Hypoglycemia in Chihuahuas

Hypoglycemia is a condition that more often affects small breed dogs such as Yorkshire, Poodle, Pomeranian and especially Chihuahua since they are miniature in size (2lb to 6lb adult). Hypoglycemia most often affects puppies under 12 months of age and is rarer in adults.

Hypoglycemia results from too low a glucose (sugar) level in the blood. Glucose is essential for the proper functioning of the dog's brain. A bit like a car that runs out of fuel, a dog that runs out of sugar could “break down”. Canine hypoglycemia can cause problems ranging from momentary weakness in the least serious cases to coma, endangering the survival of your animal in the most serious cases. In all cases, hypoglycemia must be prevented and above all it must be treated quickly!

Hypoglycemic attacks:
Hypoglycemic attacks are a condition, not a disease. Hypoglycemia attacks can be considered mild, moderate, or severe depending on your dog's symptoms. A crisis can be caused by several factors that must be known to best avoid them.

A seizure can be triggered by a lack of caloric/energy intake. Your Chihuahua will not have eaten enough, he will have skipped a meal, his food does not suit him and it does not provide him with enough calories/energy for his needs or he will have gone too long without eating.

A crisis can be triggered following a period of physical activity or stress that is too intense or too long in relation to one's weight and energy resources. For example, your Chihuahua will have played too long and will have exhausted its energy resources, it will have suffered stress that exhausts all its resources, etc. The stress of adoption is a major risk factor; stress such as travel, car transportation, a visit at home or even a visit to your veterinarian can trigger a hypoglycemic attack.
The crisis can also be triggered following a period of weakening of the dog's body, for example following an illness, diarrhea, vaccination, or even a period of extreme heat in summer or cold in winter. In winter, it is advisable to cover your dog with a coat or blanket, to avoid going out, walking in the cold, drastic temperature changes and to avoid a prolonged period in the cold.

In summary, if a puppy skips a meal, vomits, has persistent diarrhea, experiences a stressful situation, gets too excited for example by playing/running for too long, this can generally cause a drop in blood sugar. Any situation that does not allow the puppy to have access to water and food should be avoided. Example; sleep with the puppy, take him on you constantly, put him in a place or a cage without water and food.

Signs of hypoglycemia
– Puppy sleepiness
– The puppy sways on its legs, has no support or falls to the ground
– The absent, glassy look, the eyes averted
– Extreme fatigue
– Vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea
– Chills, convulsions, muscle spasms
– Loss of consciousness

The different stages of the hypoglycemic crisis 
-Mild hypoglycemia: your dog will have chills, small tremors, he will be weak or drowsy. Any noticeable change in his behavior should alert you. If your dog is very playful and doesn't play anymore, if he loves treats and doesn't want them, etc...

-Moderate hypoglycemia: this may include a staggering gait, lack of balance, disorientation, abnormal movements of your dog, difficulty holding the head up, abnormal nervousness, even squeaking, complaints from your dog and possibly a refusal to eat altogether.

-Severe hypoglycemia: the dog will have convulsions, loss of consciousness and could lead to loss of consciousness and then the death of the puppy

Hypoglycemia requires immediate veterinary assistance since it is an emergency for the puppy's life.

How to avoid hypoglycemia attacks

Your dog must have unlimited water and food available at all times, day and night, 24 hours a day. “Nutrical” can be offered to the dog preventively 3 times a day and before any stressful situation. or requiring a greater energy demand until the age of 12 months. The best thing to do is to avoid any unnecessary stressful situations for your dog; don't let him get too excited with other dogs or people so he doesn't get exhausted.

In case of crisis
If you experience a hypoglycemic attack, give Nutrical and corn syrup IMMEDIATELY. Put some on your finger and rub it on the roof of your mouth or rub your gums with it. Be careful not to choke if he is too weak to swallow. Then immediately head to the nearest veterinarian who will take over the puppy's care. Note that the longer the symptoms of hypoglycemia persist, the greater the risk to the animal's life. Prevention is better than cure so do not hesitate to consult your veterinarian if the puppy is weak, has a loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhea.

Author: Machu Pitou Chihuahua Breeding.
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