Important information about hypoglycemia:
First off, if you are planning on getting a
chihuahua puppy, before the day your pup comes
home, go to your vet and buy a tube of Nutri-cal,
(or "Nutri-stat" or "Vitacal") or order it
online . This may save your pup's life.
Hypoglycemia means low blood sugar. It can occur
if a puppy has gone too long between meals, has gotten
chilled or is stressed. It is common
in small breed puppies and is Life threatening- your
puppy could die if not treated for it quickly.
A
chihuahua puppy should always have access to food and
must be monitored to make sure that he/she is eating.
I recommend feeding small meals every 4 hours
and leaving quality
kibble out for in between meals and while you are
sleeping. Make absolutely sure that the pup knows
where the kibble is and that he/she will actually eat
it.
The puppy should always be kept warm, just like you
would with a human baby, and should be watched closely
after periods of stress, such as the first day in a new
home, shipping, or first trip to the vet, and after
periods of prolonged activity.
Here are some signs of hypoglycemia:
weakness, listlessness, uncoordinated-
(acting as if drunk),
blue or gray tinge to the ears, gums, or skin,
cold to the touch, confusion, disorientation, unusual
drowsiness.
Left untreated, the dog may go into seizures and/or
unconsciousness and may die.
Treatment:
If you see any of the above signs, FIRST, administer a
supplement such as
nutri-cal (preferable), corn syrup or sugar- (dab it on the pup's gums and/or
squirt under tongue). THEN feed a protein-rich
food, such as chicken baby food or grain free canned
food. If
symptoms do not improve immediately, CALL YOUR
VET.
If your pup perks right up and seems just fine after
receiving the nutri-cal or other sugar source plus
protein food, closely monitor him/
her.
Do NOT put sugar in your chihuahua's drinking
water. This will not prevent low blood sugar,
and could even cause the blood sugar to spike, then
drop, creating the very condition you are trying to
prevent.
For
more information on this very serious condition, click here.
Starsen
Chihuahuas