Hypoglycemia in dogs is a very serious and potentially fatal condition and in lay man’s terms may simply be described as the condition of low blood sugar. The condition is known to be more common in the toy dog breeds, and an attack is usually triggered by increased stress levels in the body. Other factors that are known to be triggering factors in the development of a hypoglycemic attack include being shipped from one location to another, missing a meal as well as becoming exhausted from playing too much.
The symptoms of hypoglycemia in dogs can be rather easy to miss as there are a number of instances where owners have seen a healthy looking dog suddenly slip into a coma. Another factor that owners should be aware of is the fact that regular hypoglycemic attacks in the smaller breeds of dogs are known to pose considerable risk of brain damage – thereby making it a condition that needs to be dealt with as soon as possible.
Some of the more common signs of hypoglycemia in dogs include shivering, collapsing, disorientation, listlessness, depression and muscle weakness.
Studies have shown that an eight hour fast for a Yorkshire terrier can result in significant blood sugar level changes – thereby causing the development of either hyper or hypoglycemia. Another well known cause of the condition is the ingestion of the artificial sugar substitute – xylitol. Xylitol is regularly used as an ingredient in sugar free gum and is known to be poisonous for canines because of the fact that it is a prominent contributor to the development of conditions like this.
While it is always important to make sure that you consult a veterinarian in the instance that your pooch suffers from a condition like this, there are a number of home remedies that could also help as first aid solutions. For instance, in the event that the dog collapses after a hypoglycemic attack, one option is to rub small amounts of vanilla ice cream on the insides of the cheeks and gums. Avoid putting any liquid into the dog’s mouth because there is a chance that it will choke given the fact that it is unconscious. Another word of warning is to avoid sticking your fingers into the dog’s mouth during the seizure as the dog may bite you inadvertently. The amount of ice cream applied to the dog’s cheek and gums will depend on the size of the animal.
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