Hypoglycemia – low blood sugar in dogs

Glucose, or grape sugar, is the most important element that provides energy to the body. Fluctuations in this indicator up or down cause serious violations. One of them is hypoglycemia in dogs, the symptoms and treatment of which are the opposite of hyperglycemia (excess glucose). Due to lack of sugar in the blood, the animal can fall into a hypoglycemic coma and die.

What condition is called hypoglycemia?

The level of glucose in the blood of dogs ranges from 3.5 to 7.5 mmol/l. It depends on the age, size and level of physical activity of the animal, as well as the method of sampling. The value of venous blood stored in test tubes is always lower than that of capillary blood taken with a glucometer. Despite this, the result should not fall below 3 mmol/l.

Too low sugar in a dog is fraught with serious complications from the central nervous system. Nerve tissues are not able to synthesize and accumulate glucose, so prolonged hypoglycemia is fatal for them.

What is hypoglycemia?

Hypoglycemia is a decrease in blood sugar. Often the pathology occurs due to diabetes or due to an overdose of insulin. Glucose is a very important source of quick energy, so its sharp decrease causes negative consequences. For example, loss of consciousness. The disease has other causes.

In many dogs, especially older dogs, the disease is not primary. Usually she talks about serious pathological processes in the body.

The danger of hypoglycemia is that the brain needs a constant flow of sugar, because the cells of the nervous tissue do not produce or store it. If a pet's illness continues for a long time, it is very dangerous for the central nervous system. Therefore, it is necessary to take him to the doctor and not try to get rid of the disease on your own. Hypoglycemia is especially harmful in dogs of small breeds, such as Spitz, because they have a very fast metabolism and a lack of glucose is catastrophic.

Causes of low blood sugar

Treatments for hypoglycemia in dogs and its causes are closely related. First of all, it is important to understand what influenced the drop in the indicator. The most common reasons include:

• insufficient or poor quality nutrition (economy-class feed, predominance of cereals and vegetables over meat products);
• chronic insufficiency of the adrenal cortex (Addison's disease), often found with abuse of glucocorticosteroids;
• malabsorption in the intestine (some useful elements are not absorbed);
• liver diseases (cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis) and some genetic pathologies (Gierke's disease);
• excessive physical activity;
• nervous overexcitation caused by excessive joy, fear or excitement;
• incorrectly selected dose of insulin for the treatment of animals with diabetes mellitus;
• sepsis caused by a serious bacterial infection
• Insulinomas are neoplasms that produce insulin;
• portosystemic shunt is an abnormal vessel that diverts part of the blood with toxins from the intestines, bypassing the liver (like insulinoma, this pathology disrupts the natural amount of insulin).

Juvenile hypoglycemia is often diagnosed in puppies younger than 4 months of age that require large amounts of sugar to thrive. It occurs against a background of prolonged stress, hypothermia, helminthiasis, poor nutrition, vomiting and diarrhea. At this age, the puppy’s body is still developing, so it is difficult for him to normalize his indicators if they deviate.

Why is blood glucose low?

The main factors for lowering blood sugar can be the rapid removal of this product from the animal’s body or the insufficient rate of its formation.

Among the possible reasons leading to this pathological condition are:

• improper functioning of the liver and endocrine system;
• a large amount of insulin in the body;
• hunger;
• excessive consumption of sugar-containing feed;
• prolonged stress;
• unbalanced diet;
• reduced body temperature of the animal.

Juvenile hypoglycemia

This type of disease is common in puppies that are younger than three to four months. Their body cannot effectively regulate the concentration of glucose in the blood, so it experiences a greater need for it. An attack of the disease can be caused by both intestinal parasites and stress, hunger, diarrhea, vomiting, and hypothermia. Most of all, signs of the disease can be found in premature puppies and dogs of the “toy” breed.

Did you know? In dogs, there is a vomeronasal organ (VNO), which is located between the nostrils and the roof of the mouth. Scientists are not entirely sure what the animal needs it for, although they call it a second nose.

Malnutrition and exercise

Hypoglycemia often develops in adult dogs that are malnourished. If owners give the animal cheap food or non-nutritious vegetable food, this can trigger the development of the disease. Proper feeding of your dog is very important. The diet should contain low-fat fermented milk products, raw meat or offal, vegetables, unsweetened fruits, and cereal bran. Animal food does not require heat treatment and serves as a building material for the body.

Improper nutrition leads to possible pathologies: disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract, obesity or exhaustion. The cause of low blood glucose levels in your pet can be increased physical activity that the animal may receive as a result of training. If you reduce their intensity, the symptoms of the disease will disappear.

