Pip's corner
What's different about a toy-breed puppy?
By Dr. Steve Pelton, DVM. Small-animal vet since 2000.
Your host
Pip, a Chihuahua mix
This corner is for
Chihuahuas, Yorkies, Maltese, Pomeranians, Toy Poodles, and any puppy headed for under about 10 lb.
Mixed breed? Read the corner that fits his body, not just the name on the paperwork. An 80-pound Lab-Shepherd mix belongs in Moose's corner.
The short answer
- Tiny puppies run out of fuel fast. Feed on a schedule and never skip a meal.
- A toy puppy who skips a meal and seems quiet: call your vet and head in, with a little corn syrup or honey rubbed on his gums on the way.
- Any fall or drop is a trip to the vet now, even if he seems fine.
- Ask about baby teeth that won't let go and kneecaps that slip.
Small tank, fast engine
A toy-breed puppy has very little fat and stored sugar to fall back on. Skipping a meal, getting cold, getting stressed or playing hard can drop his blood sugar quickly, and puppies under about 12 weeks are most at risk. Low blood sugar looks like weak, wobbly, trembling, unusually sleepy or "out of it," and it can lead to a seizure.
- Feed on a regular schedule. Never skip meals to "rest his stomach."
- Keep him warm.
- Pack food for car rides, visits and long days out.
Tap what you see
Pip's fuel check
Eating on schedule, warm and playful? That's a happy little engine.
Not sure which one fits? Call your vet. General education, not veterinary advice. Your vet's plan for your puppy comes first.
Tiny teeth
Toy breeds are especially likely to keep a baby tooth when the adult one comes in. Two teeth in one spot is a reason to call your vet soon, not something to save for the spay or neuter.
Falls, feet and kneecaps
A jump off the couch or a slip from a child's arms is a much bigger deal for a 2-pound puppy. Have kids sit on the floor to hold him, use steps or ramps for furniture, and know where he is before you back up in the kitchen.
Toy breeds are also several times more likely to have kneecaps that slip. It often looks like a few skipping, hopping steps on a back leg, then back to normal. Ask your vet to check.
Not sure how often to feed? The food picker builds a meal schedule for tiny puppies.
Questions I get every day
My toy puppy skipped a meal. What should I do?
If he skipped a meal and seems quiet, call your vet and head in. On the drive, rub a little corn syrup or honey on his gums. Never pour liquid into the mouth of a puppy who can't swallow, and remember the sugar is for the drive, not instead of the vet. If he's bright and playful, still call your vet today.
What does low blood sugar look like in a puppy?
A puppy who's weak, wobbly, trembling, unusually sleepy or "out of it," and it can lead to a seizure. Puppies under about 12 weeks are most at risk. That's go now: head to your vet or the nearest emergency clinic and call on the way.
Why does my Chihuahua puppy skip on one back leg?
It may be a kneecap that slips. Toy breeds are several times more likely to have it; in a UK study of more than 200,000 dogs, Pomeranians, Chihuahuas and Yorkies each had several times the odds of mixed breeds. Mention it at the next visit and ask your vet to check his knees.
Where this comes from
- AKC. Hypoglycemia in dogs. 2024 (toy-breed puppies under about 12 weeks most at risk).
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Hypoglycemia in toy-breed puppies.
- O'Neill DG, Meeson RL, Sheridan A, Church DB, Brodbelt DC. The epidemiology of patellar luxation in dogs attending primary-care veterinary practices in England. Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 2016;3:4.
- American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). 2019 Dental Care Guidelines (retained baby teeth).
General education, not veterinary advice. Your vet's plan for your puppy comes first.