Hypoglycemia is a condition characterized by a sudden drop in glucose concentration in the blood below the standard level. Glucose serves as a primary source of energy. The brain is one organ of the body that relies on the glucose level to function.

Liver is the principal organ responsible for the manufacture of glucose as well as for storage in a usable form. One common example is the emission of glucose into the blood stream as required. Some of the materials in the process is stored in the muscle tissue.

Hypoglycemia in yorkie puppies commonly happens between 5 to 16 weeks. Stress, low body temperature, poor nutrition, sudden changes in the feeding, water and scheduled patterns, infections, and premature birth is the common symptoms of hypoglycemia. Predisposition to transient juvenile hypoglycemia is more common in puppies designed for small breeding because they have insufficient muscle mass and they experience difficulty in storing the glucose in their body as well as maintaining the proper regulation of their blood sugar.

Severe hypoglycemia in puppies results from the consumption of sugar-free gum containing xylitol. This type of sugar has minimal effects on the plasma insulin or glucose levels of humans. However, in the case of dogs, xylitol can trigger the release of insulin and may lead to hypoglycemia accompanied by collapses and seizures.

In the United States, there is an increase of sweetened products containing xylitol which makes dogs susceptible to xylitol toxicosis. Fortunately, dogs can outgrow this condition.

In dogs and cats, insulinoma is caused by a tumor in the functional islet cell of the pancreas. Although breeds such as Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd, Irish Setters, to name a few can be prone to this condition, most toy breeds are more at risk of getting insulinomas.

In addition, hypoglycemia can also be caused by excessive administration of insulin to animals suffering from diabetes mellitus. The likelihood of insulin overdose is higher in cats than in dogs. Injection should be administered once or twice a day.

Hypoglycemia is likewise prominent in highly nervous hunting dogs. In most instances, the dog exhibits apparent disorientation, weakness, and generalized seizures. Although the dog will slowly recover, their ability to hunt is usually compromised. To remedy the situation, you can feed your dog with protein rich foods and/or candy bars.

Keeping yourself informed about hypoglycemia in yorkie puppies as well as its treatment can make a big difference in the recovery and survival of the puppy.