Information on Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

[k9diabetes]

There is an excellent article at petdiabetes.org that covers the basics of hypoglycemia - recognizing it and treating it.

http://www.caninediabetes.org/pdorg/hypoglycemia.htm

Classic signs of hypoglycemia

• lethargy (lack of energy)
• weakness
• head tilting
• "drunkedness" - wobbling when walking, unbalanced
• hunger
• restlessness
• shivering
• ataxia - usually lack of muscular coordination, but maybe changes in head and neck movements
• disorientation
• stupor
• convulsions or seizures
• coma

The occurrence of signs depends on how far the bg drops and on how fast the blood glucose drops.


Owners of diabetic dogs have also reported observing these signs

• sweating - check the nose and the paw pads.
• lip smacking or licking
• getting physically "stuck" in a place where the pet normally could get itself out (for example, behind a partially closed door that a pet would usually nudge open.)

Some animals are asymptomatic at very low bg values. This means they do not show any of the usual signs of hypoglycemia even though their bg is very low

Please click on the link to read more.