HYPOGLYCEMIA
Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is a health problem that
affects many toy breeds of puppies between 5 and 16 weeks of age, especially extremely tiny or teacups and all owners must
be on the lookout for it.
Hypoglycemia is recognized by a healthy puppy suddenly becoming
weak, listless, depressed, unaware of its surroundings, and even unable to stand or walk. Advanced stages include seizures
before lapsing into a coma, which is sometimes followed by death.
If your puppy becomes hypoglycemic, it is very important that
you react IMMEDIATELY!!! Give the puppy Nutro Cal, honey or Karo syrup. Administer the
honey or syrup with an eyedropper or if the puppy is too weak to take it, put it on your finger and rub it on the roof of
its mouth. If necessary, pry its mouth open. Regardless of how you do it, make the puppy take the honey or syrup.
ITS LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!!! Nutro Cal is a fast acting
high calorie supplement and may be given off of your finger. Keep the puppy warm at all times and rub the puppy very
easy, moving the head from side to side slowly rotating it, also move the arms and legs so the puppy will not get stiff.
It may be necessary to give the puppy a couple of doses of honey or Nutro Cal
to bring it back. If the puppy does not respond, CONTACT THE BREEDER OR GET IT TO A VET IMMEDIATELY!!!
Hypoglycemia can occur without warning if a puppy is placed
in a new home, misses a meal or is otherwise stressed.
You must remember that puppies eat very small amounts, yet
they exert large amounts of energy. Your puppy should eat 3 times a day. We feed and recommend Canned Pedigree
Puppy, which we have supplied a sample for you. DO NOT CHANGE THE FOOD FOR THE FIRST FEW WEEKS. If you wish to
change food later do so gradually, after the puppy has adjusted to its new home and life.
A puppy will play until it drops. It may play so much
that it is too tired to eat. It is up to YOU as its new owner to be responsible. Very small puppies must sleep
about 20 out of 24 hours. Please be very careful no to over-tire your new puppy, especially the first few weeks.
It is up to you to establish a schedule for you new puppy, and your family, especially be aware of the amount of time children
play with your puppy and make them aware that this is a baby and must be treated like one. It is important no to play
with your puppy so much that it becomes exhausted.
We recommend that you try to make the first few days together
with you puppy as calm as possible, and remember that this is a very traumatic time for your puppy. Please resist the
urge to take your puppy to visit friends and relatives during this period. Make this a special time to get to know your
puppy, and for you puppy to get to know its new home.
Remember that if there is a problem with Hypoglycemia, it will
usually happen during the first few weeks while the puppy is adjusting, and that puppy will out-grow this as it becomes adjusted.
The Chihuahua's
Molera
Historically, the Chihuahua developed in Mexico and the United States has displayed a "soft spot" on the top of the head. In the Chihuahua this spot, or fontanel,
is known as a MOLERA; and is the same as that found in human babies. In the past, this molera was accepted as a mark of purity
in the breed, and it is still mentioned in most Chihuahua breed standards the world over.
It is important
to note that while many Chihuahua puppies are born without the molera, there are probably just as many born with one and
its presence is nothing to become alarmed over.
As shown in
the illustration below, the molera in a Chihuahua will occur on the top of the head and may vary in shape and size when present. |
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Unfortunately, many lay people and some veterinarians not familiar with the Chihuahua have
tried to link the mere presence of a molera with the condition known as hydrocephalus. This has caused many new-comers to
the breed serious concern and undue worry. The truth is that a domed head with
a molera present does not predispose the Chihuahua to this condition. Along with the observations of devoted breeders over the years, there is adequate medical
evidence to support this statement. |
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