Hypoglycemia~Low Blood Sugar
by Patricia Morgan on 01/09/13
Hypoglycemia is the medical term for blood sugar
concentration below normal levels. You
may have heard of people suffering from hypoglycemia, but did you know that
dogs can also suffer from it?
Hypoglycemia in Yorkies or underweight puppies can happen.
It is not a disease
but a potentially dangerous medical condition that you can prevent. Yorkies and other toy breeds are particularly
prone to canine hypoglycemia.
Symptoms
of Hypoglycemia in Dogs:
If your Yorkie
suffers from hypoglycemia you will be able to tell at once. Early signs of hypoglycemia in dogs include
weakness, confusion, frothing or drooling, and wobbly gait. The puppy may be shivering and trembling, and
the body temperature will drop. The gums and tongue will appear pale and
grayish white rather than a healthy pink.
As the condition
progresses the Yorkie may appear limp and lifeless. His eyes may become unfocused and
unresponsive. If not cared for properly
and promptly, Yorkie puppies can go into a coma or convulsions.
Causes of Hypoglycemia in Yorkies:
Transient Juvenile
Hypoglycemia in Yorkies is often caused by not eating. Generally, hypoglycemia can occur after just
eight hours of not eating. For small
puppies and toy breeds, it can occur in less time. If your Yorkie puppy does
not eat for a long period of time, a hypoglycemic attack is likely to
happen. Make sure your pet is eating in
regular intervals.
Puppies might not
eat, but it is never intentional. There can be many reasons why your Yorkie may
not be eating, including:
• Stress – Visiting a
veterinarian, traveling too much, change of home environment, a thunderstorm,
etc. are all things that add stress to your puppy and in turn he may not want
to eat.
• Activity and
Play –
If a puppy is more captivated with playing than eating then he may not
be getting the rest and nourishment he needs.
Every couple of hours, take away his toys and be sure he gets some food
and rest. Avoid over-handling young
puppies so they can get enough rest and sleep.
• Exposure to lower
temperatures for longer periods of time can cause hypoglycemia in dogs. A Yorkie’s body will adjust its body
temperature to compensate and this can lead to a change in metabolism. All of
which leads to hypoglycemia. Keep your
Yorkie in areas where it stays around 72 to 74 degrees.
• Illness – A sick
puppy may not want to eat. Your Yorkie
may have a fever due to a communicable illness, reaction to a vaccination,
congenital defect, etc. Bacterial infections or intestinal parasites can also
lead to loss of appetite.
Treatment :
When it comes to hypoglycemia in Yorkies, it is best to
avoid an attack in the first place. Make
sure your puppy gets enough rest and let him feed freely. You may also feed him 4 or 5 times a day with
a diet that is high in protein.
Always keep the right
room temperature. It’s important to know your Yorkie and his or her personality
as well as the routine they have. If your Yorkie shows symptoms of
hypoglycemia, treat it immediately before the condition gets worse.
To treat hypoglycemia
in dogs, the initial thing you have to do is elevate the blood sugar. Buying a
supplement such as NutriCal or NutriStat is the easiest way to do this. If you do not have any supplement on hand,
use any food that has sugar.
Put sugar in water or
use maple syrup, honey or Karo syrup to treat your Yorkie’s hypoglycemia. Place the supplement or sugar on the tongue
and gums. Make sure your puppy stays
warm. If necessary, wrap your puppy in a
blanket.
Lack of fluids and
hypoglycemia in Yorkies often go together.
If your puppy refuses to drink liquids then do your best to get fluids
inside him yourself. You can make use of
an eye dropper to get the necessary fluids into your Yorkie’s body.
A hypoglycemic puppy
will usually get better fast when given sugar.
If for some reason your Yorkie does not get well within a couple of
minutes, take the puppy to see the veterinarian right away.
If your Yorkie gets
better fast, give your vet a call and let them know what just happened to your
puppy. It’s important to try to find out
why your Yorkie had an attack. This way you can try to avoid an attack in the
future.
Hypoglycemia in
Yorkies rarely persist beyond age 4 or 5 months. If your adult Yorkie continues to suffer from
hypoglycemic attacks, he may be suffering from an underlying illness and should
be seen by your vet.
