Low Sugar

[AllisonK32]

Hello everyone. I have an 8 week old yorkie, who's name is Layla. Last weekend she wasn't being her playful self and she appeared to be sick, listless, and walking dizzy. I became concerned and took her to the Vet ER. She had just had a checkup, shots, and de-wormer a couple of days before she became sick so I though it was due to the shots. Anyway, I took her in and they checked her sugar level and it was extremely low. I allowed them to keep her overnight to monitor her. She came home the next day better, but still feeling down. I did everything the vet instructed me to do, and followed up with her regular vet who gave her more meds because she wouldn't eat on her own and was fighting when I fed her. She's is eating on her now. I'm still doing everything as instructed. On yesterday, I allowed my mother-in-law to puppysit for me while I work. Well, she allowed her to whine and have her way. She played and ate on her own but she did not take her vitamins (she hates it and I have to force her to take it). That being said, this morning when we got up she kept falling over when she walked. I immediately gave her NutriCal and fed her. She was fine after that. Today she is staying with her vet while I work. I work from 8am -5pm. What are some things I can do where she can stay at home while I work? Does anyone knows how long this will last for her. She weighs 1.08 pound at 8 weeks old.

She is a real sweetheart. She loves to play and is very active (which I love). It's hard on me to hear her whine and cry because she wants to play and follow behind me, but I won't allow her and I will put her in her kennel so that she can rest and not use her energy so fast because I am in fear all the time that she will get sick.

Someone please help me with advice so I don't drive my baby crazy.

[mimimomo]

Sorry to hear that your little one is having hypoglycemic issues...did the vet say why she keeps having them? If she cries when you're @ home, maybe you can keep her in a sling type bag & carry her around w/you?

[cindersellie]

Mine has always had sugar issues from skipping meals. I too ended up in the emergency vet hospital with mine after shots, she became sick and wouldn't eat, and then she had the same symptoms as yours (dizzy, lethargic, and glassy eyed). I had to find someone (a neighbor) to stop in during the day to feed her. Maybe you can go home to feed her at lunch? She's still a baby, so she will have a lot of energy, there's no stopping that. Just make sure she eats often.
What instructions did the vet give you? I'm curious :P

[KimInMD]

Hi Allison! Welcome! If Layla had a hypoglycemic episode first thing in the morning, when was the last time she was fed the day before? If it was yesterday afternoon or early evening, maybe feeding her a kibble snack late (right before you turn in for the night) might help get her through until she is fed again first thing in the morning. For pups like these, NutriCal is your best friend. She will likely outgrow these episodes after she hits two pounds or so. Eight weeks is still so young, and she is such a tiny girl. If the episodes continue, I'd follow up with the vet and get some liver bloodwork done. Hope she feels better soon.

[pstinard]

She is tiny and young, and will probably have more episodes of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). With that age and weight, I wouldn't leave her unattended for long periods of time. Can your mother-in-law babysit her on a regular basis, or can you get a trusted neighbor to come in and check on her several times a day? Also, be sure that food and water is available at all times, and give a nugget of nutrical several times a day to keep the blood sugar up. I keep Karo Syrup on hand at home in case of hypoglycemia emergencies (rub a little on her gums), but if your puppy passes out from hypoglycemia, she will definitely have to be taken to the vet on an emergency basis. It will probably get better over time, but the next few weeks will be critical...

[Deb1]

I would be free-feeding this little girl, along with some canned food to encourage her to eat. She needs to have meals at least every 4 hours! Keeping her hydrated is also a must as this can play into the hypoglycemia. Since she is only 8 weeks, she might not have enough teeth to chew dry kibble, so give her canned food or wet her dry kibble w/warm water and let set to absorb the moisture and soften the kibble. This is not some thing to mess with as she could go into a coma and not come out of it!

[Teegy]

Originally Posted by pstinard

She is tiny and young, and will probably have more episodes of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). With that age and weight, I wouldn't leave her unattended for long periods of time. Can your mother-in-law babysit her on a regular basis, or can you get a trusted neighbor to come in and check on her several times a day? Also, be sure that food and water is available at all times, and give a nugget of nutrical several times a day to keep the blood sugar up. I keep Karo Syrup on hand at home in case of hypoglycemia emergencies (rub a little on her gums), but if your puppy passes out from hypoglycemia, she will definitely have to be taken to the vet on an emergency basis. It will probably get better over time, but the next few weeks will be critical...

This would be my suggestion.

