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Brenda & Russell

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Updated 05/28/2005.

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HYPOGLYCEMIA AND YORKIE PUPS

WE ARE NOT Veterinarians and we can only suggest what has worked for us. Please review with your Veterinarian any of the items below and follow what your Veterinarian recommends

Hypoglycemia (sometimes called sugar shock, low blood sugar, sugar down) is a condition where the blood sugar level drops to an extremely low level, usually due to lack of food, or by using up all stored energy without it being replenished (playing/running for extended periods of time, shivering out of nervousness or being chilled, stress, etc...).

Without eating to replenish their energy small puppies can end up with hypoglycemia. The smaller sized puppies 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.

It is always easier to PREVENT hypoglycemia than treat it. Always make sure your Yorkie is eating every 3-4 hours, even if only a small amount, and even if you have to hand feed him/her. Just having food available is not always good enough.

Nutra-cal ( a low volume paste vitamin/mineral supplement for show, working, or dogs under stress) is highly recommended to feed 1-3 pea size globs 3-5 times a day, especially first thing in the morning and last thing before bedtime.

When your Yorkie is handled a lot by other people or has a rousing/energetic time of play, then give some nutra-cal in the middle of play time or at the end of playtime before they lay down to take a nap.

When your Yorkie matures out he/she may not need nutra-cal supplements and should be able to go 3-5 hours without eating if they are not having a super active day.

For the Yorkie pup on the go, keep the nutri cal with you in the car or your purse so that you may give it to him/her as needed.

Symptoms of Hypoglycemia:

Your puppy may exhibit one or more of these signs.

1. Gums of a normal puppy will be bright reddish/pink just like human gums. Gums that are PALE in places or LIGHT PINK may mean the blood sugar levels are dropping. Gums that are WHITE, your Yorkie needs quick attention to avoid a hypoglycemic coma.

When the gums are PALE PINK OR PINK IN SPOTS you may give Nutra-cal (5-6 pea sized globs) this should work to restore blood sugar levels quickly. A puppy that will eat dry puppy food with these symptoms should be allowed to, but you should at least give a couple pea sized globs of nutra-cal first to restore blood sugar levels quickly. If you do not have nutri cal you may use about 5 to 8 drops of honey on the pups tongue will bring them around in about 10 minutes.

2. Another sign that may be seen, is vomiting a clear or a greenish (bile) liquid on an empty stomach or foamy appearing saliva from the mouth. These symptoms are usually evident when you Yorkie has not eaten in awhile, you should give them food or nutra-cal immediately.

3. More signs are: acting listless and tired, sometimes walking with an unsteady walk as if drunk, shakiness, falling over, and in extreme cases even laying on their sides and being totally unresponsive. This is an emergency and if the puppy is not given a quick form of nutrition (by prying their mouth open) like honey or nutra-cal to raise the blood sugar quickly, coma and death will result.

After giving a form of sugar (for severe cases I recommend light karo syrup, for preventative and mild cases I recommend nutra-cal) you should see improvement and your Yorkie will be more alert in approximately 10 minutes if no improvement is seen repeat.

When your pup perks up and feels a little better give him/her a protein based meal (meat canned dog food or meat baby food) so the Yorkies blood sugar will level out.

EMERGENCY SITUATION TAKE PUPPY TO VETERINARIAN IMMEDIATELY: If you see NO SIGNS of IMPROVEMENT or RESPONSIVENESS and your YORKIE appears comatose RUSH to the NEAREST VETERINARIAN office for glucose by injection or I.V. to save it's life.