Last Updated on December 29, 2021 by Griselda M.
Chihuahua’s low blood sugar might be a problem, and one of the reasons that can be is a result of playing sessions that last for a long period of time. Low blood sugar is another word named hypoglycemia. When the blood glucose level falls below normal, this situation arises.
Toy poodles, Yorkshire terriers, and Chihuahuas are just a few toy dog breeds that suffer from hypoglycemia. Understanding hypoglycemia symptoms might be the difference between life and death.
What Is Chihuahua Hypoglicemia?
Hypoglycemia is a condition in which there is not enough sugar in circulation. Low blood sugar in dogs might be because of parasitic worms that interfere with digestion or a shortage of caloric reserves.
Tiny puppies, particularly toy breeds such as the Chihuahua or Pomeranian, might have very few fat reserves. When there isn’t enough fat in the body, blood sugar levels drop.
Adult pets can compensate for this difference because their fat stores are bigger, and their livers are fully functional, allowing them to produce energy when blood sugar levels are low. Because immature livers are unable to synthesize enough sugar, hypoglycemia may occur in these young pups.
Low Blood Sugar In Dogs Symptoms
Low blood sugar symptoms might be difficult to spot. It’s especially crucial to keep an eye out for them if your puppy is a tiny breed that’s prone to them. A cascade of additional symptoms may follow if the puppy’s heart rate and breathing slow down owing to a shortage of sugar.
Be on the lookout for any or all of the abnormal behaviors and symptoms listed below:
- Weakness
- Becoming pretty drowsy
- Disorientation
- “Glassy” has an unsteady “drunk” walk and unfocused eyes.
- Twitching, shaking, trembling, or shivering are all signs of twitching, shaking, trembling, or shivering.
- One side of the head is inclined.
- Seizures
- Unconsciousness
Your pet might die if you don’t get help right now. Low blood sugar is easy to reverse at home if you notice the indications early in the process.
Treatment
The goal of hypoglycemia treatment in dogs is to get the blood glucose levels back to normal levels. A veterinarian may prescribe rubbing corn syrup, sugar, fruit juices, or honey on the gums of dogs that are having hypoglycemia seizures, followed by a small meal after the convulsions have ceased.
As a dog recovers, a veterinarian may continue to give it tiny meals. If a hypoglycemic dog is unable to feed, the vet may inject a concentrated dextrose intravenous solution. The reason for the hypoglycemia determines the next step in therapy.
If it’s due to a lack of activity or a poor diet, your veterinarian will advise you to make lifestyle adjustments. They may also suggest eating more often and with high fat, protein, and complex carbohydrate content.
Your veterinarian may give you a prescription for anticonvulsants or steroids if he is unable to treat or control the hypoglycemia in any other way. Hypoglycemia can be avoided by eating a balanced diet, especially during puppyhood.
As a result, you should ensure that your dog is taking the proper nutrients and consult with your veterinarian about diet.
Diagnosis On Chihuahua Low Blood Sugar
If you see any signs of hypoglycemia in your dog, you should take him to the doctor right once. If your dog has already lost consciousness or appears to be on the verge of collapse, call your veterinarian for quick at-home treatment instructions, followed by a visit to the clinic.
You’ll need to provide your veterinarian with a detailed history of your chihuahua’s health, including the beginning of symptoms, recent food, and any drugs you’ve given him.
Learn more about How Long Can A Chihuahua Hold Its Bladder – The Pee Guide 2021.
Give your chihuahua sweet things
Because you’re trying to elevate your dog’s blood sugar, you’ll need something sweet. Honey, Karo syrup, or maple syrup are the best things you can use. In addition, you can also use vanilla ice cream. It’s critical to respond soon since hypoglycemia can swiftly worsen and become life-threatening for your dog.
Don’t merely put honey in your dog’s mouth, no matter what method you use to enhance his sugar level. He has the potential to choke. If he can lick it off your fingers, that’s fantastic. If not, you can massage your dog’s gums with honey, syrups, or ice cream. Be cautious, since drowsy dogs can bite.
If your dog is experiencing extremely low blood sugar, has focal seizures, or is unresponsive, keep putting syrup on their gums while driving to the clinic. That might save their life, and it isn’t difficult.
Is It Possible For A Test Report Indicating Low Blood Sugar To Be Incorrect?
The answer is yes. If vets don’t handle a blood sample properly after collection, glucose might be lost, resulting in a falsely low test result. This sampling mistake happens because red blood cells consume glucose spontaneously.
A laboratory result indicating a low blood glucose value may be erroneous due to sampling mistakes if a pet is healthy and shows no indicators of hypoglycemia.
If the repeated glucose number is on a normal level and the pet still shows no indications of hypoglycemia, the first measurement was most likely wrong, and no additional testing is required.
How Do Veterinarians Figure Out What’s Causing A Chihuahua Low Blood Sugar?
A detailed history and physical examination are generally the first steps in determining the reasonableness of a pet’s low blood sugar. Changes in activity or attitude, hunger and water intake, bowel function and urine output, and other changes recorded by the owner are all part of a pet’s disease history.
If a chihuahua is receiving insulin injections for diabetes, the owner’s history should include any difficulties administering the shots.
A thorough physical examination may reveal the source of low blood sugar. The appearance of yellow gums, for example, may indicate underlying liver illness, a fever, on the other hand, may indicate an underlying infection, an abdominal mass, on the other hand, may indicate a tumor, and so on.
Final Words For Chihuahua Low Blood Sugar
By feeding your dog regularly, you may nearly completely avoid hypoglycemia. According to doctors, many commercial dog meals are heavy in grain ingredients, which might lead to low blood sugar in your dog.
You may help your Chi maintain a more consistent sugar level by switching to low-glycemic dog food.
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