Insulin administration for diabetes

If an excessive dose of insulin is administered to a dog with diabetes, this action can cause hypoglycemia. Such an overdose may occur due to a doctor’s error in selecting the dose or incorrect actions of the owner.

Important! select the dosage of insulin
for a dog with diabetes. The owner is obliged to carefully follow the veterinarian’s instructions, since their violation can lead not only to deterioration of the animal’s health, but also to the death of the animal.

Tumors

Cancerous lesions (malignancies) can cause hypoglycemia. For example, a tumor in the pancreas can be one of the reasons for low blood glucose levels. As they grow, the formations begin to produce insulin in excess, which leads to a deficiency of sugar in the animal’s blood. In addition, tumors in other organs of the pet can affect insulin production. Their development causes a pathological condition of the animal. If a dog's liver is damaged as a result of a serious illness, this may lower blood glucose levels at a certain stage.

Diseases

Addison's disease is a disease of the animal's endocrine system caused by improper functioning of the adrenal glands or pituitary gland. It can occur due to autoimmune and infectious lesions. One of the causes of the disease is long-term use of glucocorticoid drugs. Signs of the disease depend on its complexity and duration.

The symptoms are mild at first, but over time they can become life-threatening for your pet. They manifest themselves in poor appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, thirst, decreased body weight, frequent urination, and poor emotional state of the animal. The appearance of even one symptom immediately requires contacting a veterinary clinic. After the examination, the doctor will make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

Violation of the process of absorption of nutrients through the internal epithelium of the intestine is another factor in the described disease. In this case, there is no need to increase blood glucose levels, but to look for the disease that causes this disorder. Eliminating the true cause will neutralize this symptom.

A serious disease that can cause low glucose is sepsis. This is a bacterial infection that spreads through the hematopoietic and lymphatic beds from the lesion to other organs. In addition to a decrease in glucose, this disease is accompanied by a number of severe symptoms and is diagnosed by a blood test.

Other reasons

Congenital pathologies and hereditary diseases can cause hypoglycemia. For example, a portosystemic shunt in the liver of an animal. This is a circulatory anomaly: an abnormally formed vascular connection that forms a portable vein with venous circulation, bypassing the organ itself.

Did you know? Dogs can see colors. They see green, yellow, and blue tones, but perceive red as dark gray.

Also, as a result of hereditary diseases, glycogen accumulates in the animal’s body. This substance is a carbon reserve. As the body needs it, it can be released in the form of glucose and serves to maintain its level in the blood. If glycogen metabolism is disrupted, the animal may suffer from sugar deficiency.

External signs of hypoglycemia in dogs

When sugar levels are low, brain functionality is impaired, changing the animal's behavior. The reaction to stimuli becomes inadequate. The animal behaves restlessly and strangely: it refuses to eat, sleeps a lot and hardly moves. Over time, he develops diarrhea and vomiting, seemingly without cause. There are no obvious sources of the problem. The mucous membranes turn pale, tremors and chills appear.

A more severe course is complicated by convulsions and spasms. Breathing is disrupted. The pressure rises sharply. A weakened pet may lose consciousness and fall into a coma.

Hypoglycemia in puppies and miniature breed dogs

Even 25-30 years ago, the word “hypoglycemia” was familiar only to doctors and diabetes patients. After a flood of “mini” and “super-mini” dogs poured into Russia, this word became familiar to a fairly wide range of dog breeders and dog lovers...

Hypoglycemia is a deadly condition that requires urgent help!

The word “hypoglycemia” is increasingly heard by dog ​​handlers and ordinary dog ​​owners, especially mini and toy dogs. But it happens that larger puppies and young dogs can show quite obvious symptoms of hypoglycemia.

In this article we will look at the causes of hypoglycemia in puppies and adult dogs, preventive measures and first aid for hypoglycemia in puppies and small breed dogs.

What is hypoglycemia?

Hypoglycemia is a decrease in blood glucose levels below the physiological norm.

Here the question of what is considered a physiological norm and how to determine deviations from it is very important.

The fact is that, depending on the method of studying blood glucose levels, these standards can differ significantly in different laboratories and when measuring glucose levels using different methods. This gives rise to discrepancies and problems in understanding true hypoglycemia.

The normal blood glucose level for dogs is approximately 5.5-7 mmol/L, depending on the size, age and activity of the dog. This is exactly the kind of data that can be obtained if you take glucose from peripheral blood and measure it immediately (with devices - glucometers).

