Hypoglycemia Care Sheet (please feel free to print)
Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is a health problem that affects many toy breeds of puppies
between 5 and 16 weeks of age, especially but not always extremely tiny dog. Hypoglycemia is
recognized by a healthy puppy suddenly becoming weak, listless, depressed, unaware of its
surroundings, and even unable to stand or walk. Advanced stages include seizures before
lapsing into a coma, which is sometimes followed by death. If your puppy becomes hypoglycemic,
it is very important that you react IMMEDIATELY!!! Give the puppy Nutri-cal, honey or Karo
syrup. Administer the honey or syrup with an eyedropper or if the puppy is too weak to take it,
put it on your finger and rub it on the roof of its mouth. ITS LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!!!
Nutri-cal is a fast acting high calorie supplement and may be given off of your finger. Keep the
puppy warm at all times and rub the puppy very easy, moving the head from side to side slowly
rotating it, also move the arms and legs so the puppy will not get stiff. It may be necessary to
give the puppy a couple of doses. If the puppy does not respond with in 3 to 5 min., GET IT TO
A VET IMMEDIATELY! Hypoglycemia can occur without warning if a puppy is placed in a new
home, misses a meal or is otherwise stressed. You must remember that puppies eat very small
amounts, yet they exert large amounts of energy. Your puppy should eat 3 times a day. DO NOT
CHANGE THE FOOD FOR THE FIRST FEW WEEKS. If you wish to change food later do so
gradually, after the puppy has adjusted to its new home and life. Remember that if there is a
problem with Hypoglycemia, it will usually happen during the first few weeks while the puppy is
adjusting, and that puppy will out-grow this as it becomes adjusted.
Stages of Hypoglycemia:
FIRST STAGE: Possible Signs are:
Not playful
Refuses to eat
PALE GUMS
LETHARGY*
Eyes look unusual
(stumbling, falling, staggering)
SECOND STAGE:
(Critical, seek Vet care)
Body becomes Limp
Puppy can no lift his head easliy
THIRD STAGE:
He becomes completely limp, the head may tilt backward and become stiff
Slow Heartbeat
Body Temp Drops
Mouth is stiff and gums become white
4) We recommend that you not leave your puppy alone for the first 48 hours so that you can
monitor his food and water intake this will combat any dehydration or hypoglycemia, after the
first 24 continue monitoring food and water intake... We also recommend giving your new
puppy at least 1 to 2 tbs. of can puppy food & 3 cc of Nutri-cal before bed and first thing in the
morning as this would be the times they would most likely stress. You may even want to put
some sugar in their water. Most important if he is not eating find something he will eat. Baby
food chicken, boiled chicken, can dog food. In some cases you may have to force feed them.
Please call your vet if this is the case and then your breeder.
Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is a health problem that affects many toy breeds of puppies
between 5 and 16 weeks of age, especially but not always extremely tiny dog. Hypoglycemia is
recognized by a healthy puppy suddenly becoming weak, listless, depressed, unaware of its
surroundings, and even unable to stand or walk. Advanced stages include seizures before
lapsing into a coma, which is sometimes followed by death. If your puppy becomes hypoglycemic,
it is very important that you react IMMEDIATELY!!! Give the puppy Nutri-cal, honey or Karo
syrup. Administer the honey or syrup with an eyedropper or if the puppy is too weak to take it,
put it on your finger and rub it on the roof of its mouth. ITS LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!!!
Nutri-cal is a fast acting high calorie supplement and may be given off of your finger. Keep the
puppy warm at all times and rub the puppy very easy, moving the head from side to side slowly
rotating it, also move the arms and legs so the puppy will not get stiff. It may be necessary to
give the puppy a couple of doses. If the puppy does not respond with in 3 to 5 min., GET IT TO
A VET IMMEDIATELY! Hypoglycemia can occur without warning if a puppy is placed in a new
home, misses a meal or is otherwise stressed. You must remember that puppies eat very small
amounts, yet they exert large amounts of energy. Your puppy should eat 3 times a day. DO NOT
CHANGE THE FOOD FOR THE FIRST FEW WEEKS. If you wish to change food later do so
gradually, after the puppy has adjusted to its new home and life. Remember that if there is a
problem with Hypoglycemia, it will usually happen during the first few weeks while the puppy is
adjusting, and that puppy will out-grow this as it becomes adjusted.
Stages of Hypoglycemia:
FIRST STAGE: Possible Signs are:
Not playful
Refuses to eat
PALE GUMS
LETHARGY*
Eyes look unusual
(stumbling, falling, staggering)
SECOND STAGE:
(Critical, seek Vet care)
Body becomes Limp
Puppy can no lift his head easliy
THIRD STAGE:
He becomes completely limp, the head may tilt backward and become stiff
Slow Heartbeat
Body Temp Drops
Mouth is stiff and gums become white
4) We recommend that you not leave your puppy alone for the first 48 hours so that you can
monitor his food and water intake this will combat any dehydration or hypoglycemia, after the
first 24 continue monitoring food and water intake... We also recommend giving your new
puppy at least 1 to 2 tbs. of can puppy food & 3 cc of Nutri-cal before bed and first thing in the
morning as this would be the times they would most likely stress. You may even want to put
some sugar in their water. Most important if he is not eating find something he will eat. Baby
food chicken, boiled chicken, can dog food. In some cases you may have to force feed them.
Please call your vet if this is the case and then your breeder.
