puppy in the throes of low blood sugar may do one or more of the following:
Act droopy, stagger, look glassy-eyes, tremble, appear weak or even be unable to hold its head up. At this point it is important to get nourishment into your puppy immediately, You can use moistened puppy food, canned puppy food, honey or karo syrup in water. Nutrical is made specifically for this purpose and is easy to administer. You should consider having a tube handy at all times. Putting the nutrical directly into the puppy’s mouth (under it's tongue works well). * Call your veterinarian...
It is very important to monitor your new puppy and make sure it eats every few hours.
Hypoglycemia that goes undetected will cause the puppy to become very weak and even pass out. To prevent this, keep a tube of nutrical handy and give your new puppy some a couple of times a day, especially after exciting playtime when needed. With a little extra care, these new babies do just fine and are the spunky little dogs you’ve always wanted. It is hard to hold the breeders responsible for hypoglycemia when they aren’t there. While hypoglycemia could be a potential problem to any puppy, given the proper circumstances, it can be easily treated. One good idea is to make sure your dog eats just prior to his being out of your sight for any extended period of time. You must make sure to leave some food available so the dog can eat while you’re away. Some Chihuahuas are nibblers who eat very slowly and some are down right finicky so take that into account and leave him with nutrition that is tempting enough that he will eat something while you are away from him.
**This information is not intended to replace the advice of your veterinarian. If you suspect
your puppy has become hypoglycemic, You should seek medical attention immediately.
See that the puppy eats and drinks regularly and get plenty of rest. Don't assume that he is eating or drinking. I t is your responsibility to make sure your puppy eats and drinks.
Just in case your puppy gets stressed you should have a can of (Mighty Dog Gourmet Meal). I also like to give them 1-2 table spoons full of can food or chicken baby food before putting them up for the night, and first thing in the morning. As these are the times that they are most likely to get hypoglycemic. I also give them 1 CC of Netri-Cal before bed and first thing in the morning.
You Must monitor Food & Water intake to prevent Hypoglycemia!
All that said... Enjoy your new puppy.
Hypoglycemia
