Yorkie Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar is a common problem with all toy breed puppies
including the Yorkshire Terrier.
Hypoglycemia is the medical term for low blood sugar, which is a condition in which
there is a drastic, sudden drop in the level of blood sugar in the puppy.
As a toy yorkie breeder or pet owner, it is important to recognize the symptoms of
hypoglycemia and know how to treat it. Hypoglycemia is easily treatable in the early
stages, but fatal if allowed to progress. Many puppies are lost needlessly to
hypoglycemia because of ignorance on the part of their owner or veterinarian.
Pups of any breed are more likely to develop hypoglycemia than adults, because their
skeletal muscle mass and liver size are smaller and brain size, larger, in proportion to
the rest of their body. Therefore, there is less glucose being put out into the blood and
more being used by the brain, which is dependent upon adequate glucose in order to
function. In small and toy breeds it is more pronounced. Even a brief period of fasting or
stress in a toy breed puppy can trigger a hypoglycemic attack.
Yorkie puppies with Transient Juvenile Hypoglycemia have normal liver size and
function, but inadequate glucose precursors or glucose in its stored form (body fat).
Hypoglycemic incidents are almost always preceded by a stress of some kind.
Some examples of common stresses include: weaning, teething, vaccinations, a change
in environment-such as going to a new home, shipping, over-handling, cold
temperatures, intestinal parasites, infections, anorexia, etc.
Many yorkie puppies simply play too hard and stress their system or forget to eat. The
first sign of hypoglycemia is the Yorkshire Terrier puppy slowing down and then acting
listless. The puppy will then begin to tremble or shiver. This is a reaction caused as the
brain is starved for glucose. More signs of an attack are a weakness, confusion, wobbly
gait, frothing or drooling from the mouth - sometimes even a seizure and drain of blood
from the head. Seizure can cause vomiting which can be inhaled, leading to Aspiration
pneumonia. His body will be limp, lifeless, and a check of the gums will show them to be
pale, almost a grayish white in color rather than a healthy bright pink. The body
temperature will be subnormal. After a time, the puppy will become comatose and may
even appear to be dead. The puppy can go into shock and, if not cared for properly and
promptly, may even die.
If Yorkie hypoglycemia is caught in the early stages--- rub Nutri-Cal (Caro syrup will do
if you have no Nutri-Cal) on the puppy's gums, under the tongue, and on the roof of the
mouth. Get a heating pad or heating blanket and slowly warm the puppy to proper body
temperature. If the puppy responds, all is well. Feed a quality, canned food containing,
high-carbohydrates and protein right away and then monitor the puppy to be sure that
the condition does not recur. Be sure to eliminate the stress that caused the episode if
at all possible.
Call your veterinarian immediately and inform him that you have a hypoglycemic yorkie puppy