| Hypoglycemia Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is a serious condition that can occur in young puppies, especially toy breeds. Early recognition and proper treatment is the key to preventing potentially serious health consequences. If a puppy is bright and bouncy one minute, but is down, depressed and disoriented the next, it could be a sigh of hypoglycemia. The maintenance of proper blood sugar levels is vital, as the puppy's brain is entirely dependant on blood sugar as a source of energy. Thus, sighs of low blood sugar are usually related to nervous system dysfunction. Clinical signs of hypoglycemia can vary according to how rapidly the blood glucose falls below normal. A rapid fall results in Dilated (enlarged) pupils, increased heart rate, nervousness, tremors, vocalizing and irritability. A gradual fall in blood glucose can result in visual disturbances (apparent blindness) mental dullness, confusion, seizures, decreased heart rate and coma. Both scenarios can also result in dehydration and hypothermia (decreased body temperature. The Cause This condition is typically caused by a puppy being unable to adapt to less frequent feeding during the post-weaning period. Young puppies must receive nutrition every few hours. Puppies typically have very few fat reserves to provide energy in a crisis. If nutrition is not provided on a frequent schedule, body glucose stores may become depleted. If this occurs, a puppy's immature liver bay be unable to produce/process glucose quickly enough to meet the body's needs. Prevention In order to prevent or limit hypoglycemia, be sure that the puppy has food available at all times and you monitor for adequate consumption. Also be aware that many factors can contribute to a puppy not eating as it should. These include any type of stress, such as infection, vaccinations, excess physical exertion (playing very hard) weaning, poor nutrition, hypothermia, gastric upset, etc. Treatment Since hypoglycemia, dehydration, and hypothermia often all occur together, all three conditions must be corrected. Treatment should begin by contacting your veterinarian. Maintaining a warm, humid environment (85 degreed, 85 percent humidity) is very important. The body temperature should be raised and maintained above 95 degrees (hot water bottles, heating pad wrapped in a towel, hair dryer, etc.) A veterinarian may advise oral sugar supplementation (dextrose syrup, honey, sugar water or nutri-cal) if the puppy can swallow typically one cc or ml per pound of body weight every hour. As the condition improves, moist food and water should then be offered (forced is necessary) while slowly weaning the pup off the sugar supplementation. The veterinarian may start an intravenous line or subcutaneous fluids if the condition warrants it. Frequent high-carbohydrate feeding are necessary to prevent recurrence. The condition usually resolves in a short period of time with steady food intake, stress reduction and maturity. If you think your puppy may be suffering from hypoglycemia, be sure to reach out to a veterinarian immediately. Follow his/her advice and, in most cases, treatment of this condition will be 100 percent successful. No puppies or dogs on the website will be guaranteed against Hypoglycemia, it is the responsibility of the new owner to make sure the puppy or dog is eating properly ! |
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