Preventing Hypoglycemia
Feed small dogs often. Toy breeds and puppies require more glucose than larger dogs, so they are more susceptible to hypoglycemia. To avoid this, feed your small dog often. Feed your dog a meal high in quality protein, high in fat, with complex carbs, like white rice. Make sure to keep small dogs warm if they are underweight or don’t eat.
Limit stress for puppies. Puppies under three months old can get hypoglycemia because they haven’t developed enough to regulate their blood sugar. Because of this, stress can bring on hypoglycemia. Limit stressors, such as poor nutrition, cold environments, and intestinal parasites.
Feed your dog more before high levels of activity. If your dog is going to be engaging in high levels of activity, such as hunting, then you need to feed him beforehand. Give him food a few hours before the activity. The food should be high in protein and fat. Intense exercise when a dog hasn’t eaten can cause hypoglycemia. Don't strenuously exercise a dog who has just eaten a meal, as this can cause bloating. Wait at least 90 minutes after feeding before exercising your dog.
Monitor dogs with conditions related to hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is associated with certain conditions. If your dog has diabetes mellitus, she may develop hypoglycemia if she does not eat and is then given a dose of insulin, or is given too large a dose of insulin. Dogs with Addison’s disease, severe liver disease, pancreatic tumors, or portosystemic shunts are also at risk. If your dog has any of these conditions, then make sure to monitor her energy levels and make sure she eats often enough, and eats the right kind of foods.
Monitor dogs with diabetes. Dogs who have diabetes could end up with hypoglycemia if given too much insulin. It is more likely if the dog isn't eating well, if the dog skips a meal, if the dog vomits, or if amount of food changes. If your dog gets daily insulin, make sure the same person does it every day. This can cut down on double doses. Giving a dog too much insulin can result in death. Make a food and activity log for your dog to make sure he is getting consistent levels of food and activity.
Watch pregnant dogs carefully. Pregnancy can cause blood sugar irregularities. If you have a pregnant dog, monitor her food intake and energy levels.
Take your dog to the vet. If your dog gets hypoglycemia because he is not eating, you should want to find out why. Your vet can figure out if there is an underlying condition. There may be other factors that cause hypoglycemia, which can also cause problems and need to be checked by the vet.
Understanding Hypoglycemia
Know the symptoms. There are many symptoms of hypoglycemia. These symptoms include: Loss of appetite Increased hunger Blurred vision Confusion Lack of energy Loss of consciousness Anxiety Shivering Heart palpitations Seizures
Understand that hypoglycemia may point to other conditions. Hypoglycemia is generally a symptom of some other disease. The symptoms of hypoglycemia might also be confused with other conditions. The best way to figure out if it is hypoglycemia is to check the dog’s blood sugar.
Treat hypoglycemia. You can treat the hypoglycemia in a few ways. You can give the dog food and find a way to keep him warm. If the dog won’t eat, try giving him some honey, syrup, or glucose gel. You can rub the sweetener on the dog’s gums if he won’t swallow. If your small dog is refusing to eat and shows signs of low blood sugar, you can give him glucose.
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