If we take venous blood, leave it in a test tube and centrifuge it after some time, then the glucose content will largely depend on how long and under what conditions the test tube with whole blood has been standing. Red blood cells, like living cells, will “use” serum glucose for their vital functions, and the serum glucose level may drop significantly.

Although, practice shows that if the conditions for taking and storing the analysis are met, the glucose level does not fall below 3 mmol/l. And if in such an analysis the glucose level is below 3 mmol/l, then this is a reason to sound the alarm and look for the causes of hypoglycemia.

If the glucometer shows 3 mmol/l or lower, then the situation is simply critical.

Clinical (external) signs of hypoglycemia

The dog’s body, as they say, is “not a fool” and can itself accurately determine whether its blood glucose is normal or not.

First of all, the dog’s brain suffers; it stops working as it should, and the dog’s reactions to external stimuli become inadequate.

The most common signs of hypoglycemia:

• Lethargy and apathy
• Absence or weakening of response to external stimuli
• Refusal of water and food, even your favorite treat
• Pale mucous membranes
• Trembling (tremor) muscles
• Vomiting for no apparent reason (there was no irritant to the stomach)
• Diarrhea for no apparent reason

In more severe cases the following are added:

• Cramps and spasms
• Sudden drop in pressure (collapse)
• Loss of consciousness (stupor, coma)
• Urinary incontinence
• Breathing disorders

When does hypoglycemia occur?

In small puppies, especially miniature breeds, hypoglycemia can occur even when they are simply not fed on time or when they are cold. The combination of these two circumstances is even worse.

In apparently healthy dogs, the causes of hypoglycemia may include the following:

1. Nervous overexcitation and excessive “intellectual load”:

• Fear
• Excessive joy
• Novelty of the situation
• Temporary or permanent sudden change of owners and place of residence

One of my patients, a male Chihuahua, showed signs of hypoglycemia whenever I came to give him vaccinations. At the same time, in addition to a full clinical examination, the guy “received” cleaning of the paranal glands, routine removal of tartar and nail trimming. It was extremely difficult for the little “sufferer” to endure this, although he endured it in silence and hardly resisted. And this provoked hypoglycemia. And hypoglycemia became obvious several hours after the procedures, as the guy continued to worry about what happened to him. First aid in the form of sweet water quickly helped the sneeze to come to its senses. Now, knowing its characteristics, we keep “sweet water” ready and give it before obvious signs of hypoglycemia begin, immediately after mandatory veterinary procedures.

Another patient of mine, a French bulldog, during revaccination at 3 months, tried so hard to behave better than he actually could that he became overexcited and had an attack of hypoglycemia immediately after the end of our “vaccination activities” - with sharp pallor of the mucous membranes, vomiting and severe weakness. First aid followed immediately, and the puppy’s condition returned to normal very quickly.

1. Active physical activity (especially along with nervous overexcitation)

• A long active walk “out of habit” (for example, going to the countryside or “out into nature”)
• A visit to the veterinary clinic and an active “fight for life” with doctors
• Participation in a dog fight or unusually active play
• Participation in an exhibition, especially for the first time

One of my patients, a Chinese crested (powderpuff) reacted so emotionally to even the most joyful events in her life that when leaving for the dacha, where she joyfully and for a long time rushed around the site, she was overtaken by an attack of hypoglycemia. She had similar attacks when many guests came to the house, and she “entertained the public” without rest. At the same time, the dog did not even have time to experience the feeling of hunger, so other feelings “captured” her. Therefore, the owners began to carry glucose tablets with them and give them to the dog when it was overactive.

1. Impaired supply of nutrients to the body

• Forced fasting (did not have time to feed)
• Fasting during transportation (failing to calculate the waiting time en route or the duration of the trip)
• A dog’s voluntary refusal of its usual food in the fight for the “best piece”
• Offering unusual food (which the dog does not even perceive as “food”)

First aid for hypoglycemia

Many articles about hypoglycemia in puppies and mini-dogs write about injections (shots) of 5% glucose. This is extremely inconvenient both for the owner, who often simply does not know how to give injections, and for the animal. After all, a 5% glucose solution contains a very small amount of glucose itself, and a significant amount must be administered to obtain results. As a rule, the effect of such an injection is achieved not by the injection of glucose, but by the production of stress hormones, which stimulate an increase in the level of glucose in the blood from the deepest “stash”.

Therefore, doctors administer intravenously much more concentrated glucose solutions - from 10% to 40%, which, as you can see, increases the concentration of glucose in the blood much faster.

But if you and your dog are not in the clinic, what should you do?

