Hypoglycemia in Dogs

Hypoglycemia in dogs results from a sudden drop in the concentration of blood sugar levels in the body. Dogs that go into hypoglycemia suffer from weakness, they can collapse, and sometimes go into seizures.

Hypoglycemia is medically defined as abnormally low blood glucose (sugar) levels.

Our body (and our dog's body too!) uses glucose as its primary energy source.

In particular, the brain needs sugar in order to function normally, and unlike many other organs, the brain has a very limited ability to store glucose.

As a result, when blood glucose level becomes very low, the brain is the organ that is affected the most.

Causes of Hypoglycemia in Dogs

Blood sugar levels are regulated by a complex interaction of hormones and other bodily processes.

Canine hypoglycemia can be caused by abnormal hormonal functions or by the inability of the dog's body to store sufficient amount of blood glucose. These abnormalities in turn can be the result of any of the following:

Insulinoma

The pancreas produces insulin which causes blood sugar levels to decrease. Insulinomas are tumors of the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

Insulinomas can cause an increase in insulin production, resulting in low blood sugar levels.

Insulin overdose

If an excessive amount of insulin is administered to a dog with diabetes, the dog will suffer from hypoglycemia.

Toy Breed Hypoglycemia

Some toy breeds (such as Chihuahuas, Yorkshire Terriers, Maltese, Toy Poodles and Pomeranian) are prone to hypoglycemia due to a metabolic disorder. If you have a toy breed dog, it is better to feed her 3 small meals a day to avoid hypoglycemia.

Puppy Hypoglycemia

Puppies, especially toy breed puppies less than 5 months of age, are predisposed to developing hypoglycemia because they are less able to store and mobilize glucose. Also, toy breed puppies have more brain mass per body weight compared to other breeds and therefore need more glucose for brain function.

In puppies, certain situations can bring on a hypoglycemic attack. For example, when the puppy misses a meal, becomes chilled, or is suffering from exhaustion, or anxiety.

Sometimes when a puppy gets older, she will outgrow this condition since canine hypoglycemia mostly affects puppies 5 to 16 weeks of age. However, if the dog is high strung, or has a lot of nervous energy, she has to be kept in a calm state as much as possible.

Addison's Disease

Addison's disease in dogs is a condition in which there is insufficient secretion of the corticosteroid hormones from the adrenal glands. One result of this hormonal deficiency is hypoglycemia.

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Symptoms of Hypoglycemia in Dogs

Dogs with extremely low blood glucose usually show the following signs:

Lethargy and weakness
Confusion and disorientation
Restlessness and agitation
Muscle incoordination
Nervousness
Trembling
Seizures

In severe cases, the dog may become unconscious and sometimes die.

The severity of the symptoms depends on the level of the blood glucose and how fast the blood glucose level drops. If left untreated, a dog showing mild symptoms of hypoglycemia can deteriorate rapidly. Immediate veterinary treatment is essential - dogs suffering from prolonged hypoglycemia or repeated occurrences of the condition can have permanent damage to their brains.

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First Aid for Hypoglycemia in Dogs

If your dog is prone to hypoglycemia, you should always be prepared to deal with the onset of the condition.

As mentioned above, hypoglycemia is very dangerous and can kill if left without treatment. Immediately veterinary treatment is essential. However, before getting to the vet, there are several things that you can do to prevent the condition from deteriorating.

The first thing to do is to get the blood glucose back to a safe level. This can be done by giving your dog a source of sugar such as syrup, honey, or jam by mouth.

Always have corn or maple syrup available. Give one teaspoon of syrup to a small dog, and one tablespoon of syrup to a large dog.

If your dog is already unconscious, rub the syrup on the gums and under the tongue.

Keep your dog warm because low blood sugar will cause hypothermia.

Also, keep in your dog first aid kit some natural remedies for seizures in case your dog has a seizure attack as a result of hypoglycemia.

Hypoglycemia in Dogs - Herbs to Avoid

Some herbs can lower blood glucose levels and should be avoided if your dog is prone to hypoglycemia.

AVOID: