Kelmi Cuties

                          HYPOGLYCEMIA

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level) is a common and serious condition that can commonly occur in young puppies ‑ especially small breeds.  The maintenance of proper blood sugar levels  is vital due to the brain being entirely dependent on blood sugar as a source  of energy.  This condition is typically caused by a puppy being unable to adapt to fasting during the post‑weaning period.  Young puppies cannot tolerate fasting for more than a few hours.  Thus, puppies should have food available at all times and be monitored for consumption.  Many factors can contribute to a puppy not eating as it should.  These include any type of stress such as infections, vaccinations, physical exertion, weaning, poor nutrition, hypothermia, gastric upset, etc..  Clinical signs include depression, hypothermia, confusion, seizures and coma.  Treatment should begin by contacting your veterinarian.  A warm, humid environment (85 degrees, 85% humidity) is very important.  Oral sugar supplementation (dextrose, honey, sugar water) should be given if the puppy can swallow ‑ 1cc per pound every hour.  Moist food and water should then be offered/forced while slowly weaning off the sugar.  Your veterinarian may start intravenous fluids if the condition warrants it. .....NOTE: THIS CAN BE VERY SERIOUS IF NOT TREATED PROMPTLY.

Your puppy will surely be stressed after shipping and arriving in a strange environment.  We will send puppy food that the puppy is used to eating.  Please feed ONLY this food for a day or so and let the puppy get used to the new surroundings.  Then start mixing the food of your choice half and half with the provided food.  This will allow his/her tummy to adjust slowly to the new food.  If he/she will not eat at all due to stress, THEY NEED TO EAT SOMETHING!  Most all puppies like yogurt, cottage cheese and boiled chicken ‑ even chicken baby food.  Offer a small amount of some of the above and get them to start eating.  This is not a good diet!  Be sure and get them back on their dog food as soon as possible.  The longer you give them table food the harder it is to transition back to dog food.  Table food does not have the nutrients that canines need.  Puppies should have food available to them all day long until they are approximately  1 year old.  Your veterinarian can guide you as to the actual amount of food to feed them as an adult.

Some puppies get car sick when they travel.  If he/she is throwing up you can give 1/2CC of Pepto Bismol; once or twice is all that is necessary.

Now that I have frightened you....I'm sorry!.... relax and enjoy your new baby.  The above IS a possibility but all of our puppies are very healthy and I have not personally had to deal with hypoglycemia.  Keep your puppy well fed and it should not trouble you ‑ the older the puppy gets the less likely this is a concern.