Causes of Hypoglycemia Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Prognosis for Dogs with Hypoglycemia Hypoglycemia in dogs is a decrease in blood glucose levels. A glucose level of 3.5 to 7.5 mmol/l is considered normal. For a dog, a sugar level below 3 mol/l is considered alarming.
Hypoglycemia is dangerous for animals, since glucose is needed not only by the body, but also by the dog’s brain. Not having enough sugar in the blood can lead to seizures, hypoglycemic coma and even death.
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.
The essence of internal processes
Carbohydrates (exogenous energy carriers) enter the dog’s body with food, providing cellular metabolism for 4-8 hours. Next, glucose comes from the endogenous depot (liver), which is responsible for glycogenolysis. If a dog is constantly hungry, then glucose reserves are depleted in 2-3 days.
As soon as the “depot” is empty, amino acids (gluconeogenesis), glycerol, and lactates come into play.
The renal cortex contains enzymes that are responsible for the biosynthesis and release into the blood . But this cannot be considered a reserve; in total, with this process, 5% of the total amount of glucose is supplied.
Based on this, if a dog has begun gluconeogenesis, a biochemical blood test will reveal a high level of transaminase, alkaline phosphatase. But this does not indicate liver disease.
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.
Causes of drop in glucose
If a dog's blood glucose is low, the cause may be a disruption in the endocrine system or pathology of the hepatorenal system.
Normal blood sugar levels are maintained by specific hormonal substances produced by the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, adrenal cortex, certain intestinal cells and pancreas.
The liver controls the release of hormones into the blood using special enzymes. A lack of enzymes leads to increased deposition of glycogen in the cellular structures of the liver.
The development of hyperinsulinemia in a dog suffering from diabetes mellitus or chronic inflammation of the pancreas with sclerosis of the ducts leads to a sharp increase in the level of lipase in lipid tissues. This directly affects liver function, reducing the consumption of organic acids by muscle structures.
Hypoglycemia negatively affects primarily the functioning of the entire nervous system.
Small dog breeds, especially toy dogs, should be seen by a veterinarian immediately if the characteristic signs of low glucose appear.
This is due to the fact that small dogs (as well as puppies) have an unusually fast metabolism, so prolonged glucose starvation can cause death.
Hypoglycemia can be caused by a variety of factors. One of the reasons is a side effect from the use of medications for diabetes.
An increased amount of medication entering the body leads to increased processing of sugar. There is an increased breakdown of sugar and a sharp decrease in blood glucose.
In diabetes mellitus, a drop in glucose in a dog leads to fainting, seizures and coma. In the absence of help, the pet dies.
The cause of a deficiency in blood sugar can be Addison's disease or hypoadrenocorticism, as well as pathologies of the hepatorenal system. In more rare cases, the cause of the development of the pathological condition may be a brain tumor, meninoencephalitis or traumatic brain injury.
They provoke a sharp decrease in blood glucose and tumor processes affecting the pancreas. It is important to remember that a decrease in sugar levels is not an independent disease, but one of the symptoms of dangerous changes in the body.
The causes of hypoglycemia are:
- reduced amount of fast carbohydrates entering the animal’s body;
- metabolic problems arising in the intestinal tract;
- deposition of glucose in the liver structures;
- disruption of the liver’s production of specific enzymes necessary for the breakdown of glucose;
- disruption of the endocrine system (pancreatic cancer, adrenal cortex dysfunction);
- problems with the pituitary gland and thyroid gland.
A temporary decrease in blood sugar levels provokes prolonged fasting and some parasitic diseases in advanced cases. It is important to know what symptoms of hypoglycemia are typical for pets in order to promptly contact a veterinarian for help.
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.
Clinical picture
- Loss of appetite (anorexia) in some cases...
- And constant, insatiable hunger - in others.
- The animal's vision may seriously deteriorate, causing it to start bumping into furniture and people.
- Thus, disorientation and constant anxiety are also quite characteristic signs.
- Weakness, apathy, loss of consciousness, possibly a lethargic state.
- Restlessness, restlessness. At the same time, the animal looks abnormal, its eyes may be “wild”, it experiences attacks of panic and even horror. Chihuahuas are especially susceptible.
- Constant tremors of all muscle groups.
- Cardiopalmus.
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.
Development of the disease
This disease belongs to the category of metabolic pathologies. It is expressed in a disruption of the metabolic processes occurring in the animal’s body, during which the glucose level increases. Glucose must be absorbed by the body and serve as a source of energy for it. In diabetics, glucose levels are elevated, but the body does not get enough of it. As a result, the body begins to experience severe carbohydrate starvation, which results in its depletion.
Diabetes can be accompanied by one or both pathologies:
- the pancreas produces too little insulin or does not produce it at all;
- the hormone is produced, but the cells do not perceive it, stopping its absorption by the body.
Most often, dachshunds, pugs, spitzes, samoyeds, poodles, beagles, and some varieties of terriers suffer from diabetes. The critical age at which this disease is most often detected in animals is 7-8 years, but it can occur at any other age. Ninety-five percent of cases of this chronic pathology occur in unsterilized females. Pancreatitis or excess weight can provoke the development of the disease in an animal.
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.
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 do symptoms appear?
Small breeds are most prone to hypoglycemia. Among them it is worth noting all types of Spitz, Toy Terriers, Yorkshire Terriers. Beagle breeds are also at risk.
Only a doctor can make a final diagnosis of the disease, but the dog owner must pay attention and respond to the animal’s painful condition, manifested by:
- decreased appetite;
- lethargy and depressed mood;
- deviation from behavioral norms;
- excessive salivation;
- blurred vision;
- muscle cramps and tremors;
- coma.
In the acute form, the animal shudders, problems arise with the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, vision deteriorates, accompanied by fainting and convulsions. All these signs develop against the background of apathetic behavior. The symptoms of a hypoglycemia attack are frightening, but getting rid of them can be quite simple. To do this, the animal needs to be injected with glucose or given sweet water to drink.
Did you know? The dog can smile. Thus, she asks the owner to demonstrate his love for himself.
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.
How to treat and prognosis
The success of treatment directly depends on how quickly the dog owner brings the dog for examination at the first signs of illness. Further, everything depends on how pronounced the changes are in the body and on the coordinated actions of doctors (endocrinologist, therapist, neurologist). It is important to identify the cause of hypoglycemia in time and eliminate it.
The prognosis for the disease depends on the severity of the disease, but more often it is favorable. The success of recovery depends on how quickly you can stabilize glucose levels and remove factors that provoke hypoglycemia.
