Diabetes Insipidus in Dogs

 

Diabetes insipidus (DI) is a rare disorder that affects water metabolism, preventing the body from conserving water and releasing too much of it. This condition is characterized by increased urination, dilute urine (so-called insipid, or dull urine), and increased thirst and drinking. This disease is not related to diabetes mellitus (insulin diabetes).

 

Symptoms and Types

 

There are two main types of DI that affect dogs: neurogenic (or central diabetes insipidus) and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. In neurogenic DI, the cause is due to a lack of the hormone vasopressin, which regulates the body’s retention of water. The release of vasopressin is produced and regulated by the hypothalamus (in the brain), so a dysfunction in its release may be due to a head injury, or to a tumor in the brain. Vasopressin is produced in the hypothalamus into the connected pituitary gland, and is then released into the bloodstream. A lack of vasopressin may be due to a failure in the hypothalamus, or a failure in the pituitary gland. A significant number of cases is idiopathic.

 

Nephrogenic DI, meanwhile, can be caused by a deficiency of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which functions to stimulate the capillary muscles and reduce the flow of urine, effectively conserving water for the body’s various functions. The cause is found in the kidneys and their inability to respond appropriately to ADH, allowing too much water from the body to escape into the urine.

 

This is typically an acquired condition, and may be due to amyloidosis of the kidney, cysts on the kidney, or an imbalance of electrolytes.

 

Other common symptoms seen in dogs with DI include:

• Increased urination (polyuria)
• Increased drinking (polydipsia)
• Decreased urination with dehydration
• Housesoiling—occasional
• Poor hair coat 

 

Causes

 

Inadequate secretion of antidiuretic hormone ADH

• Congenital defect
• Unknown causes
• Trauma
• Cancer

 

Renal insensitivity to ADH

• Congenital
• Secondary to drugs
• Secondary to endocrine and metabolic disorders
• Secondary to renal disease or infection

 

Cholangitis-Cholangiohepatitis Syndrome in Dogs

 

Inflammation of the bile ducts and intrahepatic ducts — the ducts that carry bile out of the liver — is medically referred to as Cholangitis. Bile, an essential component in the digestive process, begins in the liver and is then stored in the gallbladder until a meal is taken. The bitter fluid is then released into the dog’s small intestine, where it emulsifies fats in the food to be used as energy by the rest of the body.

 

Cholangiohepatitis, meanwhile, describes inflammation of the bile ducts and liver. Together, these diseases are referred to as Cholangitis-Cholangiohepatitis Syndrome (CCHS). This disease is rare in dogs, but is well documented in the cat population. 

 

Symptoms and Types

 

Certain conditions often occur prior to or simultaneous to CCHS: inflammation or clogging of  the liver ducts running outside the liver (EHBDO), inflammation of the pancreas, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), fatty liver disease, or long-term inflammation of kidney tissue. Symptoms may be sudden, intermittent, or long-term.

 

However, there are currently only three types of CCHS are recognized: suppurative, which has a discharge of fluid within the biliary canal and is often sudden onset, but generally has a good outcome; nonsuppurative, which is reoccurring and has a guarded to poor prognosis; and lymphocytic/lymphoplasmacytic, where lymphocytes and plasma cells invade and surround the liver’s portal vein or portal triad (the portal vein, bile duct and artery of the liver), and which has a poor outcome due to its longer lasting chronic nature and tendency to progress to cirrhosis of the liver.

 

Suppurative CCHS

• Fever
• Swollen painful abdomen – due to fluid crossing over into the abdomen (ascites)
• Yellow skin and yellow whites of eyes
• Dehydration
• Shock

 

Nonsuppurative CCHS

• Enlarged liver (hepatomegaly)
• Lack of energy
• Lack of appetite (anorexia)
• Vomiting

 

Causes

 

Suppurative CCHS

• Infectious:
• Non-infectious:
  • Happens after EHBDO (extra-hepatic bile duct obstruction)
  • Happens after gall bladder blockage

 

Nonsuppurative CCHS

• May not be directly causal, but concurrent with:
  • EHBDO
  • Inflammation of gallbladder
  • Gallstones
  • Inflammation of the pancreas
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Long-term swelling of kidney tissue

 

Diagnosis

 

Your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical exam on your dog, taking into account the background history of health, onset of symptoms, and possible incidents or illnesses that might have led to this condition. Some of the factors that place a dog at risk for developing CCHS are inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, or obstruction of the bile ducts outside of the liver.

