Your Puppy & Hypoglycemia

Basic care and observation is very important during first weeks with your new SHIH TZU PUPPY.

(NOTICE! It is suggested that you purchase a tube of Nutri-Cal (available at most pet supplies and vet offices) prior to bringing your new puppy home. Giving Nutri-Cal morning and night helps SHIH TZU PUPPIES maintain sugar level during this adjustment period, thus helping control hypoglycemia.)

One of the main things a new owner needs to take precautions against is a new puppy developing hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. Hypoglycemia can occur without much warning and within hours of a puppy going to a new home, missing a meal, or does not eat full meals, gets chilled, overtired or exhausted from too much handling or playing. It occurs more in the toy breeds, but can also occur in larger breeds.

Watch carefully for signs of hypoglycemia (this happens when sugar level drops), and may be caused by stress from being in new environment, too much excitment, and/or not eating properly. Signs of hypoglycemia are: staggering, weakness, vacant stare, depressed affect or mood, sleeping, lethargy, jerky,  shaking head in an unnatural way (actually kinda rolling the neck).  The gums will be very pale white or blue. Teeth may be clamped tightly together. These are all signs this puppy is having a drop in it's sugar level and if UNTREATED will progress to convulsions, seizures or coma and can be fatal.

Should this occur, quick and calm action is required IMMEDIATELY! If you have Nutri-Cal give it to puppy. Nutri-Cal gives quick results and gets  into the bloodstream within seconds. Dosage instructions are on the tube. You can use Nutri-Cal using a syringe.    If you do not have Nutri-Cal use honey, or white karo syrup, rubbing on the tougue and gums. If neither is available, use plain white sugar. Continue with small amounts until puppy returns to normal. If there is no improvement, contact your veterinarian.

Watch for any signs of diarrhea--this will cause puppy to dehydrate quickly. Stress, change of environment, changing food can cause this. Pedialyte is good to have on hand and may be given, also a bit of kaopectate should clear up the diarrhea. Using Pedialyte instead of water helps with dehydration.

Keep your SHIH TZU PUPPY warm and dry. They need plenty of quiet time and frequent naps, and should have their own space for napping, etc.

Prevention

Add one tablespoon of honey or sugar to every 16 ounces of water. Keep plain drinking water available as well. Leave food out 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for a puppy just arriving home up until at least 12 weeks of age and sometimes beyond this if the puppy is a very tiny size. Never feed chocolate, fried foods or milk. Do not allow puppy to become over-chilled or tired. Let your new puppy rest and become acustomed to his new home. Give puppy Nutri-cal, about one inch every 6 hours for at least 48 hours in a new home and if you begin to see puppy acting very lethargic, give Nutri-cal.