A need to know before you buy a Chihuahua or any Tiny Toy Breed
About Hypo-Glycemia (Prevention is the best medicine!)
While we don't want anyone to decide against getting a chihuahua because of the chances of hypo-glycemia, we want you to be informed and know what to do in case it occurs. The old saying "better safe than sorry" applies here and an informed new chihuahua owner is more apt to recognize the symptoms and take the appropriate measures to stop it almost immediately.
This problem is common in all toy breeds, but seen more often in Chihuahuas. It means low blood sugar and happens when a puppy doesn't eat due to stress. Being weaned, going to a new owner, changing food, just becoming scared or lonely in new surroundings can cause the puppy to quit eating and trigger the condition. Prevention is best, but if caught early enough, it can easily be reversed. Left untreated, it becomes life threatening. All persons obtaining a Chihuahua puppy should be aware of the signs and be prepared to take immediate action. Early symptoms are lethargy, refusal to eat, staggering, listlessness, or pale gums. If not treated immediately, it can progress to more critical stages including vomiting and diarrhea, leading to seizures, unresponsiveness, and death.
Chihuahuas are nibblers and must have hard kibble and fresh water available at all times, even during the night. Usually, a puppy that is going to have this condition displays the symptoms soon after weaning and should have outgrown it prior to leaving the breeder. However, for some tiny pups, especially those projected to be "teacups", the condition can present itself the first time as late as 16 weeks of age and continue throughout their lifetime. Take this into consideration when you contemplate obtaining a "teacup" puppy. They may require a watchful eye for the first signs of hypo-glycemia throughout their entire life. Even a larger pup may have the problem but usually displays the symptoms earlier and outgrows it quicker. I have seen puppies that are playing and fine at night and cannot stand up on their own by morning. It comes on very quickly, but can be reversed just as quickly. It is very similar to a human going into diabetic shock and needing that piece of candy or glass of orange juice very quickly.
I recommend that anyone obtaining a chihuahua pup, from me or anyone else, ask what food the puppy is eating and continue them on the same food. Changing food alone can stress their delicate systems. I feed a high-quality small breed puppy small bites kibble available at a large national pet store chain. At the same time that you purchase your food in preparation for the arrival of your new baby, purchase a tube of Nutri-Cal or Nutri-Stat. I will send your first Tub of maybe many… It comes in a tube like toothpaste and can be a life-saver! Keep it on hand at all times. At the first sign that the puppy is not acting normal or doesn't seem to be eating enough, squeeze a bead about the size of a large pea or small marble on the end of your finger. If the puppy will readily lick it off of your finger, let them do it. If not, open their mouth and rub it off your finger onto the roof of their mouth, tongue, or back teeth. Continue this every 2 hours until they begin to eat and act normal again. Having the Nutri-Cal on hand should snap them out of it in minutes or at least buy you the time you need to get them to the vet if they just don't seem to be responding. In an emergency, you can give them honey or WHITE Karo syrup thinned 50/50 with water and administer with an eye dropper. Do not use the dark Karo syrup as whatever it is that makes it dark is almost like a poison to them and will worsen the condition. If you must force feed a puppy, soften their hard kibble in Pedia-Lyte or water, and add a little strained chicken baby food to make it more enticing. Make it thin enough to feed through a baby medication dropper and squirt small amounts as far back in their mouth as you can without choking them. A teaspoon is plenty at one feeding. Continue force feeding every couple of hours until they begin eating on their own, either the gruel you have made or from their bowl of hard kibble. Sometimes puppies that are being force fed have problems with diarrhea. About a quarter of a teaspoon of Pepto-Bismal may help settle their tummy and firm up their stools. Anytime any of my adult dogs display soft stools, I give them a tablespoon of cottage cheese. It can also help settle tummies and firm stools, it's good for them, and they like it! Cottage cheese and strained chicken baby food also if the chicken it to harsh on their tummies I use puppy milk with Baby rice cereal and honey into a bowl and force feed it until they are ready to lap it up their selves. These are the only human foods that I suggest feeding to you new little baby.
I give all puppies doses of Nutri-Cal prior to going to a new home to help prevent hypo-glycemia from occuring enroute. This is known as "carb loading". If you have it on hand and give a dose when your puppy arrives and every 2 hours until you see them eating good, you will probably never see any of the symptoms or have any problems, but watch them very closely, especially for the first couple of weeks until they are settled in and comfortable with their new surroundings. Make sure your puppy is in a warm area, away from directly in front of the air conditioning vent. Tiny smoothcoats may need a sweater, even in the summer if in a cool air-conditioned home. Trying to keep warm burns a lot of calories. You will find that they are constant nibblers, seldom more than a few pieces at a time, but very often. That's what their systems require to remain healthy. Remember that their first days in the new home will be stressful. Going off to work and leaving them alone for 10 hours may trigger the problem. If possible, slip home at lunch or have someone check on them during the middle of the day. Give them a dose of Nutri-Cal if you must leave them alone for a long time during the first few days before you leave and when you return unless you can tell when you get back that they have eaten really well while you were gone. Until they are eating well, give them a dose at bedtime, and when you get up in the morning. Although you may want to spend hours playing with your new baby, remember, they are just that - a baby! They need time to rest and eat very often. Playing too hard for too long can also bring on the condition. As long as they are eating enough, the problem will not occur. Nutri-Cal supplies the calories they need until they are comfortable enough to start eating good when left alone and during the night. Once they are eating well, they do not need the supplement.
Again, in most cases, hypo-glycemia doesn't occur, but you need to be prepared to recognize the symptoms and know what to do when you see them. Prevention is the key, and having Nutri-Cal on hand to give anytime you think your little baby isn't eating enough can prevent the condition from happening. Those that want to travel with their chihuahua will find it handy to take along until baby becomes used to going to new places with you. It doesn't need to be refrigerated and has a long shelf-life.
