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 miniature 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, which comes from years of personal research and experience dealing specifically with miniature breed dogs. Always consult a veterinarian for any questions about your dog.

We personally own Yorkshire Terriers (Yorkies), and have gained a great deal of experience dealing with this fantastic breed. Below is our sweetheart, “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 in owning these little boys and girls, however toy breeds need special attention during the young stages of their life. By young, we mean the 8 weeks to 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 pup can leave its 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 welcome your puppy is known as hypoglycemia. This condition appears most often in toy breed dogs like Yorkies, Maltese, Pomeranian, Chihuahua, 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 between 5 and 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 lack of muscle mass of “teacup” dogs. Less muscle mass equates to 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 puppy eats regularly (see feeding section 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 help your pup adjust to his new environment.) 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 feel 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 supplement to treat hypoglycemia. Just put some Karo syrup on the tip of your finger and let the pup lick it off. 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 allow the puppy to swallow. Repeat the process a couple of times until the gums return to normal or until the previous 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, take him immediately to the local animal hospital while a passenger force-feeds him Karo syrup on his way there.

In general, severe and non-severe 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, come back 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 rapid onset hypoglycemia.

The First 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 puppy. It should allow them to explore their new surroundings and encourage them to play. Speaking quietly and calmly can help alleviate 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 puppy in a playpen isn’t cruel; it just keeps them out of trouble when you can’t keep an eye on your dog properly. Remember, puppies can cause mischief faster than you can blink!

A good size playpen for toy breed puppies is about 3′ x 5′. Even a slightly smaller size playground will suffice. The point is to give your new puppy a nice place to sleep and play, along with a potty area. If it is larger, your pup may confuse where it sleeps and where it uses the bathroom. A small dog bed along with some soft baby blankets will work well 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 a few pieces of newspaper for them to take care of pottying. It is important to keep the bathroom area as far away from the sleeping and playing area as possible. This helps them discern where to sleep and where to go to the bathroom. A nice gadget to go along with puppy potty pads is a potty pad holder. These work great to keep newspapers and pee pads from getting shredded.

At bedtime, your puppy will be used to sleeping with his brothers and sisters. The suddenness of falling asleep 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 gentle but stern voice. Many people make the mistake of running to hug their puppy as soon as they hear a cry. However, you are actually letting them know that crying gets them what they want. In this situation, your new pup is training YOU!