 

A chemical blood profile, complete blood count and urinalysis will be taken. These may reflect anemia, high liver enzymes, bilirubinuria (bilirubin in the urine), and/or lymphocytosis. They might also reflect cancer if it is causing the swelling of the liver and/or gallbladder. Often, sludged bile is found, which may be the cause of blocked bile ducts.

 

If your veterinarian suspects swelling of the pancreas, a TLI blood test (trypsin-like immunoreactivity – a pancreatic digestive enzyme) can be taken to test for pancreatic sufficiency. Vitamin B12 levels will be tested; low values indicate absorption problems in the small intestine, or pancreatic problems. Coagulation tests will also be performed to verify whether the blood is clotting normally. And thyroxine, a thyroid gland, may be tested to rule out a thyroid tumor.

 

Chest X-rays, abdominal X-rays and an abdominal ultrasound can be used to check for cancer and to visualize the liver, pancreas and kidneys. For a closer visual exam, a laparotomy may also be performed. This method uses a diagnostic tool called a laparoscope, a small, flexible instrument that is passed into the body through a small incision. The laparoscope is equipped with a small camera and biopsy forceps, so that you doctor can visually inspect the walls and ducts of the liver and pancreas, and take a sample for biopsy. For further laboratory analysis, abdominal fluid and cell samples may sometimes be taken.

 

 

Hyperthyroidism in Dogs

 

Hyperthyroidism is a disease caused by overproduction of thyroxine, a thyroid hormone that increases metabolism in the body. The thyroid gland normally produces thyroid hormones in response to stimulation by the pituitary gland, the “master gland” of the body. Thyroid hormones normally increase chemical processes occurring within the cells of the body, especially those related to metabolism; however, in hyperthyroidism, the excessive hormone levels push the cells and body into overdrive, resulting in increased metabolism with concurrent weight loss, anxiety, and diarrhea, among other symptoms.

 

Hyperthyroidism is rare in dogs, and most commonly occurs as a result of carcinoma of the thyroid. It may also result from medication given to treat hypothyroidism, an underproduction of essential thyroid hormones in the body.

 

Symptoms and Types

 

• Involves many organ systems due to the overall increase in metabolism
• Weight loss
• Increased appetite
• Unkempt appearance
• Poor body condition
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Increased thirst (polydipsia)
• Increased urine (polyuria)
• Rapid breathing (tachypnea)
• Difficulty breathing (dyspnea)
• Heart murmur; rapid heart rate; particularly an abnormal heart beat known as a “gallop rhythm”
• Hyperactivity
• Enlarged thyroid gland, which can be felt as a lump on the neck

 

Some dogs suffering from hyperthyroidism are referred to as apathetic. These patients exhibit atypical signs such as poor appetite, loss of appetite, depression, and weakness.

 

Causes

 

• Overfunctioning thyroid nodules (where the thyroid nodules produce excess thyroid hormones outside of the control of the pituitary gland)
• Secretion of the T3 (triodothyronine) or T4 (tetraiodothyronine) thyroid hormones as a result of thyroid cancer; tumor then interferes with normal functioning of the thyroid gland, prompting the gland to produce more thyroxine
• Response to medications used for hypothyroidism may lead to overproduction of thyroxine

 

Diagnosis

 

A preliminary diagnosis can often be made based on palpitation of the gland, which becomes enlarged as it progresses. Standard tests will include chemical blood profile, a complete blood count, and a urinalysis. A high concentration of T4 in the blood serum is the most common finding of the profile, confirming a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism. In some cases, however, the T4 levels may be in the normal range, making a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism more difficult. This is especially true in the early stages of this disease. If your dog is showing the symptoms of hypothyroidism but the blood tests are not conclusive, you will need to return to your veterinarian for further blood tests.

 

 

Your veterinarian may need to conduct a battery of tests to zero in on a reliable diagnosis. Thyroid gland scintigraphy (a diagnostic test in which a two-dimensional picture of a body radiation source is obtained through the use of radioisotopes) can be used to diagnose hyperthyroidism and to determine the location of abnormal thyroid tissue.

 

Thoracic radiography and echocardiography may be useful in assessing the severity of myocardial disease, and chest X-rays can be used to detect pulmonary metastasis.

 

Abnormally High levels of Parathyroid Hormone due to Chronic Kidney Failure in Dogs

 

Secondary hyperparathyroidism refers to the excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) due to chronic kidney failure. More specifically, the cause of secondary hyperparathyroidism is absolute or relative lack of calcitriol production — a form of vitamin D that stimulates the absorption of calcium in the intestines, calcium resorption in bone, and promotes the effectiveness of the parathyroid hormone in aiding bone resorption. Low concentrations of calcium also play a role in increased levels of PTH in blood.

