Low Blood Sugar In Puppies: Info & Home Remedies

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is a common problem in small breed puppies. Hypoglycemia is when blood sugar drops very low. Puppies go through A LOT of energy causing their blood sugar to drop.

Smaller breeds also have a higher metabolism and higher energy requirement than larger breeds. If you adopt a small breed puppy be prepared at all times in case their sugar drops.

Puppies don’t have their energy stores built up in their bodies yet as adults have. Between growing, playing, and learning, it takes a lot of energy that these tiny puppies just don’t have enough of.

Common Puppy Breeds With Low Blood Sugar

• Chihuahua
• Teacup Chihuahua
• Yorkshire Terriers
• Teacup Yorkies
• Affenpinscher
• Brussels Griffon
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Chinese Crested
• Dachshund
• English Toy Spaniel
• Havanese
• Italian Greyhound
• Japanese Chin
• Maltese
• Miniature Pinscher (Min Pin)
• Papillion
• Pekingese
• Pomeranian
• Pug
• Shih-Tzu
• Silky Terrier
• Toy Fox Terrier
• Toy Poodle

Signs of low blood sugar in puppies

Signs of blood sugar vary, but a general rule is that if your puppy isn’t jumping around and being active or eating regularly, their sugar may be low. This includes:

• weakness
• Lethargy
• Poor appetite
• Low temperature (cold to the touch)
• Twitching
• Tremors
• Seizure
• Coma

Low Blood Sugar Prevention

Tip 1: Keep Karo syrup on hand

Karo syrup is sugar. If your puppy looks lethargic, weak, or just seems a little off, put a little Karo syrup on their gums. If the problem is low blood sugar you should see a change in a short amount of time.

Tip 2: Keep food out at all times

With puppies going through a lot of energy while they are growing, food should be left out at all times. This helps with their sugar levels as well as keeping them from having food issues, such as food aggression or eating too quickly. Just make sure they are eating frequently.

Tip 3: Keep them warm

If blood sugar drops their temperature if the next to go. Without sugar, their body loses energy and the body can’t regulate its temperature. If the temperature gets too low organs will start shutting down.

A warming pad works well for them to lay on. In an emergency, warm towels right out of the dryer can help or if you have a towel warmer. Just make sure that whatever you use doesn’t get too hot and cause burns.

It is always an emergency situation

Low blood sugar in puppies is always an emergency. Have a Veterinarian on speed dial in case your pup’s blood sugar ever does crash. If you ever find your puppy unresponsive, you only have minutes if not seconds before it becomes deadly.

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