Thanks for your visit. You are reading this because you just got a new toy breed puppy or are planning to get a new toy breed puppy. Well, you came to the right place. These small dog breeds need special attention and care when they are puppies. In this article, you’ll get detailed instructions on just about everything you need to know to make sure your toy breed dog stays healthy, along with tips on potty training. Please note that this article was not written by a veterinarian. The information in this article is my opinion, derived from years of personal research and experience dealing specifically with toy breed dogs. Always consult a vet with any questions about your dog.
We are Yorkshire Terriers (Yorkies) personal owners, and have gained a wealth of experience dealing with this fantastic breed. Below is our sweetie, “Munchkin,” weighing just 1.5 pounds and over a year old. Despite his weight, he is as healthy as can be.
The following information can refer to any miniature breed dog. There are countless joys to owning these little boys and girls, however toy breeds need special attention during the young stages of their lives. By young, we mean 8 weeks out of the year. If you have come across a breeder who sells puppies before 8 weeks, GO! Small breed dogs must stay with their mothers for AT LEAST 8 weeks. However, a cub can leave their mothers at around 10-12 weeks. You can read more about choosing the right toy dog breeder here.
hypoglycemia
The most important condition to be aware of when you first receive your puppy is known as hypoglycemia. This condition appears most often in toy breed dogs like Yorkies, Maltese, Pomeranians, Chihuahuas, etc. According to the US National Laboratory of Medicine, hypoglycemia is a sudden drop in the concentration of glucose (sugar) in the blood below normal levels. Although it is most commonly seen in puppies from 5 to 16 weeks of age, adult dogs can have this problem if they are not cared for properly. This condition occurs more often in smaller dogs due to the “teacup” dogs’ lack of muscle mass. Less muscle mass equals a harder time storing glucose, making the toy dog breed more susceptible to hypoglycemia.
Your puppy’s body uses glucose as its main source of energy. As long as your pup eats regularly (see the section on feeding below), his glucose levels should remain stable. However, certain events can accelerate the onset of hypoglycemia, such as stress, low body temperature, poor nutrition, changing foods, and infections. (Please read below on how to make it easier for your pup to adjust to his new surroundings.) Signs of hypoglycemia include sluggishness, lethargy, drowsiness, staggering, chills, depression, and in severe cases, a coma-like state. One of the best methods to control hypoglycemia is to palpate the gums. A healthy puppy’s gums will feel warm and have a nice pink color. If your pup’s gums feel cold and look white, your pup could be experiencing hypoglycemia.
If you notice any of the symptoms listed above, immediately feed them a high-sugar supplement like Karo syrup, Nutra-Cal, or Nutri-Stat. Karo syrup can be found at most grocery stores and the other two supplements at most pet stores. Since Karo syrup is mainly made up of glucose, this would be the preferred adjunct to treat hypoglycemia. Just put some Karo syrup on your fingertip and let the pup lick it up. Sometimes a puppy will refuse to lick the syrup off your finger. In this case, gently open the puppy’s mouth and scrape the syrup from the back of the front teeth and let him swallow. Repeat the process a couple of times until the gums return to normal or until the above symptoms have disappeared. Most puppies can recover from mild hypoglycemia in 10 to 20 minutes. In severe cases where your pup appears to be slipping into a coma, immediately take him to the local animal hospital while a passenger force-feeds him Karo syrup on his way there.
In general, severe and non-serious cases of hypoglycemia can be prevented by:
1. Pay close attention to your puppy
2. Adequate nutrition
3. Rest
We recommend checking their gums every few hours just to make sure your little one stays healthy. If you work during the day, return at lunchtime or as often as you can to check on your pup’s health. The next section will discuss methods to help a puppy adjust to a new environment to help alleviate the rapid onset of hypoglycemia.
The first few days after bringing your puppy home
When you first bring your new puppy home, he may experience some nervousness in his new surroundings. Everything from new sights, smells, and people can be peculiar to your new pup. You need to allow them to explore their new environment and encourage them to play. Speaking quietly and calmly can help ease some of the nervousness and accommodate it to your voice. With a little patience, your new puppy will soon get used to his new surroundings and enjoy his new home.
Buying a playpen will come in handy at night and at times when you can’t keep a good eye on your dog. Keeping your pup in a playpen is not cruel; it just keeps them out of trouble when you can’t properly keep an eye on your dog. Remember, puppies can cause mischief faster than you can blink!
A good size playpen for toy breed puppies is approximately 3′ x 5′. Even a slightly smaller sized playpen will suffice. The point is to give your new pup a nice place to sleep and play, along with a potty area. If it’s larger, your pup may confuse where he sleeps and where he uses the bathroom. A small dog bed along with some soft baby blankets will be adequate for a sleeping and playing area. Also give your new pup some stuffed toys specifically for small dogs to play with. On the opposite side of the playpen, place a puppy potty pad or some pieces of newspaper for potty training. It is important to keep the bathing area as far away from the sleeping and playing area as possible. This helps them discern where they should sleep and where they should go to the bathroom. A nice gadget to go along with puppy potty pads is a potty pad holder. These work great to keep them from shredding newspapers and pee pads.
At bedtime, your pup will be used to sleeping with his brothers and sisters. The abruptness of sleeping can only invoke a feeling of loneliness that makes them cry for the first few nights. When your pup yells, simply touch his nose and say “no” in a soft but stern voice. Many people make the mistake of running to hug their puppy as soon as they hear it cry. However, you are actually letting them know that crying gets them what they want. In this situation, your new pup is training YOU!