HYPOGLYCEMIA


This is low sugar level in the blood. This can result in the dog having a "sugar attack". Chihuahuas, especially puppies, can suffer from this condition. Frequently, this occurs when the dog suffers stress such as weaning or relocating to a new home.

This condition is usually easily reversed, however, if left unattended, this can become a life threatening situation.

SYMPTOMS:

Symptoms to look for include listlessness, pale to white gums, staggering, and refusal to eat. If the dog does not receive treatment for this, the "sugar attack" can progress into the more serious stages of this condition. Behavior such as inability to hold down food and diarrhea can become progressively worse to the point of siezures, complete unresponsiveness, and even death.

There are several remedies that can be used for a "sugar attack". Nutri-cal gel, made by Tomlyn, is one remedy that is easy to use, relatively inexpensive, and many pet stores carry this. It is a wonderful product to keep on hand at all times and it has a pretty long shelf life as long as it is kept in a cool place. We have used this product many many times and have had great results. Most dogs seem to really like the taste and therefore are cooperative when administering this. This product is great to use as a preventative and helps when a dog is already having a "sugar attack". The dog will usually just lick the end of the tube as you squeeze out about 1" of gel. In times of stress, a dose can be given every 2 hours or so depending on the dogs condition. If the dog is unable to lick the gel, sometimes you can use your finger to place a small amount of gel onto the roof of thier mouth. This will slowly dissolve and eventually enter the dogs blood stream. If the "sugar attack" is severe, this may buy some time for the dog until you can get to a vet. Nutri-cal gel is a wonderful product for those of you who like to travel with your chihuahuas in tow. It's easy to carry with you, (ladies it fits right into your purse) and it simply can be a life saver. Another product that can be used is called Pet Nutri-Drops. This comes in a pump bottle and is in liquid form. It must be kept out of direct sunlight,but need not be refrigerated. It breaks down into the blood stream in minutes. The maximum dose is 1 treatment every 6 hours. This is helpful to use when the dog is in need of more rapidly raising the blood sugar. This is also good to give once daily while a dog is under stress.

Of course the best remedy is always prevention. Close observation is necessary for the first couple of weeks until the dog settles in comfortably. Pay attention to the amount of food the dog is eating. If it seems that the dog isnt eating well, try to avoid the problems of "sugar attacks". It is much better to be safe than sorry. Preventative maintenance is much easier to deal with.

Remember this, it is very important to rule out other diseases or conditions as a cause of health problems. Sometimes these symptoms can be caused by parasites, liver malfunction, or Parvo virus. If you are ever not sure, it is always best to check with your vet. Again, better to be safe than sorry. We hope that this information is helpful to everyone. Good luck to all new pet owners.

NB : Please remember this should not be used to treat your dog alone if you feel your dog is in danger or just not quite right please take to vets as soon as possible. Chihuahua-people accepts no responsibility for persons following this advice