Hypoglycemia as a
chronic problem is very rare.... puppies just like humans, though, can
have isolated episodes of it. They are so tiny that they have not yet
built up the tissue reserves of glycogen that acts as energy storage.
While hypoglycemia is a sudden and dangerous condition it usually can
be quickly reversed with prompt care and does not cause lasting
problems or damage. If it goes undetected then it can cause brain
damage if the animal survives.
The emergency treatment for a sudden attack is to
give Karo or other sugar syrup. Light Karo is the item of choice but
such things as maple syrup work as well (but
not honey, it's a different
sugar and does not react as quickly), followed with vet care.
Any animal (including us) when
put under stress has their metabolism increase, which needs more fuel -
glucose or glycogen - to meet the demand. When the blood glucose has
been used (that doesn't take long) then the body turns to the stored
form of glycogen in tissues and organs. Underweight, young or tiny
animals don't have much of any of this reserve so the body just
basically runs out of gas. It also takes basic energy for vital organs
to function, and this is what causes the severe life threatening
reaction or death if the body does not get glucose replaced very
quickly. If a pup is sick that also puts stress on it - most all pups
go through some bout of worms but if they are tiny and such it can be a
bigger problem since the worms pull nutrition from them.
Thankfully glucose is absorbed
very quickly - for dogs and puppies just squirting Karo into their
mouths and rubbing on their gums and tongue is enough to being the
process (thankfully since they become unconscious and unable to
swallow) - once they regain consciousness and swallowing begins then
they replenish more and generally pull out of it quickly and totally.
If the attack goes undetected then organ and brain damage can occur in
the time before death takes over. Keeping a bottle of Karo with a
pediatric oral dosing syringe within fast-grab reach is the accepted
first-aid kit.
This is why weaned puppies
generally still eat several times a day until they grow, gradually
working down to one or two feedings a day. Some pups need more frequent
feedings or snacks longer than others, its just nature. Once they grow
enough to develop body stores of fat and glycogen their metabolism
stabilizes and the feeding need settles into the adult pattern.
With young pups it's
important to be sure to watch that they are eating and drinking enough
to avoid dropping their blood sugar; the more important factor is
frequency over quantity. It is rare that chronic hypoglycemia
crops up in dogs - they usually do not survive gestation or live long
after birth if this is a problem.