HYPOGLYCAEMIA
The purpose of this article is to assist owners/breeders in recognising the symptoms of Hypoglycaemia and to outline the simple precautions which might help to prevent its occurence , especially regarding puppies and younsters, who can be more susceptible to developing this life-theatening illness.
PLAYALONG MAGIC FLUTE
A survivor of my first encouter with Hypoglycaemia. Flute and her two lovely litter sisters developed the condition at 10 weeks of age ... the result of shock owing to a nearby New Year's Eve firework celebration! Her two litter sisters died as neither my vet nor myself had encountered the illness previously. Recollection of Carl Sparrow's article enabled me to save Flute. Bobbin had been the first to die from 'shock' when given an injection of glucose at the vets.
Hypoglycaemia is a serious illness which can occur very suddenly especially in small-breed puppies who can use up their energy levels faster than they can replace them. Any chance of a full recovery depends on early recognition of the symptoms and immediate treatment. Unless the hypoglycaemia is caused by diabetes or any other underlying condition, preventative measures can be taken to greatly reduce the chances of it occuring.
I shall be providing three detailed case studies, each one the result of different external causes and in each case, against all the odds, the puppy survived.
However, I shall start by quoting a very important article written by Carl Sparrow (Casarows Pomeranians UK) which appeared in POMERANIAN FIVE , a very interesting bi-annual publication by the joint UK Pomeranian Clubs. This article has helped me save the lives of three puppies, and I hope that it (together with my own case studies) does likewise for others. Thankyou Carl for giving me permission to use your invaluable information.
Please note that the additions in italics are mine, learned from personal encounters with the illness.
The Floppy Puppy Syndrome
by Carl Sparrow
This is the name that I personally use for the condition called Hypoglycaemia. This is a condition which can occur for various reasons: if your dog has diabetes; if there is a delay in eating, or if there is a rapid combustion of carbohydrates (glucose). Exposure to stressful situations e.g. a change of home/owner can also be a contributory factor. The puppy's brain can only survive for a short period of time without glucose and oxygen. Consequently a period of Hypoglycaemia can result in brain damage.
WE, AS OWNERS, CAN TEND TO MISS THE EARLY WARNING SIGNS AND BY THE TIME THAT WE REALISE THAT THE PUPPY HAS HYPOGLYCAEMIA IT IS TOO LATE AND THE PUPPY DIES.
Everyone who has owned or bred a Pomeranian puppy (or other small breed puppy) will know that they are full of energy, continually on the go, racing around without a care in the world. This means that they burn up a lot of energy which must be constantly replaced.
From personal experience there are three stages to this syndrome:
FIRSTLY - THE EARLY WARNING PHASE
By observing your puppy over a period of time, it may seem a 'bad doer' ... you may be able to feel its backbone, its eyes are sunken with a glazed expression. (I will add to Carl's article here and say that a perfectly lively and healthy puppy can suddenly become uncharacteristically withdrawn and listless thus entering phase one without showing any signs other than those. I have one Pom who was hyperactive as a puppy (still is). He ran himself to a standstill and collapsed into a Hypoglycaemic coma at 10 wks old .... there was no warning. By the time I discovered what had happened a minute or two had passed and he showed no life-signs. However, I managed to revive him and he drank as much high glucose and vitamin fluid as he could once he was back with us. His case-study will follow this article. From my personal experience, the onset of Hypoglycaemia could possibly be more easily spotted in a live-wire than in a normally healthy but quieter puppy).
PLAYALONG DANCING WOLF
Another survivor but left with a slight heart murmur and some loss of short- term memory
SECONDLY - THE WARNING PHASE
Your puppy is very wobbly. almost off its legs. If you pinch the puppy's skin above the shoulder blades the skin stays together ... this is the start of dehydration. Should you catch the puppy (and start treatment) at this stage you should be able to save it.
THIRDLY - THE DO SOMETHING QUICK STAGE
By this stage it is often too late as the puppy is off its legs, lying down. If it has been on its side for a period of time the puppy might sound chesty. By this time the dehydration is in an advanced stage but the puppy also has Hypoglycaemia. The puppy will also be showing signs of shock (symptoms are ... the skin feels cold, it is pale and blue) therefore veterinary attention is needed and TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. (Again I will add to Carl's article here. By this stage, or closely approaching this stage, you are between the devil and the deep and whatever decision you take is going to be a gamble. You have a puppy in deep shock, whose blood glucose levels are rock bottom. The least little further shock e.g. a trip to the vets, the insertion of a drip, could use up any small remaining reserve of energy and the puppy could go into a coma before you even reach your destination. However, if you are sufficiently knowledgeable and experienced, can face the trauma of treating a very sick puppy yourself and if the puppy is a fighter willing to take high energy fluids fed through a syringe orally, there might still be a chance of survival should you decide to treat the puppy at home. I am not recommending this but putting both options forward for consideration. Whichever choice is made, should the puppy die, the question will remain ...did I make the right decision? It is difficult but so many factors can affect each individual case that no-one can be certain of the outcome whichever decision has been made.