 

Symptoms

 

The majority of symptoms relate to the underlying cause of chronic kidney failure. In some patients with chronic kidney disease, bone resorption starts around the teeth and jaw, causing a loosening of the teeth and a softening of the lower jaw, a condition known in the medical community as “rubber jaw.”

 

Causes

 

Any underlying disease that causes chronic kidney failure.

 

Diagnosis

 

You will need to give a detailed history of your dog’s health, the onset and nature of the symptoms, and possible incidents that might have led to this condition. Your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical exam to evaluate all of the body systems.

 

 

Blood testing and biochemical profiles may reveal azotemia, an accumulation of toxic amounts of nitrogenous waste products (urea) in the blood, waste products that are usually excreted in the urine and voided from the body. This condition is also referred to as uremia. There may also be abnormally higher levels of the phosphate in the blood and abnormally low levels of the calcium in the blood. For definitive diagnosis, your veterinarian will perform measurements of serum PTH concentrations. Moreover, low to normal concentrations of calcium in the blood will help in confirming a diagnosis of secondary hyperparathyroidism. Bone X-rays are also helpful in determining bone density, especially around the teeth.

 

Hyperglycemia in Dogs

 

A dog with abnormally high levels of glucose in the blood is said to have hyperglycemia. A simple carbohydrate sugar that circulates in the blood, glucose is a major source of energy for the body, of which normal levels range between 75-120mg.

 

Insulin, a hormone that is produced and released by the pancreas into the bloodstream when glucose levels rise, plays a key role in maintaining normal sugar levels. Low levels or absolute deficiency of insulin results in abnormally high blood sugar levels.

 

Some of the causes for hyperglycemia may be pancreatitis, and the resulting inability to produce insulin; normally occurring hormones, especially in female dogs; diet; and infections of the body (such as teeth, or urinary tract).

 

Middle aged and older dogs are more at risk for developing hyperglycemia, and it is more common in female dogs than in males. Any breed can be affected, but some smaller breeds appear to be more disposed, including beagles, cairn terriers, dachshunds, miniature poodles and schnauzers.

 

Symptoms and Types

 

Clinical symptoms may vary depending on the underlying disease/condition. Your dog may not be showing any serious symptoms, especially those if the increased sugar is thought to be temporary, hormonal, or stress induced hyperglycemia. Some of the more common symptoms include:

 

• Increased thirst (polydipsia)
• Increased urination (polyuria)
• Depression
• Weight loss
• Obesity
• Excessive hunger
• Dehydration
• Cataract
• Bloodshot eyes (due to inflamed blood vessels)
• Liver enlargement
• Nerve damage in legs
• Severe depression (in cases of very high blood sugar levels)
• Non-healing wounds;infection is increased as the excess sugar feeds fungal and bacterial invaders
• Tissue damage (due to oxidizing [burning] effect of the excess sugar in the tissue)

 

Causes

 

Other than high stress situations, harmful drug interactions (such as with heartworm medication), and intake of nutritional solutions containing high glucose, the following are potential causes to hyperglycemia:

 

Low glucose consumption within the body leading to high blood sugar levels

 

High glucose production

 

Physiological causes

• Soon after taking meal
• Exertion
• Excitement
• Stress

 

Infections

• Infections in the body can drive blood sugar levels high
• Dental infection
• Kidney infection
• Urinary tract infection

  

 

 

Diagnosis

 

A complete blood profile will be conducted, including a chemical blood profile, a complete blood count, and a urinalysis. Your veterinarian will have the blood samples tested immediately for blood sugar levels. In some cases the only abnormal finding will be the raised blood sugar. This is especially true in cases that are linked to temporary conditions, such as stress or hormones. Unless there is some underlying disease/condition present, the blood test results are usually normal.

 

Urinalysis may reveal higher sugar levels, pus, bacteria, and an excessive number of ketone bodies in the urine, as seen in diabetes mellitus. Low insulin levels accompanied by high blood glucose levels are also indicative of diabetes mellitus. High lipase and amylase enzyme levels indicate inflammation in the pancreas. In some cases higher liver enzyme levels are also present due to fatty deposits in the liver tissue. Abdominal X-rays and ultrasound may provide important information regarding the underlying disease.

