Caring for your Maltese puppy
Hypoglycemia
What To Do Immediately · Learn What Is Normal · Prevention Is Much Easier Than Treatment
The Emergency Every Maltese Owner Needs to Understand
If there is one chapter I hope you never need...
It's this one.
I would love for you to read these pages, tuck them away in the back of your mind, and never think about them again.
But if the day ever comes when your puppy suddenly seems "not quite right," I want you to recognize the signs immediately.
Minutes matter.
Tiny Maltese puppies simply do not have the energy reserves that larger dogs have.
They burn through blood sugar remarkably quickly.
A missed meal.
Stress.
Travel.
Vomiting.
Diarrhea.
Too much excitement.
Even a long afternoon of playing can occasionally tip the balance in a very young puppy.
That is why every Storybook puppy goes home with Nutri-Cal.
I don't send it because I expect you'll need it.
I send it because I never want you wishing you had it.
What To Do Immediately
Stay calm.
Your puppy needs you thinking clearly.
Your first priority is simple: get calories into your puppy.
If your puppy is awake enough to swallow...
Offer food immediately.
Freshpet is often tempting because it's soft and aromatic. Rotisserie chicken works well too — anything your puppy finds hard to resist.
If they refuse food...
Reach for the Nutri-Cal.
Squeeze a small pea sized amount into their mouth at the side between the molars and canines where there's a natural gap that perfectly fits the syringe of Nutri-Cal provided with the puppy.
Not down the throat.
The sugars begin absorbing almost immediately, and it will likely make your puppy thirsty, so offer water too.
Wait about thirty minutes, then check on your puppy again.
While you wait, check your puppy's gums frequently. They should be a healthy pink. Pale gums are concerning. White, blue, gray, or very pale gums mean this is an emergency.
If you don't have Nutri-Cal available, Karo syrup, pancake syrup, or another simple sugar can be used in an emergency until veterinary care is available. Avoid honey for the first year, just like for human babies.
Keep your puppy warm.
A chilled puppy has an even harder time recovering.
Wrap them in a soft towel or blanket while you contact me and your veterinarian.
Never delay seeking veterinary care simply because your puppy seems a little better after receiving sugar.
Sometimes improvement is temporary. If the crash has been significant, continue offering a small amount of Nutri-Cal every thirty minutes while encouraging your puppy to eat, until you can get them eating on their own — that's the ultimate goal.
You'll know your puppy has turned the corner when they're eating normally on their own, their gums are a healthy pink, and they're acting like themselves again.
If your puppy continues to refuse food, becomes weaker, has difficulty standing, becomes unresponsive, has seizures, or simply doesn't improve promptly after Nutri-Cal, seek emergency veterinary care immediately.
Keep a can of chicken in the pantry just in case so you'll always have something tempting to offer if nothing else works.
Learn What Is Normal
The best way to recognize a sick puppy is to first know what a healthy puppy looks like.
Healthy puppies are curious.
Busy.
Playful.
Hungry.
They bounce from toy to toy.
They race around the room.
Then suddenly...
They collapse into a nap as though someone switched them off.
That's perfectly normal.
A healthy puppy wakes up ready to play again.
A puppy developing hypoglycemia often looks different.
They don't simply become sleepy.
They become quiet.
They lose interest.
Something just doesn't seem right.
I've learned over the years to trust that feeling.
If you ever find yourself saying,
"My puppy just isn't acting like himself..."
Pay attention.
You know your puppy.
Trust your instincts.
Early Signs
Hypoglycemia often begins quietly.
Your puppy may:
Refuse to eat.
Act unusually sleepy.
Seem weak.
Walk more slowly.
Become wobbly.
Have pale or blue gums.
Hide.
Tremble.
Appear confused.
Sometimes owners tell me,
"I thought he was just tired."
Maybe.
But don't assume.
Advanced Signs
If blood sugar continues to fall, things can become serious very quickly.
You may see:
Staggering.
Difficulty standing.
Head pressing.
Glassy or squinty eyes.
Muscle twitching.
Seizures.
Collapse.
Loss of consciousness.
This is no longer something to "watch."
This is an emergency.
Prevention Is Much Easier Than Treatment
Fortunately...
Most cases can be prevented.
Keep dry kibble available at all times.
Offer Freshpet food twice daily during the adjustment period.
Avoid allowing your puppy to become overtired.
Limit long periods of strenuous play.
Watch carefully during times of stress.
Monitor eating after travel.
Monitor eating after vaccinations.
Monitor eating after exciting family gatherings.
Pay attention after vomiting or diarrhea.
One missed meal isn't always an emergency.
Several missed meals can become one.
Why I'm Such A Stickler About Eating
Sometimes families laugh because I ask the same questions every time they call.
"Is your puppy eating?"
"Is your puppy drinking?"
"Has your puppy peed?"
"Has your puppy pooped?"
I'm not making conversation.
Those four answers tell me an enormous amount.
Especially with a toy breed.
I've learned that by the time a tiny puppy actually looks critically ill...
They've often been getting into trouble for quite a while.
That's why I would much rather have you call me early.
I'd rather reassure you that everything is fine than wish we'd talked an hour sooner.
When In Doubt...
Call. Text. Email. GET IN TOUCH!
Call your veterinarian.
Call the emergency clinic.
I have never been upset because someone called too soon.
I have been heartbroken because someone waited too long.
Never worry about bothering me.
If one of my puppies needs help...
I want to know.
And remember to always check those gums! They should be nice and pink. Never pale, white, blue, only pink.
The Heart of the Matter
Hypoglycemia is one of the few true emergencies every Maltese owner should understand before they ever need to.
Learn the signs.
Keep Nutri-Cal where you can find it quickly.
Trust your instincts.
When something doesn't feel right...Act.
I'd much rather discover it wasn't an emergency than discover we waited too long.