Content
- Causes of hypoglycemia in dogs
- Types and symptoms of hypoglycemia in dogs
- Treatments for Canine Hypoglycemia
In both animals and humans, hypoglycemia is a sudden drop in blood glucose concentration, being below normal levels. Glucose is used by the body, human or animal, as a source of vital energy to perform many functions. The liver is responsible for its manufacture and storage for when it is necessary to pass to the blood and, thus, go to the place that needs it more quickly.
In this article by PeritoAnimal we want to talk to you about hypoglycemia in dogs, its causes and main symptoms to help you identify in time, as this is something that can be fatal if not attended to in time.
Causes of hypoglycemia in dogs
There are different types of causes, from those caused by us, or the veterinarians, to hereditary or genetic, by breeds that are more likely to suffer from this problem due to their size.
The call transient juvenile hypoglycemia it is found more frequently in miniature breeds such as Yorkshire Terrier, Chihuahua and Toy Poodle, among other reasons for prolonged fasting. In general, it occurs between 5 and 15 weeks of life. It does not happen in all cases, but it is quite frequent and requires immediate veterinary medical attention. In these cases, it is important that they always have food at their disposal, for at least one year of life. This type of hypoglycemia triggers from stress or excessive exercise, often living in homes with children who want to play all the time, as it is difficult to control. Adding to this the fact that many are so small that they don't have enough muscle mass to store glucose and take it in case of excessive exercise, being more likely to suffer from this condition.
In animals that are treated with insulin, due to liver damage or other organic causes, it happens that sometimes the dose is not calculated correctly and an excess is applied, the animal did not eat enough in relation to the dose received or vomited before. It is frequent to insulin overdose, either because of a bad calculation or because a double injection is applied. Another frequent cause of hypoglycemia in dogs is that the animal was more active during the day and, therefore, the dose that is normally applied is not sufficient.
Types and symptoms of hypoglycemia in dogs
Hypoglycemia can be classified into 3 types of gravity and, if the first stage is not properly treated, the animal will quickly move on to the next, with a greater risk of fatality. The types of canine hypoglycemia are as follows:
- THE mild hypoglycemia it can be identified by weakness or abnormal tiredness, a lot of appetite and sometimes the presence of chills or tremors.
- At moderate hypoglycemia we may notice poor coordination in our dog, may walk in circles, stagger or show some disorientation. We can also observe problems with vision and restlessness, with excessive and irritating barking.
- In the worst state, that is, the severe hypoglycemia, you may see seizures and loss of consciousness, stupor and coma. Death in this state is common.
Treatments for Canine Hypoglycemia
In any of the hypoglycemic states, the first thing you should do is offer food to the animal to try to reverse the frame as soon as possible. Once you are sure the blood glucose level is correct, take him to the vet.
There's one treatment with honey or glucose syrup which you can turn to if your dog doesn't want to eat. Small or miniature dogs should be given a teaspoon and large dogs a tablespoon of this natural remedy to regulate glucose levels. Afterwards he will eat normally. It's a very quick treatment, like an energy shock. If you don't want to swallow the honey, you can rub your gums with it, since that way you'll absorb it, to a lesser extent, but it will work. The important thing as owners is to remain calm and first do little things at home and then go to the specialist.
If you don't have honey at home, you can prepare a glucose solution with water. It's not more than sugar dissolved in water, but we must calculate 1 tablespoon for every 5 kg of weight of our animal. It is advisable to have it prepared at home in a bottle to use in an emergency.
Once you have stabilized the animal, you should consult the veterinarian to regulate the next dose of insulin and not cause hypoglycemia in the dog again.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.