 

More specific tests may be required to diagnose the underlying cause. You will need to give a thorough history of your dog’s health, onset of symptoms, and possible incidents that might have led to this condition. The history you provide may give your veterinarian clues as to which organs are causing secondary symptoms, such as undiagnosed diseases of the pancreas (pancreatitis, amyloidosis). Previous infections may still be present as well, causing a spike in glucose levels. If your dog has had any previous infection in the body, you should tell your veterinarian about them.

  

Granulomatous Hepatitis in Dogs

 

Hepatitis is a condition in which the liver is inflamed, creating a diseased state. Further complicating this condition is the growth of inflamed tissue on the liver, a condition that is then referred to as hepatitis granulomatous (where a granuloma is a small area of inflamed tissue). This condition is most commonly due to fungal infection, but it can also be brought about by bacteria, viruses, parasites, or cancer.

 

Hepatitis granulomatous is relatively uncommon in dogs, but it is not limited by age or breed.

 

Symptoms and Types

 

• Lack of appetite
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Weight loss
• Lethargy
• Increased urination (polyuria)
• Increased thirst (polydipsia)
• Abdominal pain
• Yellowish discoloration of the skin and the whites of the eyes due to jaundice
• Distended abdomen
• Fever

 

Causes

 

• Fungal infections (blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis)
• Bacterial infections (brucellosis)
• Parasitism (liver flukes, visceral larval migrans)
• Neoplasia/cancer (lymphosarcoma)
• Immune-mediated disorders (involving the immune system of the body)
• Drug reactions
• Idiopathic (cause unknown)

 

  

 

Diagnosis

 

You will need to give a thorough history of your dog’s health leading up to the onset of symptoms, including any illnesses your dog has had, even if they have apparently resolved. Your veterinarian will perform a complete physical exam, including a blood chemical profile, a complete blood count, a urinalysis and an electrolyte panel. The results of the blood tests may reveal abnormalities related to the underlying disease/condition.

 

The biochemical tests usually reveal abnormally high liver enzymes and bilirubin levels, low glucose levels, and other such abnormalities. Similarly, the urinalysis may reveal protein, red blood cells, or white blood cells in the urine, indicative of infection. As the liver is important for blood clotting, abnormalities related to blood clotting are common in these patients. However, a coagulation check may return normal, unless your dog has reached the point of liver failure.

 

Abdominal X-rays will often reveal an enlarged liver, an abdominal mass, and excess fluid inside the abdominal cavity. An abdominal ultrasound will give your veterinarian further details related to the liver size and also enable your veterinarian to take a guided biopsy of liver tissue for further microscopic evaluation. The liver tissue sample will confirm abnormalities in the liver tissue, providing the means for a definitive diagnosis.

 

It is important to keep in mind that hepatitis granulomatous is frequently multisystemic, meaning that several systems of the body are being affected, making the diagnosis difficult to define.

 

Hypokalemia in Dogs

 

Hypokalemia refers to lower than normal concentrations of potassium in the blood. A vital element to an important group of blood minerals called electrolytes, potassium functions in both cellular and electricual functions, such as in the conduction of electrical charges in the heart, nerves, and muscles.Therefore, lower levels of potassium in the bloodstream will compromise the normal functioning ability of these tissues.

 

Symptoms and Types

 

Symptoms relate to the underlying cause of hypokalemia. Some of the more common ones include:

 

• Vomiting
• Lethargy
• Lack of appetite
• Weight loss
• Muscle pain
• Loss of muscle mass
• Generalized muscular weakness
• Paralysis of muscles involve in respirations, causing difficulty in breathing
• Increased urination (polyuria)
• Increased thirst (polydipsia)

 

Causes

 

• Potassium loss through urine
• Chronic kidney disease
• After administration of drug meant to increase urine output
• Patients on dialysis
• Increased loss through urine after administration of intravenous fluids
• Metabolic diseases
• Vomiting
• After use of certain antibiotics
• Loss of potassium through feces, such as with diarrhea
• Intestinal obstruction
• Insufficient potassium intake
• Prolonged loss of appetite or starvation
• Diet deficient in potassium
• Insulin administration
• Glucose administration
• Stress induced

 

 

Diagnosis

 

You will need to give a detailed history of your dog’s health, the onset and nature of the symptoms, and possible incidents or conditions that might have led to this condition.

