Hypoglycemia in the Diabetic Dog and Cat
Low Blood Sugar as a Complication in Canine and Feline Diabetes
Aug 26, 2009
Hypoglycemia, or a low blood sugar level, is one of the most dangerous complications which can occur when diabetic dogs and cats are treated with insulin.
Hypoglycemia occurs when the blood sugar, or blood glucose, level falls below 70 mg/dl. At 60 mg/dl, hypoglycemia can become serious and life-threatening. Generally, insulin dosages are adjusted to maintain the blood glucose level above 80 mg/dl.
Causes of Low Blood Sugar in Pets with Diabetes
The most common cause of hypoglycemia in diabetic pets is an overdose of insulin. This may occur as a result of a mistake in insulin administration or as a result of fluctuations in the pet's need for insulin. In cats especially, insulin requirements may wax and wane and, in some cases of feline diabetes, remission is possible, in which case insulin administration is no longer necessary.
Symptoms of Hypoglycemia in Dogs and Cats
The symptoms most often seen with hypoglycemia are:
- weakness
- nervousness
- muscle tremors
- incoordination
- seizures
- collapse
- death
Caring for a Hypoglycemic Pet
Pet owners with diabetic pets should always be observing their pets for symptoms of hypoglycemia. If hypoglycemia is noted, the pet owner should immediately offer food to the pet. If the pet is unconscious or will not eat, karo syrup can be rubbed on the gums of the pet to help increase the blood glucose levels.
Hypoglycemic pets should be examined by their veterinarian even if the pet appears to recover. Sometimes, additional intravenous fluids containing glucose are necessary to further stabilize the pet. In addition, finding the cause of the hypoglycemic episode is necessary in order to avoid further episodes in the future.
Avoiding Hypoglycemia in Diabetic Dogs and Cats
Though not always possible to avoid hypoglycemia in diabetic dogs and cats, there are some precautions which pet owners can take to help make a hypoglycemic crisis less likely.
- Administering insulin properly is critical in helping to avoid a hypoglycemic crisis in a diabetic dog or cat. Insulin needs to be measured carefully before administration. Usage of the correct syringes is also mandatory in measuring the correct dosage. U100 insulin requires U100 syringes and U40 insulin requires U40 syringes. Using U100 syringes to measure U40 insulin or U40 syringes to measure U100 insulin will result in either a serious overdose or underdose of insulin.
- Make certain insulin is administered only once when the diabetic pet is due for insulin injection. If unsure whether an insulin dose was administered properly, it is safer to not give the insulin rather than to risk overdosing by giving a second dosage.
- Make sure insulin is properly mixed before administering. This involves gently rocking the insulin vial before drawing out the insulin dosage into the syringe in order to properly distribute the contents of the vial evenly within the vial itself.
- Insulin also needs to be stored properly and used before the expiration date on the label.
- Blood glucose curves should be performed regularly and interpreted by the veterinarian to insure that the nadir (lowest) glucose levels are not approaching dangerously low levels. Veterinarians may perform the blood glucose curve in the office or may ask pet owners to perform the curve at home and relay the results for interpretation.
- Pet owners should never increase their pet's insulin dosage without proper veterinary advice and insulin dosages are usually not changed based on single blood glucose readings or on urine glucose or ketone readings.
Hypoglycemia is a potentially serious complication which may be encountered when treating a diabetic dog or cat. Though avoidance of hypoglycemia may not be entirely possible, pet owners can take precautions to help reduce the chance that their pet will suffer from dangerously low blood sugar levels. All pet owners with dogs or cats being treated for diabetes should be aware of the symptoms of hypoglycemia and know what to do for their pet in the event of a hypoglycemic crisis.
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