The creation of different dog breeds represents centuries of selective breeding to create true lines of dogs all with similar desired characteristics. Somewhere in all this breeding and selection, toy breeds were developed, and include breeds like Chihuahuas, yorkies, maltese, toy poodles, and Pomeranians, to name a few.

Chihuahua		Yorkshire Terrier		Maltese
Toy Poodle		Pomeranian

Consider that if these dogs are so tiny as adults how small they must be as newborn puppies. These incredibly small babies have trouble maintaining body temperature, get their baby teeth in late and therefore have trouble with kibbled foods, and they have difficulty maintaining blood sugar. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) creates listlessness, incoordination (the brain cannot burn fat or protein and relies entirely on sugar), and even seizures.

When you look at these darling miniature puppies, think twice before you adopt. The toy breed puppy is frequently a high maintenance project.You may need to feed this animal 4-6 times daily. Soft puppy foods are often needed as these puppies may not be able to eat hard food. They need extra warmth and it is important that you make an appointment with your veterinarian for a “well-baby” check up promptly.

Puppies of this size do not tolerate fleas. They are simply too small to have any blood to lose to parasites. They need to be adequately dewormed and checked over for any signs of infectious disease. Diarrhea is common for puppies, but a very tiny puppy cannot withstand the dehydration that accompanies diarrhea. Pet store puppies are high risk for kennel cough, and pneumonia that can accompany it in severe cases. Parvovirus or Distemper are particular disasters for puppies of this size.

If you have purchased or adopted a toy breed puppy, remember how sensitive to problems these puppies are. Therefore, if your puppy is coughing, has diarrhea, is vomiting, has appetite loss or seems listless see your veterinarian immediately.

Be sure your puppy is eating regularly. If possible, look in your puppy’s mouth and see if there are teeth present. In particular look for the molars and premolars along the sides of the mouth. These are teeth needed for chewing and they may come in late. This will not stop your puppy from lapping up soft food. Be sure the food you are using is soft enough and that your puppy will reliably eat it.

This product is frequently provided by both veterinarians and breeders for use in toy breed puppies. It consists basically of a malt-flavored paste with sugar and vitamins. Some puppies will readily lap it off fingers and others will only take it if it is smeared on the roof of the mouth. If a puppy seems listless, the first thing to do is attempt feeding. If the puppy will not eat, a finger tip of Nutrical may make all the difference.

Potentially, hypoglycemia is an emergency. The puppy will be listless and uncoordinated. In an extreme case, the puppy will become cold, will lose consciousness and begin to have seizures. For first aid, a small amount of Karo syrup can be rubbed on the gums. (It will absorb through the gums; actual swallowing is not necessary). Any puppy that is showing any signs of hypoglycemia should be rushed to an animal hospital for immediate treatment.

In the hospital, the puppy will be warmed and a blood sugar level checked. If intravenous access is possible, dextrose will be infused directly into the blood stream. Response is generally rapid once sugar is supplied in this way and a sugar drip or regular sugar injections will be continued. But the puppy has to reliably eat before he can go home. Anticipate the need for 24 hour care and expect a few days of care.

Sometimes there is more to hypoglycemia than just low blood sugar. While being extra small and extra young is enough to drop one’s blood sugar, sometimes things are more complicated.

• Bacterial infection
  Bacteria can be tremendous consumers of glucose (blood sugar). For this reason, hypoglycemic puppies frequently are given antibiotics.
  
  
• Portosystemic (Liver) shunt
  This is a problem for the Yorkshire terrier in particular. In this congenital malformation of the liver circulation, blood travels from the GI tract to the general circulation by-passing the liver. The liver does not develop properly and has abnormal function. One of the liver’s functions is to maintain the body’s blood sugar level. An abnormal liver leads to low blood sugar. This condition can frequently be cured with surgery. A liver function blood test is an easy way to rule this condition out as a complicating factor.
  
  
• Parasitism/Diarrhea/Stress
  Stress from any cause increases the body’s demand for sugar. This is why it is especially important to insure the general health of the toy breed puppy. When stressors are present, maintaining a healthy blood sugar level is all the more difficult.

When your puppy comes home again after a hypoglycemic episode, it is important to watch food intake and be aware of any changes in energy level. As the puppy gets bigger, risk factors diminish. Teeth get stronger, body fat stores develop, and the immune system matures. Eventually, hypoglycemia risks become minimal and the puppy can continue life as any other puppy.