You just need to remember that sugar, incl. glucose are well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. That is, you just need to give the dog 40% glucose from an ampoule or give it just sweet water at the rate of 1-2 teaspoons of sugar per half a glass of water. You can pour these solutions into it from a syringe without a needle, especially if the dog simply doesn’t have the strength to drink anymore.

The main thing is that the dog does not choke, so do not tilt the dog’s face up (just keep it in its normal physiological position) and drink sweet water or glucose in small portions.

Carry with you 1-2 ampoules of 40% glucose (fortunately, they are now not glass, but polyethylene) to help your beloved pet in case of danger.

Helpful tips for dogs prone to hypoglycemia:

• Teach a dog prone to hypoglycemia to the fact that there is always a delicious “cookie” in your pocket, and if it behaves the way you want, then you will definitely give it this same “cookie” periodically (But do not overfeed! If you need a lot of treats, replace them with your usual food to avoid metabolic disorders)
• If you know exactly under what conditions a dog develops hypoglycemia, and the dog refuses treats, you can carry glucose tablets with you and feed the dog a little at a time in conditions where hypoglycemia is very likely. Although it is better to simply avoid such situations.

Prevention of hypoglycemia

To prevent hypoglycemia from overtaking your puppy or beloved dog, it is important to remember a few rules.

For adult miniature breed dogs:

• Your dog’s lifestyle should be active so that small stressful events become habitual and do not “overload” the pet’s nervous system according to the “empty, then thick” principle.
• The dog must be accustomed to any unpleasant impressions by regular actions so that troubles are not perceived by the dog too vividly, so that they become the usual “background” of a dog’s life.
• Feed your dog food with low sugar levels and moderate fat content, with sufficient levels of quality protein, “medium” carbohydrates and fiber. Then the amount of glucose coming from digestion will be constant for a long time, without sharp fluctuations.
• Visits to a veterinarian or an exhibition should be planned in advance and not worry too much (the dog senses this and begins to “worry” greatly for you and with you (!), using up excess glucose, which it may need when stressed).
• If you feel that a busy day may be too long and hectic, take your dog’s favorite treat or even a portion of food with you so that you can feed him in silence (for example, in your car) between activities.

For puppies:

• Strictly follow the feeding schedule. Remember that skipping even one feeding can lead to hypoglycemia.
• Make sure puppies do not get too cold. Excessive heat loss requires more internal “fuel”, which is glucose. Puppies sleeping in a pile keep each other warm. If they gather closer together even when they are awake and are not active enough, then this is a sign that they may be cold.
• Make sure that puppies do not have hidden dehydration. This interferes with normal metabolic processes and can also cause hypoglycemia.
• If growing puppies are getting too restless, offer them to eat “outside the schedule” or keep food available at all times.
• If you are showing a puppy to a buyer, it is very good if you feed the puppy in the presence of the buyer. So, with “one blow” you “kill two birds with one stone”, show the buyer the puppy’s good appetite and prevent his blood glucose level from falling from excessive excitement in the presence of strangers. Just don’t overfeed, just give a little food.
• Do not allow buyers to excessively “squeeze” the puppies, showing excessive emotionality. As a rule, puppies from such intrusive unusual activity begin to become more nervous, using up glucose faster than it comes from the liver, becoming overtired and may even get sick from stress. It’s good when the buyer watches the puppies from afar, and only then, after the first emotion has subsided, calmly examines the little one he likes closely under your strict control.

In the next article on this topic, we will examine in detail the causes of hypoglycemia.

We hope that such simple but very useful tips will help you save your little pet from such a terrible and unexpected “scourge” as hypoglycemia in puppies and small breed dogs.

We are waiting for your comments and questions under the text of this article.

Natalya Troshina, veterinarian (DVM)

Tendency to pathology in certain breeds

The risk group includes puppies and decorative breeds with low weight: toy terriers, spitz, yorkies, dwarf poodles. These dogs have a very fast metabolism, so acute sugar deficiency is detrimental for them.

The likelihood of developing pathology increases with long breaks between feedings, cold and nervous overexcitation. Small pets are very emotional, so they may have an attack during a long-awaited trip to their favorite country house or during a frightening vaccination.

Causes

Hypoglycemia is caused by two factors: decreased glucose production or too rapid absorption of glucose. Regardless of what exactly caused the changes - production or disposal - they are always caused by negative processes occurring in the dog’s body.

The development of hypoglycemia against the background of decreased glucose production is facilitated by liver pathologies and disruptions in the endocrine system (metabolic disorders in liver cells, portisystemic shunt, Addison's disease, etc.).

