Hypoglycemia is an extremely serious central nervous system disorder caused by low blood sugar. It occurs mainly in Toy breeds between the age of six and twelve weeks, and precipitated by stress, such as
weaning, vaccinations or being placed in a new home.  Hypoglycemia is not a disease, it is a condition.

Hypoglycemia is usually due to lack of food or exhaustion of stored energy without it being replenished (playing/running for extended periods of time, shivering out of nervousness or being chilled, stress, etc. Toy breed puppies are prone to hypoglycemia because they have such tiny digestive systems and can only eat small amounts of food at a time.

When you get a new puppy, everyone wants to hold and play with him. If you permit the puppies to be handled by everyone they come in contact with, it tires them out.  Puppies become body sore, just like human babies do.  Then they get tired, just want to sleep, then when they wake up, their blood sugar has dropped.  
Common sense tells us that a human baby can't tolerate a lot of activity, handling, and constant playing.  Neither can a puppy.

Hypoglycemia can occur without warning when a puppy is placed in a new home, due to stress and change.  Symptoms may appear if anything upsets his feeding and rest routine, if he plays too hard and too long, gets chilled, or when his diet is changed. It can happen within 72 hours after he has had vaccinations, which is why our puppies leave at 10 weeks with both injections, unless the purchaser is experienced in this area.

Make sure your puppy eats regular meals. Our puppies are fed up to 6 times daily once weaned, gradually increasing amounts and decreasing feedings as the puppy grows. Most of our puppies will be of standard size and at 10 weeks when they leave us, will be on 4 or 5 meals a day. The tinies don't leave us until at least 12 weeks and are fed on a little and often basis as they are more at risk. If your puppy skips a meal, or just picks at it's food, it DOES matter. Once it is 4 or 5 months old, a standard sized Chihuahua won't come to any harm by missing a meal, but a puppy has only got a tiny stomach and needs refuelling often. They have a high metabolism and low reserves of body fat, which means that if they don't get regular nourishment, their blood sugar level will drop to a dangeous level.

Don't allow endless play sessions. Puppies get too tired to eat, just like babies. Once they miss one meal because they have played too hard and just haven't the energy to eat, this starts a vicious circle, and before you know it, your puppy will be going hypoglycemic. If necessary, enforce  feeding and rest periods, in a crate if you have to, so the puppy has no choice but to eat and sleep with no distractions.  

Keep a close eye on your puppy, and if you have to, try tempting him/her with something different to get some food down. Chicken, tuna (in spring water), raw minced beef, tinned puppy food.....on it's own or mixed with the regular food. If you are at all worried, you can give goat's milk, but never cow's milk as it will cause diarrhoea, which will make things worse.

If your puppy does get diarrhoea, treat it quickly. You can get a probiotic paste from your vet called Canikur Pro. This will get rid of diarrhoea quickly and most dogs love the taste so it's easy to get down. Dealing with diarrhoea quickly helps make sure that food is digested properly so puppies get the maximum nourishment from it.

If your puppy is disorientated, weak, wobbly, falls over or can't get out of bed, you need to act quickly to raise his blood sugar levels.

*****If your puppy is unconcious or vomiting GO TO THE VET. Time is of the essence. He will need an intravenous injection of glucose as quickly as possible*****

Always keep a jar of clear honey in the house. Dip your finger in the honey and rub it around the inside of your puppy's mouth. Use about half a teaspoonful, rub it on his gums and tongue and make sure he swallows some.

Carry him with you, gradually you will see him start to sit up and take notice. Keep checking to see if he can stand, and repeat the honey after 15-20 minutes if he is still wobbly. Only give the honey three times at the most, usually 2 lots is enough to pull the puppy around. Once he is walking about normally, offer a bland food like baby food, chicken or rice. If he won't eat, keep trying, he will eventually. DON'T give any more honey as it can make the blood sugar levels sway too much and make things worse. He needs to eat. Give him whatever he will eat. Keep a close eye on him until he has eaten a proper meal, and thereafter, it is a good idea to feed right before bedtime for a week or two to make sure he can get through the night. We give goat's milk last thing.

PLEASE NOTE :

THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED TO BE USED IN PLACE OF VETERINARY ADVICE AND TREATMENT. IT IS FOR EMERGENCY FIRST AID TREATMENT OF HYPOGLYCEMIA. YOU ARE ADVISED TO TAKE YOUR PUPPY TO THE VET FOR A THOROUGH CHECK UP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER AN ATTACK OF HYPOGLYCEMIA.