[KimInMD]

Originally Posted by Deb1

I would be free-feeding this little girl, along with some canned food to encourage her to eat. She needs to have meals at least every 4 hours! Keeping her hydrated is also a must as this can play into the hypoglycemia. Since she is only 8 weeks, she might not have enough teeth to chew dry kibble, so give her canned food or wet her dry kibble w/warm water and let set to absorb the moisture and soften the kibble. This is not some thing to mess with as she could go into a coma and not come out of it!

Deb is right. I should not have said "give her a kibble snack". To clarify, I meant, and should have said "give her a snack of the food you normally feed her". At this age, canned food is a better choice.

[AllisonK32]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

Sorry to hear that your little one is having hypoglycemic issues...did the vet say why she keeps having them? If she cries when you're @ home, maybe you can keep her in a sling type bag & carry her around w/you?

That is what I have started to do, carry her in a with a carrier I bought from Petco. Now she is really spoiled, and is starting to look at the carrier then look at me, waiting for her ride.

[sandy simpson]

I measure out my boys food in the am. Then they get their breakfast, I give them part f it at lunch and then the rest at dinner. That way they have food in their little Yorkie tummy just like we do! Little dogs do need to have extra energy since these dogs are so active.

[AllisonK32]

Thanks for all the advice. I have been feeding her with a syringe. She is starting to eat a little on her own, but only when I soak her food in chicken broth. Hey, whatever works . When she first got sick, she wasn't eating properly and wasn't on a schedule. I thought that she had a little anxiety from being separated from her mom and siblings, and being in a new place, but would eventually eat. She did eat but very little. I just glad that I found out what was going on with her in time.

I've started giving her chicken and gravy Gerber baby food and PediaSure before bedtime. She seems to like that, and does much better in the mornings.

My mother-in-law has agreed to keep her during the day until school gets out, and my teenage daughter (who is worried sick over her) will be able to keep her.

[MandiesMom]

First of all, welcome to YorkieTalk. This is a wonderful place to help you through this - so much information that you can do a search on and so many experienced Yorkie owners and breeders that can give you advice and support. I am very happy to meet you.

I am so sorry to meet you under these circumstances. It really sounds like you are doing what needs to be done and everyone has given you the best advice. Sadly, these little breed dogs have a tendency to go thru hypoglycemia issues when young - it is why it's best they stay with their mama dog until 12 weeks old. They can just go downhill so quickly. (as you witnessed).

I also wanted to add - KUDOS to you!!! You are a fantastic Yorkie Mom!! Look at what you did! You saw something was wrong and you got her to the vet for attention ASAP. You are doing everything the vet has said to do. AND, you are going beyond all of that seeking and searching more answers and help on your own.

I sure hope you stick around here and become an active member of the community. Once you get thru this, just think of all the future Yorkie Moms you will be able to help (with answers to questions like this). Experience is the best teacher. Hang in there! You and your little Layla will get thru this

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by AllisonK32

Thanks for all the advice. I have been feeding her with a syringe. She is starting to eat a little on her own, but only when I soak her food in chicken broth. Hey, whatever works . When she first got sick, she wasn't eating properly and wasn't on a schedule. I thought that she had a little anxiety from being separated from her mom and siblings, and being in a new place, but would eventually eat. She did eat but very little. I just glad that I found out what was going on with her in time.

I've started giving her chicken and gravy Gerber baby food and PediaSure before bedtime. She seems to like that, and does much better in the mornings.

My mother-in-law has agreed to keep her during the day until school gets out, and my teenage daughter (who is worried sick over her) will be able to keep her.

I'm glad you have people who can look in on Layla during the day--that is very important! Did the vet recommend the chicken and gravy baby food and the pediasure? And is that only just before bedtime? I just wanted to check and make sure, because high fat content foods can create a different set of problems for Yorkies. But if the vet recommended it, and it's just before bedtime, I'm sure it's fine.

Oh, another thing my vet recommended for hypoglycemia is pedialyte or gatorade instead of or in addition to water during the day. Check with your vet first before trying that, though, because the vet knows what's best for Layla.

[mimimomo]

So glad to hear that Layla is doing better! You got a lot of helpful advice. When they're blood sugar is too low, they don't eat, so you syringe feeding her helped her. I hope Layla continues to do well!

Just wanted to make sure the chicken broth & baby food you're using doesn't have any onions in it, in any form...it is toxic to dogs.

[chachi]

She is way too young to be away from her mom and siblings thats the problem. You need to feed her something like every 3 hrs and give nutrical periodically during the day. When she gets to be about 3 lbs you wont have this problem anymore unless there is something else going on like a liver issue