Breeds & Care

Hypoglycemia in Toy Breeds

Hypoglycemia is a sudden drop in blood sugar. Tiny breeds — including Cavapoos and especially Yorkiepoos — are vulnerable until about 4–6 months of age because their bodies cannot store glucose efficiently. Stress, skipped meals, chilling, or excess play can trigger an episode.

Warning signs

• Lethargy, weakness, or wobbly gait
• Pale or grayish gums
• Cold body, shivering
• Glassy or unfocused eyes
• Tremors, collapse, or seizures

Prevention

• Feed small meals every 3–4 hours; never let your puppy go more than 4 hours without food while awake
• Keep your puppy warm and calm during the first week home
• Limit handling, baths, and high-energy play in the first 48 hours
• Ask your veterinarian whether a glucose-support item is recommended for your puppy, and keep it on hand if so

Emergency response

If you suspect low blood sugar, treat weakness, collapse, tremors or seizures as urgent. Keep the puppy warm and contact your veterinarian or emergency clinic immediately. If the puppy is awake, responsive and able to swallow, follow any glucose-support instructions previously provided by your veterinarian. Do not force food or liquid into the mouth of an unconscious, poorly responsive or actively seizing puppy. Even if the puppy appears to recover, veterinary evaluation is appropriate because low blood sugar can have more than one cause.

First Vet Visit & Ongoing Care

Schedule your puppy's first wellness examination within 72 consecutive hours of physical pickup or delivery, consistent with the TS2K Purchase Agreement and Health Guarantee. It also helps you build a relationship with a vet you trust.

• Bring the health record, vaccine record, and microchip information we provide
• Ask for a fecal parasite check
• Discuss heartworm and flea/tick prevention timing
• Plan future booster visits around the schedule below
• Discuss spay/neuter timing with your veterinarian. Appropriate timing can vary by sex, breed, size, health history and individual risk factors.

Vaccination Schedule

Your puppy receives age-appropriate vaccination before going home, recorded on the vaccination record we provide. You and your veterinarian continue the series. Current American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) guidance treats distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, leptospirosis and rabies as core vaccines; parainfluenza is commonly included in combination products. Your veterinarian sets the exact schedule.

Until your veterinarian says your puppy's series is complete, avoid dog parks, unknown or unvaccinated dogs, pet-store floors and heavily dog-trafficked public potty areas. Carry your puppy in public spaces. Safe, controlled socialization should still continue while vaccination is in progress (see below).

Training & Socialization

Crate training

Make the crate a safe, positive space — feed meals inside, never use it for punishment. Puppies under 12 weeks should not be crated longer than 2–3 hours during the day.

Potty training

• Take outside immediately after waking, eating, drinking, and play
• Use a consistent verbal cue and reward immediately after success
• Expect accidents until ~5–6 months — clean with enzymatic cleaner, never punish

Foundation cues

Sit, down, come, and gentle leash walking — short 3–5 minute sessions, several times a day. Use small treats and positive reinforcement only. No leash corrections or aversive tools on small breeds.

Socialization window (up to 16 weeks)

Expose your puppy gently to varied sights, sounds, surfaces, and calm people. Safe, controlled socialization should begin during this early window while vaccination is in progress, under veterinary guidance — don't wait until the series is finished. Puppy classes may begin before the entire vaccine series is complete when age-appropriate vaccination/deworming and the class's sanitation requirements are met. Keep avoiding dog parks, unknown or unvaccinated dogs, pet-store floors and heavily dog-trafficked public potty areas. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) supports early, safe socialization.

Feeding & Nutrition

• TS2K puppies may not all be eating the same formula. Follow the puppy-specific food, daily amount, meal frequency and transition instructions provided with your puppy.
• If you change foods, transition gradually over 7–10 days: Days 1–2, 75% current / 25% new; Days 3–4, 50% / 50%; Days 5–7, 25% current / 75% new; Days 8–10, 100% new if tolerated
• Fresh water always available
• Treats no more than 10% of daily calories
• Never feed: chocolate, grapes/raisins, onions, garlic, alcohol, macadamia nuts or cooked bones
• Xylitol (a sugar substitute found in some sugar-free gum, candy, baked goods, toothpaste, peanut butter and other products) is highly toxic to dogs and can cause dangerously low blood sugar. Always check ingredient labels and never give your puppy a product containing xylitol.

Grooming

Poodle-mix coats need consistent care. Brush 2–3× per week (daily during coat change ~6–9 months). Plan a short, positive first professional grooming introduction during the early puppy months; timing depends on your veterinarian's advice, vaccination status and the groomer's health requirements. Trim nails every 2–3 weeks. Clean ears weekly and brush teeth several times a week.

Red Flags — Call Your Vet

• Vomiting or diarrhea lasting more than 12 hours, or with blood
• Refusal to eat or drink for more than 12 hours
• Any signs of hypoglycemia (see above)
• Labored breathing, persistent coughing, or pale gums
• Sudden lethargy, collapse, or seizure activity
• Suspected toxin ingestion — also call the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435