Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is the medical term used to describe abnormally low levels of blood glucose. Blood glucose, which is another term for blood sugar, is regulated by insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is secreted by cells that are called "beta cells", that is part of the endocrine pancreas. Dogs that go into hypoglycemia suffer from weakness, they can collapse, and/or go into seizures.

My little Puppy Harley suffers from this . Witnessing an attack is very distressing, reading this will help you cope should it happen to you and possible save your own dogs life.Remember keep calm, think, and act quickly.All puppies especially toy breeds need feeding little and often, a hypoglycemic coma can kill your pup, but it can be saved with quick thinking and some knowlege of what to do in an emergency situation. Alas for some it is too late, but by reading this and knowing what to do in an emergency may indeed save your dogs life.Personally I hadnt heard about hypoglycemia but I read an article on a uk pom site called playalong poms, that article saved my Harleys life.

Some toy breeds suffer from hypoglycemia as a metabolic disorder. hypoglycemia can also occur due to poor conditioning and can also be related to poor nutrition. <O:P></O:P>

It is imperative that owners of breeds of dog that are susceptible to attacks be aware of some of the clinical signs of the onset of an attack of hypoglycemia. These signs can include the dog becoming noticeably confused, disoriented, becomes drowsy at unusual times, shivers, and/or staggers about. In an advanced stage the dog collapses and goes into an unconscious state.You must give your pet glucose(if you have no glucose the sugar will do) and keep it warm at this time, a vet is required straight away to delay any of these instrucions may result in the death of your pet. The entire sequence of clinical signs is not always seen, so close observation of your pet and knowing when your dog is going into a distressed state can mean the difference between life and death of your dog. Immediate treatment by a veterinarian is imperative, as recurrence of, or prolonged attacks, can cause permanent damage to the brain. <O:P></O:P>

Sometimes a dog will outgrow this condition since it affects puppies 5 to 16 weeks of age most commonly. However, if the dog is high strung, or has a lot of nervous energy, the dog will need to be watched carefully, and kept in a calm state. Some instances that precipates an attack might be: the puppy being placed in a new home, or while being shipped. It may occur if a puppy misses a meal, becomes chilled, or becomes exhausted from too much play. <O:P></O:P>

What can you do for your dog if you notice the early signs of hypoglycemia? The best product to keep on hand is Glucose. In an emergency, sugar water, or even honey will work. A few licks may be all you need if the dog is still conscious. You should call your veterinarian as soon as possible. If your dog becomes unconscious get the dog to the vet immediately. I would also put some dry glucose powder on or under the tongue but not too much remember your dog is unconscious,

Sometimes there is more to hypoglycemia than just low blood sugar. While being extra small and extra young is enough to drop one's blood sugar, sometimes there is more to the story.

Bacterial infection
Bacteria can be tremendous consumers of glucose (blood sugar). For this reason, hypoglycemic puppies frequently are given antibiotics.
Portosystemic (Liver) shunt
This is a problem the Yorkshire terrier in particular. In this congenital malformation of the liver circulation, blood travels from the GI tract to the general circulation by-passing the liver. The liver does not develop properly and has abnormal function. One of the liver's functions is to maintain the body's blood sugar level. An abnormal liver leads to low blood sugar. This condition can frequently be cured with surgery. A liver function blood test is an easy way to rule this condition out as a complicating factor.
Parasitism/Diarrhea/Stress
Stress from any cause increases the body's demand for sugar. This is why it is especially important to insure the general health of the toy breed puppy. When stressors are present, maintaining a healthy blood sugar level is all the more difficult.

When your puppy comes home again after a hypoglycemic episode, it is important to watch food intake and be aware of any changes in energy level. As the puppy gets bigger, risk factors diminish. Teeth get stronger, body fat stores develop, and the immune system matures. Eventually, hypoglycemia risks become minimal and the puppy can continue life as any other puppy, playing, chewing things up, and learning the behavior control necessary to be a good house pet.

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