We would like to address some special instructions for our tiny puppies to keep them healthy.  Always consider your puppy as a baby, and give them the love, care, & attention that they will need.  Here are some helpful suggestions, PLEASE read them!

For these Tiny Breed Dogs we feed Fromm Hansen Duckenpfeffer Grain-Free German Dry Dog Food and Merrick Classic Real Lamb and Brown Rice Grain Dry Dog Food.  You will mix ⅓ Grain-Free with ⅔ Grain each time the bowl is empty and it can be purchased at a Pet Specialty store, NOT Pet Smart, Pet Plus, Pet Co, Wal-mart, Sams, or Costco.  For the 1st week or so, make sure your puppy gets whatever he wants to eat.  Puppies need frequent meals to prevent a hypoglycemic crisis.  Your puppy should be eating every 3 – 4 hours.  I keep food out at all times as well as fresh water.  Bottled Water is best for their digestive tracts.  Don’t leave your baby unattended for extended lengths of time, until your baby has totally acclimated to its new home.  Long periods of time left alone in a new, strange environment may cause anxiety and additional stress.  You will want to be with your baby as much as possible in the first few weeks.  Make sure you allow your puppy to have plenty of rest.  Babies usually eat and sleep during the first four months of life – your puppy is no different.  It will require plenty of food, water, and  rest. Sometimes they DO NOT eat well after moving to a new residence, and you can give them a little Plain Yogurt or Cottage Cheese daily, they like it and it is good for them.  NEVER give them milk, BUTYogurt or Kefir can be given to help with digestion.  The puppy LOVES just a half teaspoon of PLAIN yogurt or PLAIN Kefir (found in the milk section of most stores) a day on top of their dry food – JUST a thumb size on top.  Also, a half teaspoon of quality soft food can be put on top of their dry dog food.  Use Stainless Steel bowls and leave the food down at all times-so their Blood Sugar does NOT drop.   Give 1 or 2 Cheerio cereal if Constipated.   Your puppy may miss their mom and littermates.  A new environment can be stressful and overwhelming, so PLEASE hold, love, and give the puppy lots of attention daily.

Brush the puppy Daily as to get them used to being brushed.  Pinch the puppy’s toes Daily so you can have an easy clipping of their nails.  Put your fingers in the puppy’s mouth and ears Daily as to have an easy time giving medicine in their mouth and/or ears.  Make ALL of this a SPECIAL TIME and give them a TREAT after completing this Daily,  They LOVE to chew Lamb Ears and Turkey Sticks - MADE IN THE USA only.  Give them Bocce’s Soft P.B. & Banana Treats at night and also during Potty training – these can be ordered through Amazon or Chewy. DO NOT give them Rawhides, they can’t assimilate them. 

Remember your puppy  will need to go about 15 mins. after eating, after naps, when waking up in the morning, and after playing hard.  Your puppyWILL  LEARN – IF YOUConfine them, are Consistent & Congratulate while training.  You need to buy Re-washable pads –or disposable with a lock down tray.  Your Puppy may try to go on your rugs because the puppy thinks those are re-washable pads like I use.  Usually, it is thePEOPLE that need to teach the puppy to go on the pad or OUTSIDE, not the puppy; because they want to please you.

Play Time and Rest Time:  Make sure you spend lots of quality time with your baby.  Play time should be limited to 10 – 15 minutes.  A worn out puppy will quickly crash with hypoglycemia as it has exhausted its energy supply.   Nutri-Cal, or Nutri-Stat will always encourage your puppy’s appetite.  Make sure you are giving it AM, Noon, & PM in their mouth.   If your  puppy is not eating or drinking well, you may need to increase your supplements for more times during the day.  Hypoglycemia is defined as abnormally low blood glucose (sugar) levels.  The brain requires sugar for normal function, and unlike many other organs, the brain has a very limited ability to store glucose.  The brain is the organ that is predominantly affected when blood glucose gets too low.  Remember the brain is starving for glucose.  Tiny dogs do not have fat reserves to supply glucose in times of stress or when they do not eat regularly.  Should your puppy show signs of the following:  lethargic, loss of appetite, droopy, tail tucked, drooling, limp, seizure fits; apply some Karo Syrup, Nutri-Cal, or Nutri-Stat to the gums or in the roof of his mouth; wait for puppy to respond. Give several dabs if needed. They like the taste and it is very good for them.  It is a high energy supplement that will keep their energy up and you should see positive results in just a few minutes after giving it!  

PLEASE REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING:

a) Always keep Nutri-Cal, Nutri-Stat, or Karo Syrup on hand. This is the quickest way to revive a hypoglycemic puppy. Caution: Honey may contain botulism spores and therefore should not be given to puppies under 6 months of age.
b) If you ever see your puppy becoming listless, or laying on their side and acting unresponsive IMMEDIATELY rub Nutri-Cal, Nutri-Stat, or Karo Syrup on their gums, under their tongue, and on the roof of the mouth.                                                                                              c)Slowly warm them to normal body temperature with a heating pad (pet safe). Feed them as soon as he responds.  Keep your puppy from chilling, free of parasites, and minimize stress.
d) See that your puppy eats often and maintains a proper body weight.
e) Do not over-handle your puppy. Be sure to allow him rest time and alone time. Like all babies, puppies need to have a regular schedule of rest, meals, play, and potty. 

Your puppy will need to be given follow up vaccinations every 3 - 4 weeks.  Your vet can help you with that.  Make sure they only give 1 vaccine at a time along with a Benadryl shot or a Diphenhydramine pill; our small, rare, tiny breed dogs have had reactions and even death.  Please don’t allow the Flu, Corona, or Lyme shot to be given.  The Lepto shot will be up to you and your Veterinarian if you live in a wet area. 

If your puppy needs a veterinarian’s attention, please make sure you find a small animal doctor.  We hope you find one with a length of experience with tiny puppies.  There are many vets who do not know the first thing about these tiny puppies.  You can gain a lot of vital information from long term tiny vets.  We suggest to NEVER leave your puppy at the vet’s office without you, because you are introducing your new baby into another new environment, new people, new everything – again which adds even more stress on the puppy.  As a new owner, you need to make sure that you consider the proper decisions to alleviate as much unwarranted stress as possible for your baby. PLEASE advocate for your puppy as they will bring you years of joy; they are a TRUE pleasure to own!  You will LOVE your puppy!   Please take the time to give us a GOOD review on FACEBOOK under my page Midwest Mini Mikis!  Thank you,

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Gayla Vieta

Midwest Mini Mikis

316-303-5655