Yorkies are a Toy Breed and most of the Yorkies that we place are very small. Even the larger puppies are delicate and need special care. It is of the utmost importance that they have free access to food and water at all times of the day and night.
We feed all of our puppies Eukanuba Puppy Small Bites. I feel that it is one of the best foods on the market and exceptional when compared to other premium brands. While the puppies are young, I moisten the dry food for a few minutes to make it easier for them to eat.
All dogs and puppies will have a small amount of canned food mixed into their dry food to encourage them to finish their meals. Should you wish to eliminate this canned food and feed only dry dog food, please go slowly, removing a small amount at a time until they are only receiving dry food at a meal. Make sure that they are eating enough while taking steps to wean from the mixture of canned and dry foods. NEVER go by the assumption that “they will eat when they get hungry enough!” They won’t always do so, and Yorkies must eat on a regular basis.
Most cases of hypoglycemia are a direct result of the puppy using all of its energy stores either playing for extended periods of time, or to deal with stress or heat and cold. I repeat: Yorkies must eat on a regular basis to avoid this situation!
In a hypoglycemic state, the dog’s blood sugar drops to a critical level and must be restored to avoid disaster. This is a true emergency, and you must be prepared to take the steps necessary to prevent coma and possible death in your puppy.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia are: listlessness, pale gums, difficulty walking, uneven gait, or even falling over when walking. In more advanced cases, a puppy will be limp and unresponsive and can even become comatose very quickly.
Time is of the essence when dealing with this condition.
Keep a tube of Nutra-Stat on hand at all times. This paste is highly palatable and will be easy to feed to your puppy in a situation described above. Place a marble-sized “glob” on your finger and rub onto the roof of your puppy’s mouth, making sure they are swallowing. Repeat after five minutes. In very extreme cases where Nutra-Stat does not achieve success, place a few drops of light corn syrup (Karo) or honey on the tongue. Always attempt to feed a puppy treated with high levels of sugar a protein-based meal following treatment to even out the glucose in their system. Runny stools after high sugar treatment is normal in most cases.
If your puppy is not much improved after ten minutes, seek emergency veterinary help immediately. Time is of the essence. If your puppy has suffered a hypoglycemic episode, watch him carefully for a few days to make sure he is eating enough and to make sure he is not in danger of another attack. A veterinary exam is advised to make sure your puppy has recovered fully from his hypoglycemic episode. Puppies can and will die from shock after a severe attack if not monitored closely.
Most Yorkie puppies will outgrow the tendency for hypoglycemia as they mature and gain weight. There are some extremely small Yorkies who are at risk even as adults. So remember, when you have your heart set on a very tiny Yorkie, you must make a commitment to deal with this situation and be prepared for it at all times. The ideal home for a very small Yorkie is one where there is someone home all day to monitor the dog’s behavior or to take the dog along whenever you have to leave the house. They love to travel and are easy to take along on errands or even to your office.
Tracheal Bronchitis is a treatable condition but will take some treatment and effort on your part to cure the puppy of it. Clavamox is the treatment prescribed by our vet and Children’s Benadryl will make your puppy more comfortable.
There are a number of intestinal parasites (worms) that can be present in dogs and puppies. Roundworm and hookworm can be treated with Nemex. Tapeworm must be treated with a prescription medication such as Droncit. Your veterinarian can perform a stool test to determine the presence of parasites and can recommend and prescribe treatment. All of our dogs are on a regular worming schedule and your puppy has been treated according to our vet’s prescribed protocol.
Coccidia is a bacteria that lies dormant in the intestinal tract of many dogs and puppies. Stress is one factor that can cause an outbreak and can make your puppy produce runny, bloody stools which contain mucous. The stress of going to a new home can cause an outbreak and this is not uncommon. Albon is the treatment advised by our vet and your vet can test your puppy for this illness.