Hypoglycemia: Low Blood Sugar

Hypoglycemia simply means a low blood sugar. Glucose is the form of sugar found within the bloodstream. Glucose is formed during the digestion of foods and it can be stored within the liver in a storage form called glycogen. Most instances of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in the puppy are the result of inadequate nutrition; either not enough or poor quality (undigestible) food. Excessive exercise may also cause the body to use up more sugar than is available.

What are the symptoms?

A puppy with hypoglycemia will lack energy. Glucose (sugar) is the fuel the body burns for energy; without it the puppy is listless. In severe instances, the puppy may even seizure, since glucose is necessary for the brain tissue and muscles to function. These hypoglycemic episodes will cause the puppy to fall over and appear weak or comatose.

What are the risks?

The risks depend on the severity or extent of the lack of blood sugar. If it is due to lack of food or excessive exercise it can be easily corrected. If however, the underlying cause is more serious, such as liver disease preventing the storage of glucose as glycogen, or intestinal disease preventing the proper digestion and/or absorption of food, then hypoglycemia may be chronic and life threatening.

What is the management?

If a puppy is listless due to low blood sugar, it is imperative to immediately provide sugar. Karo syrup and honey are excellent sugar sources and should be fed to the puppy. If the puppy fails to respond to sugar, or the hypoglycemic episodes are frequent, then a thorough exam by a veterinarian is in order. It must be determined if the low blood sugar is simply the result of inadequate nutrition or a more severe underlying disease.

PUPPY WORMS

Parasitic worms are as common as fleas to dogs and, especially, to puppies. From the half-inch- long hookworms to the flat, segmented tapeworms that can reach three feet in length, But in most cases, worm detection is easy and treatment is effective.

However, ignoring possible symptoms and necessary treatments can lead to serious illnesses and sometimes even the death of your dog

The most common worms to dogs in the United States are the roundworm, tapeworm, whipworm, and hookworm - which live primarily in the dog's intestine and the heartworm, which lives within the heart and in the blood vessels leading from the heart to the lungs.

The roundworm known as Toxocara canis is the most common, and puppies are often born with an infection. In the mother dog, the resting round- worm larvae are activated by hormones during pregnancy, and the larvae then cross the placenta to infect the unborn puppies. Less commonly, the larvae are carried in the mother's milk into the newborn puppies.

Within a few weeks after birth, puppies who were born with roundworm larvae will discharge roundworms eggs in their feces. The mother dog then reinfects herself by ingesting the eggs when she licks her puppies clean.

Intestinal parasites are also transmitted to your pets by other animals contaminating the soil. The infected animal will defecate the worm or the eggs. These eggs will then develop into a microscopic larvae. The larvae will then attach itself to your pet's paws and migrate through the body, eventually ending up in the intestine of your pet.

Granny often gets the question of why puppies may still have worms when she de wormed them regularly...the answer lies in the fact that the vet also recommends de worming once a month doesn't he?  So it is an ongoing process for the well being and health of your puppy to keep up this practice of monthly de worming.

What is the best advice I can give new puppy buyers?

Granny wishes for you a lifetime of happiness with your new little one.  Please take great care in the next few days as your little pup will be displaced going from everything he/she knows to nothing he/she knows.  Please have someone home at all times for the next few days.  Have their bed, blankets, toy, water and food available at all times.  Feed and water 24/7 and keep warm and up from drafts or cold floors.  Puppies sleep a lot, some 80% of the time, but your should be playful during waking times.  

At this time Granny asks that you make his/her appointment with your vet to make sure that your puppy is well and know exactly when the next vaccine will be given.  Also that your new pup be kept indoors in your home. Summer heat especially is hard on little baby puppies.   Crate training or a pen where he/she can move about easily.

Though it's important to socialize your pup you should limit play times to 15 minutes several times a day for the first few days while he/she gets used to the new forever home.  Potty training can start in a few days.

If you should be concerned about your little pup in any way, please call Granny or e-mail me at any time.

Your new puppy should eat readily and drink bottled water several times a day.  This is most important to his/her well being.  If he/she should go "off" their food or water it can be stressful to their system and he/she may need a little coaxing to get back eating and drinking.

Do not give milk, raisins, chocolate, there are many things than can be harmful to their digestive system.  You can give them a teaspoon of cottage cheese or very small bites of cooked chicken or hamburger along with their dry food.  your veterinarian will advise you on future vaccinations, de worming and health concerns you may have.  This is a good time to talk about spaying or neutering your puppy as well.  Have the vets' phone numbers in the health records.  

Granny has spent countless hours raising, cleaning, socializing and loving your new puppy.  This is the hard part, letting them go to their forever homes.  If at any time you cannot keep your pup for any reason, you may bring him/her back to us and we will either place or find another home for him/her.  We do not buy them back but offer this as sometimes life can throw a curve and we wish that our babies have a guarantee of home for life.

Granny fondest wish is that you have a loving lifetime companion in your new puppy.

sales@grannygrumpspups.com

Common Questions From New Moms and Dads 

1. Are the pups raised in the house?
Yes, these puppies are raised in Granny Grumps House.

Granny Grumps Pups raises both purebred and designer puppies. All of our puppies come registerable. Names are up to the buyer.