If I suspect that a puppy is 'cooking' Hypoglycaemia I would be treating it from the very early stage. It is a long haul administering fluids round the clock for what could be 2 days and nights every two hours, during which time the puppy initially worsens, then seems to reach a crisis when it will suddenly 'turn the corner' or give up its battle. Once the crisis stage is over recovery is relatively quick but the puppy must be confined until its energy levels are completely restored). Should you be in the least doubtful about attempting to treat the puppy yourself after reading this article then it is important to get him/her to the vet as soon as you suspect the illness and to either take a copy of the article with you or at least inform the vet of your concerns about the possibility of Hypoglycaemia. Some Vets might never have encountered puppies with Hypoglycaemia because sufferers of the illness might never have survived long enough to have had the chance of getting to a surgery in time.
I always keep the following in the cupboard at home - powdered glucose, Sorb Vit B (or something similar), diarolyte (Lectade), as these are invaluable for bringing your puppy round from stages 1 and 2. Remember that if you are syringing any liquid into your puppy, they only need a tiny amount as their stomachs are very small. If they are already ill, too much liquid could be more of a hinderance than a help/ TRY NOT TO OVERDO IT ... THE GOLDEN RULE IS LITTLE BUT OFTEN.
I am not an expert, just someone who has encountered the syndrome over the time that I have been associated with Pomeranians. If you are worried (especially if your puppy becomes listless and uncharacteristically reclusive) take him/her to your vet .
I hope that this article has been of interest to you. If we ignore problems like this and do not talk about them how are we going to help (a) our breed and (b) the new people interested in breeding Pomeranians (or other toy dogs).
Thankyou Carl and Julie for use of the above information and for the personal advice which helped saved three precious lives for me.
__________________________________
PRODUCTS I USE & STEPS TAKEN TO HELP PREVENT HYPOGLYCAEMIA
ITEMS WHICH I WOULD NEVER BE WITHOUT
NOTE THE SYRINGES WHICH ARE USED TO ADMINISTER FLUIDS
The larger syringe is used for the later stage of recovery when liquidized food also may be given in more generous quantity
PREVENTATIVE STEPS
I would take the following precautionary measures for the more dainty puppies until 9mths -12mths of age (depending on the individual). However, a very forward puppy who matures early might only need the occasional top-up once it is over 6 months old .
Add some glucose powder or Sorb-Vit B ( in moderation) to the drinking water which should be available at all times.
Personally, I make up a special 'high energy' drink which I give to my puppies individually from the time they reach the more active stage at about 4/5 weeks of age. They are given 2.5mls (fed through a syringe or dropper) once a day (twice a day if the puppy has been particularly active). Firstly I boil water and let it stand until it is still warm. Then I pour 75mls of the warm water into a measuring jug. Added to this is 2.5mls Sorb-Vit B, 2.5mls honey and/or glucose powder. The solution is then stirred thoroughly, allowed to cool and stored for further use. It is stored in the fridge but I do not give it to my puppies straight from the fridge .... little doses can be warmed slightly or allowed to reach room temperature as required. Should I actually be treating a puppy who is showing symptoms of becoming Hypoglycaemic I would increase the strength of the solution as deemed necessary. By giving individual puppies this solution I can be certain that each one is having its energy levels topped up adequately. Please note that I add very little glucose or Sorb-Vit B to their drinking water when they are receiving their individual concentrated doses of the prepared mixture.
Enervite Paste or Nutri-drops are also handy to keep in the house for emergencies ... either can be rubbed on the gums or tongue should your Pom ever become uncharacteristically lethargic ( which could indicate the onset of Hypoglycaemia following a period of high activity or shock/stress).
Bach's Rescue Remedy can also act as an initial stimulant but, as it is in liquid form, care needs to be taken if attempting to revive a dog just in case 'it goes down the wrong way'. I find the Rescue Remedy second to none in life-saving situations from reviving new-borns (once all else has proved ineffective) to reviving a ten week old puppy who collapsed and showed no life-signs whatsoever for some minutes ( other physical methods of resuscitation were also used but the Rescue Remedy was the additional factor which helped trigger recovery). In an extreme crisis, when there is nothing to lose and you do not have any Rescue remedy available, a little Brandy rubbed on the gums might act as an initial stimulant.
More information about the Rescue Remedy can be found on the following web-sites:
The following is taken from my Puppy Information Sheet ... which every new owner of a Playalong puppy is provided with:
Please allow your puppy to rest for at least half an hour after his/her meal. It is unwise to let your Pom puppy run itself to the point of exhaustion (at any time). Like any small, very active breed of dog, it can use up its energy recourses quite quickly and the consequences could be serious. The key word when rearing a small breed puppy is MODERATION.
