HYPOGLYCEMIA (LOW BLOOD SUGAR)
This is a central nervous system disorder caused by low blood sugar. It occurs mainly in toy breeds and puppies between six and twelve weeks of age. Often it is precipitated by stress. (Too much playing and/or excitement).
The first signs are those of listlessness and depression. They are followed by muscular weakness, tremors, (especially in the facial muscles) and later convulsions, coma, and death. The entire sequence is not always seen. The dog may appear to be depressed or may be weak, wobbly, and jerky; or the puppy may be found in a coma.
Hypoglycemia can occur without warning when a puppy is placed in a new home, or while being shipped, it might appear after a puppy misses a meal, chills, becomes exhausted from too much playing or has a digestive upset. These upsets place an added strain on the energy reserves of the liver
TREATMENT: Treatment is directed at restoring blood levels of glucose. Begin at once. Prolonged or repeated attacks can cause permanent damage to the brain. If the puppy is awake, give Karo syrup, honey or sugar in water by mouth. You should begin to see improvement in thirty minutes. When unconscious, a puppy will have to be given a dextrose solution intravenously. It may be necessary to treat for swelling of the brain. A veterinarian should be called at once for an unconscious puppy.
Prevent recurrent attacks by feeding a high quality kibble diet and add to it sugar, syrup, or honey. Do not feed table scraps or low quality feed. See that the puppy eats at least every four hours and receives a daily vitamin.
To help prevent this keep sugar water at one tsp. per cup of water out for the first couple of weeks.