Hypoglycemia Disclosure
Low blood sugar is the single biggest risk for a tiny Yorkie puppy. It is preventable with good care and feeding — please read this carefully.
Hypoglycemia — low blood sugar — is a disorder that occurs mainly in small-breed puppies between six and twelve weeks of age. It is often precipitated by stress and can occur without warning if the puppy is susceptible. It might appear after the puppy misses a meal, chills, becomes exhausted from playing, or has a digestive upset. These upsets place an added strain on the puppy’s energy reserves and bring on the symptoms.
Watch for these signs
Hypoglycemia is a real threat to tiny puppies. Watch for your puppy to become tired or droopy. The first signs are listlessness and depression. They are followed by muscular weakness, tremors, and later convulsions, coma, and even death. The puppy may appear depressed; may be weak, wobbly, or jerky; or may be found in a coma.
How to prevent it
Allow only twenty minutes of play at a time, followed by rest or sleep. Do not allow the puppy to overtire at first. Supervise closely with children to make sure puppy is getting enough rest. Keep puppy warm — do not let it become chilled. Your puppy is a house dog and should not be living outdoors. He or she has been living with the room temperature between 70 and 80 degrees.
Feeding to prevent attacks
Prevent attacks by feeding a high-quality kibble diet. We use and recommend Life’s Abundance Puppy Food. See that the puppy eats at least every six hours — more often if he or she is very small. Keep dry food and water available at all times. If your puppy does not eat, you can mix a little canned appetite stimulator from Royal Canin to encourage it to eat.
You can give ½ teaspoon of Nutri-Cal in the morning and at night for the first couple of days to help prevent the low blood sugar that can come with the excitement and stress of going to a new home.