Rapid absorption of the organic compound is possible with long periods of fasting, excessive consumption of sugar and foods containing it, and excess amounts of insulin, which is used to treat diabetes.

In addition, hypoglycemia can be caused by a sharp drop in body temperature, stress, sudden correction of feeding, unbalanced nutrition, and infections.

If this disease is diagnosed in puppies, then the cause of its development is the lack or absence of glucose in mother's milk, multiple pregnancy of the bitch, or the birth of premature offspring.

Diagnosis and tests

To confirm concerns, a small drop of blood is taken from the inner surface of the ear from a four-legged patient. It is placed on a special test strip and inserted into a glucometer - a device for measuring the amount of glucose. The result of such a check appears on the screen after a few seconds.

All other studies are aimed at identifying the cause. These include:

• a general and biochemical blood test that detects anemia and evaluates the functioning of internal organs;
• urine test to confirm or rule out urinary tract infections;
• ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) test used to diagnose Addison's disease;
• insulin level test, which detects insulin-secreting tumors;
• measurement of bile acid concentrations necessary to detect a portosystemic shunt;
• Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, assessing the integrity of internal organs;
• X-ray of the sternum and abdominal organs, determining the presence of neoplasms.

The veterinarian may vary the number of tests up or down depending on the situation. After receiving all the results, an individual treatment plan is selected for the four-legged patient.

Etiology and pathogenesis

The brains of these animals are in dire need of a regular supply of glucose, since it is not produced or stored in nerve cells. With prolonged hypoglycemia, the dog’s central nervous system is at significant risk. Therefore, this pathology requires immediate treatment. If your dog has this disease, you should immediately contact a veterinarian; self-medication is unacceptable. For small dogs, glucose deficiency is especially dangerous due to the fact that their metabolism is very fast.

Hypoglycemia in dogs can occur for a variety of reasons, including side effects from diabetes medications. When a dog receives an excessive dose of such a drug, the animal’s body begins to process glucose too intensively, breaking it down, as a result of which the sugar content drops to a critically low level. If a dog has diabetes, this often leads to fainting and seizures, which can cause coma and death of the animal.

Other causes include hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's disease) and certain kidney and liver diseases. In the most exotic cases, insulin production may be disrupted due to an infection that has somehow damaged the brain or severe traumatic brain injury. The cause may also be a tumor of the brain or pancreas.

Hypoglycemia in itself is not a disease. This is an independent nosological unit that expresses disturbances in organs that carry out metabolism and regulatory processes. The full list of possible reasons is as follows:

• reasons related to nutrition: excessive intake of carbohydrates into the body;
• disturbances in the absorption of substances in the intestine;
• formation of glucose in the liver;
• dysfunction of liver enzymes;
• adrenal hypofunction;
• diseases of the pancreas (including cancer);
• dysfunction of the pituitary gland;
• disorders of the thyroid gland;
• hunger;
• parasitic infestations in severe form.

All reasons can be divided into 2 groups:

1) Accelerating the release of glucose:

• insulin overdose;
• salicylate intoxication;
• taking propranolol;
• tumor of the islets of Langerhans;
• intoxication with hypoglycemic substances;
• glycosuria;
• hepatoma;
• endotoxemia.

2) Inhibiting glucose secretion:

• neonatal hypoglycemia;
• functional hypoglycemia;
• “hypoglycemia of hound breeds”;
• “hypoglycemia of miniature breeds”;
• physical stress;
• lack of liver enzymes;
• adrenal insufficiency;
• insufficiency of liver functions;
• malabsorption;
• large mesodermal tumors that consume a lot of glucose;
• sepsis;
• high extrahepatic consumption of glucose substrates;
• liver abscess;
• hematomas;
• insufficiency of kidney function;
• extrapancreas tumors.

The level of glucose in the blood is maintained by hormones secreted by the pituitary gland, adrenal glands, intestines, pancreas and thyroid gland. This process is controlled by liver enzymes, which are divided into gluconeogenesis and glycogenolytic.

Lack of enzymes such as:

• amylo-1,6 glucosidase, e.g. phosphorylase;
• glucose-6-phosphatase.

May lead to excessive deposition of glycogen in the liver. The primary sources of energy in a fasting dog are ketones, synthesized from alanine and pyruvate. The lack of the last two substances leads to the inability of the liver to maintain normal glucose levels.

Hyperinsulinemia, which is a consequence of diabetes or sclerosis of the pancreatic ducts in chronic pancreatitis, increases the lipase content in adipose tissue, affects liver function and reduces the consumption of organic acids by muscles. The most important keto acid in the blood is beta-hydroxybutyrate, the ratio of which to acetonacet is 3 to 1, respectively. Acetone, which is obtained by decarboxylation of acetoacetate, is not ketoacetate.