 

Your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical exam to evaluate all body systems. Routine blood tests, including a complete blood count, biochemistry profile, and urinalysis are important for the diagnosis of hypokalemia and its underlying cause. In chronic kidney failure patients, blood tests may reveal normochromic (hemoglobin contents of RBCs are normal), normocytic (overall hemoglobin levels are decreased), and nonregenerative (bone marrow responding inadequately to the increased demand of RBC) anemia.

 

Higher levels of blood urea nitrogen (waste products [urea] in the blood that are normally excreted in the urine and voided from the body) and creatinine may also be found in patients with hypokalemia due to kidney failure. Urinalysis may reveal inadequate urine concentrating ability in patients with chronic kidney failure. In diabetic patients, the urinalysis may reveal high glucose levels and ketone bodies in urine.

 

Abdominal X-rays, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT-Scan), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may also be used to diagnose the underlying cause of hypokalemia.

 

Diabetic Hepatopathy in Dogs

 

Diabetic hepatopathy is a disease of the liver which causes lesions to develop on the liver. It is associated with diabetes mellitus, and for unknown reasons, this type of liver disease is also associated with lesions on the skin. One of the possibilities may be a link to metabolic system and a change in the organ systems.

 

This is a relatively uncommon disease and there is no breed that is more disposed than others, but it does tend to affect predominantly male dogs that are middle-aged to older.

 

Symptoms and Types

 

• Sudden onset
• Weight loss
• Lethargy
• Frequent urination and drinking
• Yellowish skin and/or yellow whites of eyes
• No appetite
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Sometimes lameness
• May be few signs
• No energy, poor body condition, painful feet and elbows making it difficult for your dog to stand and lie down
• Skin abnormalities

 

Causes

 

• A deficiency of amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) helps play a role in your pet’s skin disease
• Zinc deficiency
• Fatty acid deficiency
• Niacin deficiency
• Possibly too much glucagon secreted by the pancreas (a hormone causing break-down of stored energy in the liver)
• High blood sugar — insulin resistance
• Swallowing of anticonvulsant drugs
• Swallowing fungal toxins

 

Diagnosis

 

You will need to give a thorough history of your dog’s health and onset of symptoms. Standard tests will include a chemical blood profile, complete blood count, urinalysis and electrolyte panel. A skin biopsy will be taken for laboratory analysis.

 

Using the results from the bloodwork, your veterinarian will be able to determine how advanced the disease is. The complete blood count (CBC) may show a mild regenerative anemia, and the biochemistry profile may show high liver enzymes and low amino acids.

 

If the liver is severely compromised, characteristic crystals will be seen in the urine (crystalluria). Abdominal X-rays can be used to look for enlargement of the liver, and in some cases, may show effusion (an escape of fluid from the organ). An abdominal ultrasound is ideal for visualizing the liver in more detail and for searching for a possible pancreatic mass. Ultrasound may show nodular lesions, a swiss cheese appearance, or an uneven shape along the edge of the liver. Your doctor may decide to take a liver biopsy, but this procedure may further complicate the diagnosis or condition, as affected dogs do not heal well from the procedure.

 

 

Excessive Levels of Parathyroid Hormone in the Blood in Dogs

 

The parathyroid hormone is responsible for regulating calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood, increasing blood calcium levels by causing calcium to be reabsorbed from bone. The parathyroid glands are small, hormone-secreting glands that are located on or near the thyroid glands. The term para- refers to adjacent or alongside, and thyroid refers to the actual thyroid gland; the thyroid and parathyroid glands are located side by side in the neck, near the windpipe or trachea. Hyperparathyroidism is a medical condition related to the parathyroid glands, in which over active parathyroid glands cause abnormally high levels of parathyroid hormone (also known as parathormone or PTH) to circulate in the blood.

 

Primary hyperparathyroidism refers to a condition in which a tumor in the parathyroid gland produces excessive levels of parathyroid hormone, leading to increased blood calcium levels (hypercalcemia).

 

Secondary hyperparathyroidism can be caused by a deficiency of calcium and vitamin D, and is associated with malnutrition or long-term (chronic) kidney disease.

 

There is no known genetic cause for primary hyperparathyroidism, but its association with certain breeds suggests a possible hereditary basis in some cases. Secondary hyperparathyroidism can develop in association with hereditary kidney disease (known as hereditary nephropathy), but is not inherited per se. Keeshonds seem to show some predilection for this disease. In dogs, the average age is ten years, with a range of 5 to 15 years of age.