3. Do you guarantee your puppies?
Yes, Grannys' pups  come with the PAWS Warranty.

4. Do your pups have shots? Have they been d-wormed?
Yes,they come with at least the first series of shots and first d-wormings, but it is the buyer's responsibility to provide further d-wormings and shots.

5. Are your puppies potty trained? House broken?
Partially but not guaranteed. Our work is concentrated on the health and good nutrition of our puppies. Trainings are never included and it is the buyer's responsibility to provide any further trainings.

6. Are you a puppy mill?
Granny Grumps Pups DO NOT come from puppy mills and all of our puppies are raised in Granny Grumps home.

7. Why are some puppies more expensive than others?
Granny Grump prices puppies based on size, conformation, cuteness, heritage and characteristics.

Depending on the situation but we go as safe as possible.
A) If you have Children under the age of 16, adults that lack of good reflexes or bigger dogs then we highly suggest a dog that is going to be over 5 Lbs.
B) You can have tiny puppies/dogs if you are an adult living with responsible people that are still able to have good reflexes. We can't put an age to see how old is the limit, but you should be able to tell if your relatives fit into this criteria.
These suggestions can be clearly explained by your local veterinarian too.

9. Can I come and see the puppies before I pay for it?
Yes, under the following restrictions
* Anytime Noon.- 9:00 p.m..
*  Call me first if you are bringing a large  group.  * For safety reasons, since we can't tell who has been around with another puppy or dog with Parvo or other diseases, we will not allow you to come in and touch each of our puppies, instead we will bring the puppy you selected to the front (If available) and we will disinfect your hands before and after touching a puppy.
NOTE: Parvo virus, despite what you might hear, is NOT an airborne virus. It is excreted in the feces of infected dogs, and if someone ( human, dog, bird, etc.) Steps in the infected excrement or otherwise comes in contact with it, the possibility for contamination is great.  Just by walking out the streets you may be carrying a virus on your shoes. Most of prospective puppy buyers may check out several kennels in one day, never informing the owners of a litter, that they have looked at and handled other pups. If they inadvertently handled a contagious puppy at the first kennel stop of the day, the prospective buyer can then carry the disease on their hands and clothing to each kennel seen afterwards. As a matter of fact; anyone can carry & transmit the Parvo virus without even knowing that

10. What can you tell me about an specific dog's personality, temperament, demeanor?

All of our Dams & Sires have passed Granny Grumps strict guidelines for health,temperament, conformation, personalities and they love everyone!  No biters here!

All our puppies have cute, playful & sweet personalities and 90% of the time we can't see any difference from one to another. I am sure that you won't get disappointed.

11. Which one makes a better pet, a male or female?
There are no specific or scientific research that proves which canine sex is better. The conclusion to this questions is based on personal experiences. In our own experience we find that both genders, as long as you spay or neuter, are very good pets with no difference at all.

12. Can I buy the youngest puppy (like 5-6 weeks old at most), which one would you recommend?
No, for the following reason this is not only my suggestion, but also my vet and any other vet's recommendations:
Any puppy older  than 8 to 14 weeks of age is ideal, the main reason is that by that age they will already have at least 2 series of shots, this makes a stronger immune system and they will be easier to potty train too, unfortunately people always feel attracted to baby puppies with low or no immune defense.  Most of our babies are better suited to go to your home after 10 weeks.  More time for the tiniest ones of course,  the wait will be worth it in the long run.

13. How does the immunizations process work?
All born puppies get temporal antibodies from their mother, this is obtained from the mother's colostrums which is found on her milk and the puppies will receive it within the first 48 hours of nursing. These antibodies will mostly protect the puppy against bacteria's, viruses, germs, etc for a period of 30 days. After the first month, the amount of antibodies will be dropping drastically week after week that's why all series of vaccination should start from the age of 6-8 weeks to a total of 4 rounds of shots.
Most of vaccine laboratories make what is called "high titer vaccine" This is supposed to not only neutralize or overwrite the mother's immunity, but also to allow the puppy to build its own immunity, however the immunization chart is expected to be the following
1st  shots (protects a 20%) at 6-8 wks old
2nd shots (Raises protection to 50%) given 2-4 weeks later
3rd Shots (up to 75%-80%) given 2-4 weeks later
4th & Last shots (90%-100%) given 2-4 weeks later
Then annual vaccinations will be required.

14. Are these designer dogs first generations?
Some are first generations but some are not.
Designer dogs can be either a cross between 2 pure breed dogs, 2 second generation dogs, 1 pure dog and 1 designer dog or multi-generation.

15. What is a designer dog?
A designer "as the name tells you" it's a design, it does not meet any standards like pure breed dogs and that's why they are unique and most of the times very adorable.

16. Can I have your vet's number to call for reference?
Granny Grumps Pups had his information posted on our  site and everybody was calling just to ask general questions about my service interrupting his valuable time. Of course he was not happy with that since he does not get paid to work as a reference source. Keep in mind that he has to attend his other important clients too.