Learn to Recognize the Warning Signs of an Impending Low Blood Sugar Episode...
The occurrence and severity of early warning signs of hypoglycemia depend on how low the blood sugar level has already dropped and how far along the puppy is into a low blood sugar episode.
The following hypoglycemic symptoms are listed in order of progression - the further down on this list your pup's symptoms are, the more urgent the situation and the more intense and decisive the care response needs to be.
Again - once your pup begins showing any of the first signs, you need to take action asap! No more playing for the puppy or allowing the pup to stay on its feet or outside the playpen! No waiting until later - immediate action can head off the worst possible scenarios, and prevent the worst of damages!
Break out the Nutrical or Dyne, and as soon as possible [like as in right away!] get some food into your puppy!
The following hypoglycemic symptoms are listed in order of progression - the further down on this list your pup's symptoms are, the more urgent the situation and the more intense and decisive the care response needs to be.
Again - once your pup begins showing any of the first signs, you need to take action asap! No more playing for the puppy or allowing the pup to stay on its feet or outside the playpen! No waiting until later - immediate action can head off the worst possible scenarios, and prevent the worst of damages!
Break out the Nutrical or Dyne, and as soon as possible [like as in right away!] get some food into your puppy!
Mild Symptoms:
- lethargy and mild signs of general disinterest
- burrowing under bedding or into you and whimpering
- head tilting, weakness and wobbling or unbalanced walking or stumbling about
- refusal to eat, or being overhungry, falling into the bowl but not being able to properly eat or chew, dry food may be falling out of the pups mouth, tongue getting in the way etc
- restlessness, feeble [or sometimes very strong] struggling against being held, and not wanting to be touched or being comforted
What to do? Feed canned food, offer lots of Dyne or Nutristat. Absolute Bedrest for the Puppy! Even if it bounces back and recovers within 15-30 minutes and acts mostly normal - it must stay in the playpen, or cuddled up to you and rest and sleep. Keep it warm. Wrap it in a blanket if it feels chilly or cold or if the room temperature is cool or cold. Body core temp needs to go up, it needs calories, and it cannot use the calories it just took in with food and calorie supplements by keeping warm, shivering, playing or walking around some more!!! It needs quiet rest time for the remainder of the day or the next 24 hrs minimum! Be sure to continue to entice it to eat frequent meals, give lots of water, and offer all the canned food it wants. Continue to give Nutrical or Dyne several times throughout the day and give it a large dab before you put it to sleep over night.
Intermediate Symptoms:
- whimpering, high pitched moaning or whining
- excessive drooling, "slimigating" or making spit bubbles
- not being able to hold up the head, sitting or staying upright and no longer being able to walk
- shivering and uncontrollable trembling
What to do? Same as above under Mild Symptoms - however more observation, more hand-feeding, babying and longer rest periods [24-48 hrs] are needed. If your puppy is not able to eat canned food by itself, you need to open a jar of meat baby food and syringe feed it along with Nutrical or Dyne. I would recommend to buy 1-2 jars of chicken, ham or turkey to have on hand and in storage whether you think you need it or not, so it is readily available in case of an emergency!
If this is a repeat episode or your pup has had several low blood sugar episodes over the last 24-48 hours, go see a vet today! Chances is it is dehydrated as well and needs fluids and possible veterinarian intervention.
Please Note: If you feel that you have done everything right - pup is eating well, no excessive exercise, play times or puppy stress and your pup is experiencing repeat episodes - you need to see a vet. There may be other underlying factors such as ongoing dehydration, malnourishment or poor nutrition, or internal parasites or worse such as exposure to a contageous puppy disease, an infection or terrible cold/congestion going on. Do not play around with teacup puppies' health - they do not have the reserves to withstand experimenting if you do not know what you are doing, and even a 12 hr delay while you wait to see how the pup is doing the next day, or until after work - can be too late!
Severe Symptoms:
10 wk old Applehead Teacup Chihuahua during an intermediate hypoglycemic episode.
- disorientation and stupor - the pup is limp and non-responsive
- terrible moaning and groaning
- convulsions or seizures
- coma or unconsciousness
- death
What to do??? If your pup experiences any of the above symptoms, try to syringe some Nutrical into him asap - 3-6 cc's - however much you can get into the pup. YOU MUST SEE A VET! THERE ARE NO IF'S, BUT' OR WHEN'S - and don't let the vet tell you they don't have time for you. Time is of the Essence here. If your vet is routinely busy and cannot accomodate a squeeze in appointment, I would simply drive there and walk in and call them from the car, when you are a few minutes away. Go make the time to interview and find another vet if yours in too busy or inflexible and cannot accommodate your pup - hypoglycemia can be is a life and death situation and a severe episode will cost you a pretty bundle at the vet, if the pup makes it!
For your puppy's sake - most pups do not have severe hypoglycemic episodes out of the blue - you have missed the earlier warning signs, or in case or repeat episodes - you have not modified the activity level, rest times and food intake for your teacup puppy! If your pup survives a severe episode without any major brain or liver damage, you must reconsider and change your approach on how you are keeping and maintaining this puppy! Once a pup has had an intermediate or severe episode - it is more prone to repeat episodes, as with each occurrence its system gets weaker and weaker and additional internal and brain damage occurs.
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This website is chockful with loads of free teacup + tiny puppy care information! Please take the time to look over the entire site,preferable before you experience troubles - you will find countless pointers and suggestions on how to better keep and maintain your tiny puppy, and how to head off trouble before it becomes serious.
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Personal Consultations and Evaluations are available upon Request. Click here for more information and details.