 

Symptoms and Types

 

• Most dogs with primary hyperparathyroidism do not appear ill
• Signs are usually mild and are due solely to the effects of high levels of calcium in the blood
• Increased urination
• Increased thirst
• Lack of appetite
• Sluggishness
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Presence of stones in the urinary tract
• Stupor and coma
• Enlarged parathyroid glands in the neck may be palpable
• Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism is caused by diets that have too little calcium and vitamin D or too much phosphorus – it is a type of malnutrition
• Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism sometimes is associated with bone fractures and general poor body condition

 

Causes

 

• Primary hyperparathyroidism – PTH-secreting tumor of the parathyroid gland; in most cases only one gland has a tumor; malignant tumors of the parathyroid glands are uncommon
• Secondary hyperparathyroidism is related to malnutrition – nutritional deficiency of calcium and vitamin D or nutritional excess of phosphorus
• Secondary hyperparathyroidism is also related to long-term (chronic) kidney disease. Calcium is lost through the kidneys and absorption of calcium is reduced through the intestinal tract due to deficiency of a hormone known as calcitriol (which regulates levels and absorption of calcium in the intestines), which is produced by the kidneys; may also be due to the retention of phosphorus in the body
• Primary hyperparathyroidism – unknown
• Secondary hyperparathyroidism – related to calcium/vitamin D malnutrition or to long-term (chronic) kidney disease

 

 

 

Diagnosis

 

Your veterinarian will be looking for cancer first and foremost for the cause for this disease. However, several other possibilities will also be considered, such as renal failure and vitamin D intoxication, which have been known to be found in some rodenticides. Other possibilities are too much calcium in the blood. A urinalysis will reveal calcium and phosphate levels.

 

Serum ionized calcium determination is often normal in patients with chronic renal failure and high in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism or hypercalcemia that is associated with a malignancy. If kidney stones are suspected, your veterinarian may use X-ray and ultrasound imaging of the parathyroid gland to discover whether there is tumor there. If nothing can be found using these diagnostic techniques, your veterinarian may need to use surgery to explore the area of the thyroid and parathyroid.

 

Hypoglycemia in Dogs

 

The medical term for critically low levels of sugar in the blood is hypoglycemia, and it is often linked to diabetes and an overdose of insulin. The blood sugar, or glucose, is a main energy of source in an animal’s body, so a low amount will result in a severe decrease in energy levels, possibly to the point of loss of consciousness.

 

There are conditions other than diabetes that can also cause blood sugar levels to drop to dangerous levels in dogs. In most animals, hypoglycemia is actually not a disease in and of itself, but is only an indication of another underlying health problem.

 

The brain actually needs a steady supply of glucose in order to function properly, as it does not store and create glucose itself. When glucose levels drop to a dangerously low level, a condition of hypoglycemia takes place. This is a dangerous health condition and needs to be treated quickly and appropriately. If you suspect hypoglycemia, especially if your dog is disposed to this condition, you will need to treat the condition quickly before it becomes life threatening.

 

Symptoms

 

• Loss of appetite (anorexia)
• Increased hunger
• Visual instability, such as blurred vision
• Disorientation and confusion – may show an apparent inability to complete basic routine tasks
• Weakness, low energy, loss of consciousness
• Seizures (rare)
• Anxiety, restlessness
• Tremor/shivering
• Heart palpitations

 

These symptoms may not be specific to hypoglycemia, there can be other possible underlying medical causes. The best way to determine hypoglycemia if by having the blood sugar level measured while the symptoms are apparent.

 

Causes

 

There may be several causes for hypoglycemia, but the most common is the side effects caused by drugs that are being used to treat diabetes. Dogs with diabetes are given insulin to help control the condition, but an overdose of insulin, or higher does of insulin given when blood glucose levels are higher than normal, can cause the body to process too much glucose, decreasing the levels of glucose in the blood to levels that are too low for the body’s needs. This is when a state of hypoglycemia may occur, and if it is not treated quickly, the brain may be damaged irreparably, leading to death.

 

 

Diagnosis

 

If you notice any of the symptoms of hypoglycemia in your dog, it is advisable to see a veterinarian immediately. If your dog has already lost consciousness, or is visibly at the point of collapsing, you will need to call your veterinarian for instructions on immediate at-home treatment, followed by a visit with the doctor.

 

Even if you are able to treat your dog at home during the episode of hypoglycemia, you will still need to see your veterinarian so that blood work can be done. Your veterinarian will need to do a complete blood profile, a chemical blood profile, a complete blood count, and a urinalysis. You will need to give your veterinarian a thorough history of your dog’s health, onset of symptoms, recent diet and any medications you have been giving to your dog.