Animal treatment

The main therapy is to increase sugar levels to normal levels. This is done gradually, using intravenous administration of glucose solution. At the same time, the cause of sugar deficiency is eliminated.

In most cases, treatment is carried out at home. Hospitalization is provided only for seriously ill animals that require surgery, chemotherapy, regular drips or connection to devices to support life.

Help with a hypoglycemic attack

During an attack, you need to act immediately. The acute condition is eliminated by intravenous administration of glucose solution. This first aid method works very quickly, but not all owners know how to give intravenous injections. In this case, veterinarians advise giving the solution orally or rubbing it into the gums.

If you don’t have the drug on hand, use sweetened water or regular candy. If you refuse to take the sweet solution yourself, open your pet’s mouth and carefully pour in the liquid using a syringe forcibly. If the dog is large, then it is better to act together with an assistant. Water with sugar or honey should be given every 5 hours until the condition normalizes or you contact a veterinarian.

Remember that forcing fluids is dangerous during syncope. Part of the solution may enter the respiratory system, causing aspiration pneumonia. In such cases, the only way to help the animal is to give an injection.

Possible medication use

When admitted to a hospital, the patient is prescribed infusion therapy. In addition to glucose, Ringer-Locke solution is administered through droppers, which normalizes the water-salt balance.

Convulsions that occur are treated with sedatives, and neoplasms are eliminated with glucocorticosteroids. Heart function is supported by B vitamins and cocarboxylase, which improves glucose absorption.

Diet and conditions of detention

The animal is prescribed fractional feeding, which involves reducing the usual portions and shortening the intervals between feedings. Food is given out every 3-4 hours, avoiding starvation. Meals should be balanced and satisfying. Preference is given to high-quality feed of at least premium class or fresh natural products. To normalize absorption, Mezim or Creon is added to food.

If your pet has chills, then it must be wrapped in a warm blanket or warmed with a heating pad. Until recovery, all physical activity is limited to short walks near home.

How to treat a sick pet?

For treatment, it is necessary to diagnose the cause of hypoglycemia, then a method is selected based on it. It is important to eliminate the acute form immediately.

An attack of hypoglycemia looks quite scary, so many inexperienced owners do not know what to do to stop it. To provide first aid, an injection with a glucose solution is given. You can also rub it into your gums.

In mild cases, sweet water with sugar or honey, or sweets are used. If he refuses such a drink, he will need to open his mouth and forcefully pour it in. It is important to act carefully to prevent your pet from choking. To make the procedure easier, you should find a person who will hold it. If the dog is unconscious, it is not worth carrying out. Otherwise, aspiration into the respiratory organs will occur.

This will stabilize the pet's condition. Often with pathology, body temperature decreases, so you need to wrap the dog in a blanket and use heating pads with water. Carboxylase and vitamin B are used to normalize heart function.

Physical activity is suspended. Walks should be short, their main purpose is to relieve natural needs. Your doctor may recommend giving Creon or Mezim with food.

If the condition is severe, the pet is treated in a hospital so that urgent measures can be taken if it worsens. If the disease is caused by malignant neoplasms, glucocorticosteroids are prescribed. The treatment regimen is chosen by a specialist. Chemotherapy and surgery may also be required.

Forecasts for future life

Veterinarians give an unfavorable prognosis for insulinomas and other neoplasms. The degeneration of tumors into malignant ones and their metastasis are especially dangerous.

A cautious prognosis is typical for sepsis, genetic pathologies, liver disease, malabsorption and portosystemic shunt. It all depends on the timeliness of therapy and the patient’s condition at the time of seeking help.

The easiest to treat cases are those associated with fasting and excessive exercise, as well as juvenile hypoglycemia. The prognosis for such reasons is positive, since the condition normalizes with age or soon after the factors provoking the disease are eliminated.

Symptoms

Symptoms of hypoglycemia vary depending on the specific form of the disease. In the normal course of the disease, the following signs indicate hypoglycemia:

1. increased secretion of saliva;
2. lethargy, apathy, drowsiness;
3. sudden loss of appetite for no obvious reason;
4. inactivity;
5. digestive disorders;
6. chills.

Acute hypoglycemia is characterized by the presence of the following symptoms:

1. loss of consciousness;
2. severe cramps;
3. coma (in the most severe cases);
4. paralysis.

