MidnightBlue Chihuahua's of Walkerton,Indiana

This doesn't mean your Chihuahua has diabetes. However, only your Vet can  diagnose diabetes in your Chihuahua!  So if you are concerned that your Chihuahua may have diabetes, then you must take your Chihuahua to your vet to have them checked out.  Only if it is for your peace of mind!

Low blood sugar is seen in smaller to tiny Chihuahuas.  This rarely occurs but it can happen at any age of a Chihuahua or with any size of Chihuahua, you need to be aware of this condition, what to look for, and what to do if your Chihuahua has a low blood sugar episode.  This is an emergency and you must act fast when low blood sugar occurs.

Chihuahuas have a very small fat reserve around their liver.  Therefore, their fat reserve is used up and their body will begin to draw upon the blood sugar for energy.  If this condition is left unchecked, your Chihuahua will grow progressively weaker until your puppy falls into a coma and then it will eventually die.  The good news is, puppies will usually outgrow hypoglycemia by the time they are 16 weeks old.  However, do be aware  this can happen at any time and at any age of your Chihuahua.

The most dangerous period for hypoglycemia, is between the age of 6-10 weeks of age.  This is when the puppy is being weaned from their Mother, wormed, given vaccinations, bathed, have their toe nails trimmed, and then sold to a new environment.  All these factors contribute to a very stressful time for your Chihuahua puppy.  Most puppies have no problem with this condition and other puppies have these problems.  Other situations that your Chihuahua may get stressed in:

1.  Meeting new people.  So it is important that you don't introduce your puppy to all your family and friends all at once.  The people that live with you will be enough for them at first.

2.  Playing hard ~ where they use a lot of energy. Make sure if your Chihuahua plays hard, give them something to eat, like a treat or two!

3.  Missing a meal.  Try to never let this happen if at all possible.  Always leave your Chihuahua's dry food out 24/7.

4.  Going to their vet for a general check up or exam.  Always give your Chihuahua some Karo syrup, honey, nutri-cal or nutri-stat before you go to your vet and give them some of the same thing after the appointment.

5.  They have a depressed immune system caused by vaccinations. I would check with your vet before doing this but I would give your Chihuahua nutri-cal, nutri-stat, karo syrup, sugar water in your Chihuahua's water or honey for a couple weeks or so. 

6.  Traveling by car, plane, train, etc.  I always give a Chihuahua puppy that is being shipped by plane or traveling by car some nutri-cal or nutri-stat.  I give good amount to the puppy to prevent any low blood sugar issues.

7.  Big change in their diet. Never change your Chihuahua's diet unless you change it slowly.  Introduce your Chihuahua puppy to new food by mixing the new food with the food that your Chihuahua has been eating.  Then taper off and only give the new food.  Any diet change should always be done with care!

8.  Being terribly frightend by something, like a storm, fireworks, a bath, toe nails being trimmed, etc. Try to keep your Chihuahua busy during storms and fireworks.  Play with them.  There may be no comfort during a time of a storm or fireworks, so you may just have to let them go to their safe place and hide out until the storm is over and the fireworks have stopped going off.  Give them nutri-cal, nutri-stat, honey, karo syrup, during this time.  Getting a bath and having their toe nails trimmed are stressful events but you can offer treats for being good after their bath and nails have been trimmed.

These situations may never bring on low blood sugar episode in your Chihuahua but you must be aware that any kind of change your puppy isn't use to, could cause them to have hypoglycemia.  Just be ready to act and know what to do if they do have a low blood sugar episode.

Signs of Low Blood Sugar

A.  A sad forlorn look on their face

B.  They become inactive or they have lack of any energy

C.  Staggering around

D.  Falling down

E.  Laying around on their side

F.  Lack of coordination

G.  Not able to stand, sit, or walk

H.  Looking like they are sleeping but this sleeplike condition will turn into a form of teeth clenching seizures and spasms.

I.  Followed by a coma and then eventually death.

If your Chihuahua keeps having low blood sugar episodes, there could be an underlying cause, such as liver disease, which prevents the storage of glucose as glycogen (starch like polysaccharide ~ complex carbohydrates), or intestnial disease preventing your puppy from properly digesting and or absorption of their food, then low blood sugar may be chronic and life threatening!

If your puppy fails to respond to sugar (nutri-cal, nutri-stat, honey, karo syrup, etc), or the hypoglycemic episodes are more frequent, you will need to have your puppy seen by your vet, in order for them to determine if the low blood sugar is the result of inadequate nutrition or a more severe underlying disease.

In severe cares of Hypoglycemia, your puppy can become unconscious and still be unable to swallow.  You must get your pupy to your vet Immediately!  Your vet may have to inject a glucose solution into their major blood vein, like in their jugular.

Things To Give Your Puppy For Low Blood Sugar-Have It On Hand

1.  Sugar in their drinking water

2.  Pancake syrup- Karo syrup works the best!

3.  Nutri-cal or Nutri-stat ~ both can be purchased at PetSmart or Petco

4.  Nutri-drops (it can be purchased at Revival Animal, on the Internet. http://www.revivalanimal.com/) Nutri-drops can be placed on your puppy's lips or mouth and is absorbed immediately in their system.  This would be used if they couldn't swallow.

5.  Pedilyte (can be purchased in grocery store, in the children's department)

6.  Katoraid

It is always a good idea to make sure your Chihuahua eats prior to your it being left alone for any amount of time.  I would suggest also giving your puppy Karo syrup, nutri-cal, or nutri-stat, before you leave your puppy alone!  Always leave food and water out for your puppy when you leave!