| HYPOGLYCEMIA (Low Blood Sugar) THIS IS A CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DISORDER, CAUSED BY LOW BLOOD SUGAR. IT OCCURS MAINLY IN TOY BREEDS BETWEEN SIX AND TWELVE WEEKS OF AGE. OFTEN IS PRECIPITATED BY STRESS. THE FIRST SIGNS ARE LISTLESSNESS AND DEPRESSION. THEY ARE FOLLOWED BY MUSCULAR WEAKNESS, VOMITING OR DIARRHEA, TREMORS (ESPECIALLY IN THE FACIAL MUSCLES), AND LATER CONVULSIONS, COMA AND DEATH. THE ENTRIE SEQUENCE IS NOT ALWAYS SEEN. THE SMALL PUPPY MY SIMPLY APPEAR TO BE DEPRESSED OR HE MAY BE WEAR, WOBBLY AND JERKY; OR HE MAY BE FOUND IN A COMA. HYPOGLYCEMIA CAN OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING WHEN A PUPPY IS PLACED IN A NEW HOME OR WHILE BEING SHIPPED. IT MIGHT APPEAR AFTER A PUPPY MISSES A MEAL, CHILLS, BECOMES EXHAUSTED FROM TOO MUCH PLAYING, OR HAS A DIGESTIVE UPSET. THESE UPSETS PLACE AN ADDED STRAIN ON THE ENERGY RESERVES OF THE LIVER AND BRING ON SYMPTOMS, IF THE PUPPY IS SUSCEPTIBLE. TREATMENT: TREATMENT IS DIRECTED TO RESTORING BLOOD LEVELS OF GLUCOSE. BEGIN AT ONCE. PROLONGED OR REPEATED ATTACKS COULD CAUSE PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE BRAIN. IF THE PUPPY IS AWAKE, GIVE HIM KARO SYRUP, HONEY OR SUGAR IN WATER BY MOUTH. *NUTRA-CAL AND NUTRA-STAT ARE GOOD FOR THIS ALSO. IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO KEEP A TUBE OF THIS ON HAND. HE WILL BEGIN TO IMPROVE WITHIN 30 MINUTES. WHEN HE IS UNCONSCIOUS, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO GIVE HIM A DEXTROSE SOLUTION INTRAVENOUSLY. IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO TREAT FOR SWELLING OF THE BRAIN. A VETERINARIAN SHOULD BE CALLED ONCE, REGARDLESS IF THE PUPPY IS AWAKE OR UNCONSCIOUS. PREVENT RECURRENT ATTACKS BY FEEDING A HIGH QUALITY FOOD DIET AND ADDING TO IT SUGAR, SYRUP, HONEY, *NUTRA-CAL OR *NUTRA-STAT. SEE THAT THE PUPPY EATS AT LEAST EVERY 4 HOURS AND RECEIVES DAILY VITAMINS. OWNERS OF TOY PUPPIES SHOULD NOT OVER TIRE THEM OR ALLOW THEM TO CHILL. PLAY TIME SHOULD BE CONTROLLED AND LIMITED TO PREVENT UNDUE STRESS AND TIRING. HYPOGLYCEMIA MUST BE OFFSET BY FREQUENT FEEDINGS. A PUPPY, WHO DOES NOT EAT FREQUENTLY, FOR WHATEVER REASON, IS HEADING FOR TROUBLE. *My added information Source: DOG OWNERS HOME VETERINARY HANDBOOK DR. DELBERT G. CARLSON, D.V.M. DR. JAMES M. GRIFFIN, D.V.M. |