Dog owners should be aware that although an episode of acute hypoglycemia can be very frightening, it can be controlled with fairly simple measures. To do this, you need to give the dog an injection of glucose or give the dog a drink of water in which sugar is dissolved in large quantities. If the dog actively resists, you should try to open its mouth and forcefully pour water into it.

But caution is necessary, since in this case there is a risk that the animal will choke

Prognosis for Dogs with Hypoglycemia

The prognosis depends on the cause of hypoglycemia.

Dogs with insulinoma generally have a poor prognosis because many of these animals already have lung metastases at the time of surgery.

The prognosis is good for juvenile hypoglycemia, hypoglycemia caused by excessive exercise and malnutrition, and Addison's disease.

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Treatment

To quickly relieve hypoglycemia, the dog is given an intravenous glucose solution. Usually, this procedure quickly removes the animal from a serious condition.

Because dogs with hypoglycemia may have a low body temperature, it is important to keep the animal warm and prevent hypothermia.

Animals in serious condition should be hospitalized and remain in a hospital under the supervision of a veterinary specialist.

It is recommended to feed animals with hypoglycemia every hour in small portions with a special balanced food.

Exercises and physical activity are limited, leaving only short walks.

Corticosteroids may be recommended for dogs with hypoglycemia caused by a tumor.

Diagnostics

It is important to remember that absolutely any manifestations that suggest hypoglycemia (especially if the dog is a small breed) are sufficient reason to immediately call a veterinarian or visit him with your pet yourself. If your pet suddenly loses consciousness, this should be done immediately, regardless of the time of day.

In a veterinary clinic, general and biochemical blood tests are used to diagnose hypoglycemia. In addition, a urine test and examination of the condition of the pancreas, kidneys and liver using ultrasound are performed. It is advisable to remember exactly when the dog’s symptoms of the disease began and what preceded them.

Ancillary diagnostic methods used to diagnose the disease include an adrenocorticotropic hormone test, which allows one to diagnose or exclude Addison's disease (hypoadrenocorticism).

Diagnosis is made on the basis of symptoms and the results of blood tests, for which a glucometer is used, which allows the doctor to instantly and with great accuracy determine the glucose level in the blood. The normal glucose level for a dog is 3.4-6.1 mmol/l.

Diagnosis

Important! Diagnosing the development of hypoglycemia in a dog can only be done in a laboratory setting based on the tests taken.

Making an accurate diagnosis begins with a general clinical examination of the animal, as well as measuring the blood sugar level of the sick dog. For these purposes, a special device is used - a glucometer. Diagnosed hypoglycemia requires identification of the cause that provoked it. The following series of necessary analyzes are carried out:

1. A general clinical blood test of a dog makes it possible to promptly identify iron deficiency anemia and possible inflammatory processes.
2. Biochemical panel - allows you to assess the functioning of vital systems - the hepatorenal system, pancreas.
3. A general clinical analysis of urine is necessary to assess the functioning of the renal structures, as well as to identify possible infectious processes in the genitourinary system.
4. An ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) test is necessary to exclude the development of pathology of the dog’s adrenal cortex.
5. Analysis for the content of bile acids in the bloodstream to assess the functional characteristics of the liver and exclude portosystemic shunts.
6. X-ray and ultrasound diagnostics will allow you to identify tumor processes and assess the structural features of the liver and pancreas.

After identifying the exact cause of hypoglycemia in a dog, the veterinarian prescribes an adequate treatment regimen taking into account the patient’s characteristics - age, presence of chronic diseases and tumor processes.

What are the symptoms of diabetes in dogs?

The most common signs of diabetes in dogs are: constant thirst, frequent urination, obesity or weight loss, lethargy, loss of vision, cystitis.

Thirst, dehydration, increased urination. There is so much glucose in the blood that it begins to come out along with urine. In a healthy state this does not happen. When glucose leaves the body, it draws water from the blood with it. As a result, the dog suffers from dehydration, is constantly thirsty and pees a lot.

Increased appetite and weight loss. Diabetic cells do not process glucose, and for the body this looks like starvation. After all, new energy does not arrive. So the animal begins to eat more, but glucose still comes out in the urine. The body launches a compensation mechanism: first it uses up energy reserves in the muscles, then begins to break down fat and protein reserves. As a result, the dog eats constantly, but still loses weight.

Obesity is another sign of diabetes in dogs.

Cystitis often develops with diabetes. Bacteria grow rapidly due to the abundance of sugar in urine

Cataracts and loss of vision. High blood sugar affects almost all systems, including clouding the lens of the eye.

All these symptoms can appear individually. Increased thirst and urination occur against the background of kidney failure, cataracts can develop simply with age, obesity - due to poor nutrition.

Dogs with diabetes will have a wide range of symptoms. Therefore, to diagnose diabetes, you will have to conduct a whole series of studies: blood and urine tests, x-rays, ultrasound, ECG.

Causes of hypoglycemia

One of the most common forms of hypoglycemia is juvenile hypoglycemia.

, which develops in puppies less than a month old. This type of hypoglycemia is characteristic only of puppies, since their body is not yet able to effectively regulate the concentration of glucose in the blood and has a high need for it. Stress, cold, malnutrition, vomiting, diarrhea, and intestinal parasites can trigger an attack of hypoglycemia in puppies. Puppies are especially susceptible to juvenile hypoglycemia. Small breed dogs are also susceptible to hypoglycemia.

Other causes of hypoglycemia may include:

• malnutrition;
• loads and intense training, for example, in hunting and sporting dogs;
• Addison's disease (hypoadrenocorticism);
• over-administration of insulin, which can occur in pets with diabetes (when the insulin dosage is incorrect or the owner makes a mistake in the dosage);
• malabsorption or impaired intestinal absorption of nutrients;
• pancreatic tumors (insulinomas);
• some other tumors that produce insulin;
• severe liver disease;
• portosystemic shunts;
• hereditary diseases, such as glycogen storage disease;
• serious systemic bacterial infection (sepsis);
• hypopituitarism – decreased secretion of regulatory hormones of the pituitary gland.

What is diabetes in dogs?

Glucose, or more simply sugar, is the main source of energy for animals. Glucose enters the blood from food. In order for the cells to “understand” that it is time to take energy, the pancreas releases the hormone insulin into the blood. This is how cells “see” glucose and consume it. There is less sugar in the blood, and the pancreas stops producing insulin.

In diabetes, one of two things happens: either the gland does not produce insulin, or the cells “do not see” it. In any case, the cells do not understand that there is a lot of glucose in the blood and it is time to process it into energy. As a result, blood sugar increases, and the cells themselves starve. This situation leads to unpleasant manifestations.

Treatment and prevention measures

Treatment of hypoglycemia in dogs requires a comprehensive approach. The veterinarian’s task is to normalize blood sugar levels and, if possible, eliminate the cause that provoked the development of the pathology. In case of critical conditions in an animal, in order to avoid the development of complications, it is necessary to act quickly.

At home, you can give your pet water with dissolved honey or sugar, or pour in a 5% glucose solution. Next, you need to call a veterinarian at home or take it to the clinic.

In a hospital inpatient setting, the animal will undergo a series of therapeutic measures. The dog will be given an infusion system for intravenous infusion of glucose preparations and Ringer-Locke solutions. Antiallergic drugs and sedatives are administered intramuscularly (in case of seizures).

Depending on the established cause that triggered the development of hypoglycemia, treatment will be specific. After the dog recovers, it needs to be provided with proper care at home for successful rehabilitation. Feeding the pet should be done more often - every 3-3.5 hours. Meals should contain small portions, but the dog should not starve. Physical activity when blood glucose levels are low is prohibited.

In order to prevent the development of hypoglycemia in dogs, it is recommended to adhere to the correct diet for the animal (feed must be balanced in all nutrients). The pet should not experience hunger (only for medical reasons).

It is important to reduce the amount of stress in your pet and regularly conduct preventive examinations in veterinary clinics to monitor the condition of the liver and endocrine glands. It is forbidden to overload the dog with physical activity. It is important to remember that hypoglycemia is not a disease, but only a signal from the body indicating the presence of more serious problems in the functioning of certain systems.

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What is the treatment for diabetes in dogs?

Diabetes cannot be cured completely, but it can be controlled. Outwardly, the disease may not manifest itself in any way, and if the owner takes care of the dog, its lifestyle will practically not change. For diabetes mellitus in dogs, treatment is based on controlling insulin in the body, because the dog has little of its own insulin, or the body does not perceive it. Therefore, the amount of insulin must be increased - that is, insulin injections must be given. The frequency and dosage of injections are calculated individually for each dog; this can only be done by a veterinarian.

Sterilization helps female dogs. The body's need for insulin after it is greatly reduced.

Another important element of control is nutrition. A special diet is needed for dogs with diabetes, which takes into account the composition of the food and the frequency of feeding. Frequency is very important because glucose must enter the body in small and even quantities. Otherwise, the amount of sugar in the blood will change abruptly, and for a diabetic dog this is bad and dangerous. Your doctor should create a diet or recommend a special food for dogs with diabetes. You can buy it at a veterinary pharmacy.