Hypoglycemia Question - YorkieTalk.com Forums

SaraiandSam · 08-24-2008, 06:54 PM

I called a vet earlier because Sam was acting strange. After describing the symptoms the doctor said it sounded like Sam had hypoglycemia... he said to give Sam some food and make sure he got some sugar... he ate quite a bit, but he's been very tired for the last hour or so... he's been sleeping and he's usually a ball of energy. Should I be concerned or is it normal when recovering...?? I'm really worried about him!!

chattiesmom · 08-24-2008, 07:04 PM

Hi, I have several questions for you....

1) how old is Sam

2) how much does Sam weigh

3) how much did Sam eat

4) did you give him NutriCal or Kayro syrup, if so how much

Usually with hypoglocemia, after you get some sugar followed by some food they bounce back pretty quick.

Ladymom · 08-24-2008, 07:10 PM

From reading your other posts. it looks like Sam is about a year old, isn't he?

Hypoglycemia is usually an issue in the first few months, not in a healthy adult dog.

Did you take his temperature? Does he have a fever?

It would help if you could describe his symptoms like you did with your vet.

Wylie's Mom · 08-24-2008, 07:15 PM

Similar to what the others already said - I'm wondering what may have lead up to this: was he outside in the heat, did he eat something different, is he drinking water okay, are his gums nice and pink etcetera....

SaraiandSam · 08-24-2008, 07:28 PM

Sam is 1 year 2 months and he weighs 4lbs. He's typically a bundle of energy really wild... well today I took him to my parent's house with me and we were upstairs and he just stopped and kinda froze and then it looked like he was falling asleep standing up and when he started to fall he woke up. He did it a few times... a couple times he went all the way down and then snapped up. It would be like 5 seconds and then he was up and playing again... well as the day progressed he did it more and more frequently. We came home about 6 hours ago and he was still acting strangely... so I called the emergency number for the local vet clinic and he called me back and told me it sounded like hypoglycemia. I gave him some ham which he gobbled up and some milk w/ a little sugar mixed in. I'm hypoglycemic so I just did what I do when I have an attack-nourish and get sugar in his system. I really wanted to take him into the clinic, but I only have $20 to my name and they wanted $200 up front or they wouldn't see him. I've been watching him and he hasn't done what he was doing before, but now he just seems really tired. He'll lay down and fall asleep and not come when I get up... usually if I stand up it doesn't matter if he's asleep or not, he always gets up and follows me. It's just not typical of Sam.

Here's something that I considered earlier- tell me what you think. My husband abandoned us about a month ago... it's Sam and me along with 2 kittens that are as close as any brothers or sisters... they've all taken it really hard and Sam especially because I'm so upset and Sam reads my emotions and responds to them. He hasn't been sleeping very much... he'll get up in the middle of the night and bark and whine... I think that the stray cats outside his window are scaring him (he has his own room) usually if I get up and turn on the hall light he calms down and sleeps for a few hours, but then he usually gets back up a few hours later to bark and whine again... I wonder if he may just be REALLY tired... when we're at home he's spoiled, but I split my time between all 3 of my pets... when we're at my parents house they SPOIL sam completely. I'm wondering if maybe he wasn't just fighting sleep today because he wanted to play w/ my mom and dad... it's a theory... what do you think?

Wylie's Mom · 08-24-2008, 07:40 PM

First, I'm so sorry for all that you've been through - my heart really goes out to you

. I'm glad you found us.

I don't know if this is from being tired...I kind of doubt it. It could be hypogly, but it is weird for his age. Did he eat enough at your parents? I'm a little concerned that this could be seizure activity as well - where it begins locally then generalized (ie, when he drops). There may not necessarily be strange body movements - but were there any? Head ticking, leg moving, eye twitch, mouth ticking or anything else?

Ladymom · 08-24-2008, 07:45 PM

Dogs do pick up on our emotions and I'm sure he's very confused and upset about the change in you, but I don't think it would cause the symptoms you describe. Falling down all day just isn't normal.

Is it possible he could have gotten into something toxic at your parent's house?

Did you tell your vet his age and that you spent the day in away from home? I wonder if they assumed he was a puppy.

Do you have a thermometer? You really need to take his temperature.

SaraiandSam · 08-24-2008, 07:49 PM

I had a dog with epilepsy when I was younger and this doesn't seem like seizures to me... it really seemed like he was fainting. He didn't eat much at my folks house which is why I thought about hypo too. He played really hard and didn't stop to eat much. He only sees my parents once a week so he gets really caught up. Usually I pay more attention and make sure he gets a few snacks, but today I slacked off and fell asleep and my parents didn't really encourage him to eat.

He's up and pretty active right now... the kittens are playing with him and he's finally starting to act like himself again... maybe he did just need a long nap... I don't know... I am very concerned about him... he's basically my whole world.

SaraiandSam · 08-24-2008, 08:04 PM

I did tell the vet how old Sam was... I don't have a thermometer... and his pulse is 96. His gums seem pink, but his nose isn't as wet as usual... I felt him and he doesn't feel any hotter than usual... he's not having any trouble breathing...

If he doesn't feel any better my parents are going to loan me some money to get him to the vet... he's my everything so I may just be overanalyzing everything....

Ladymom · 08-24-2008, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaraiandSam

I had a dog with epilepsy when I was younger and this doesn't seem like seizures to me... it really seemed like he was fainting. He didn't eat much at my folks house which is why I thought about hypo too. He played really hard and didn't stop to eat much. He only sees my parents once a week so he gets really caught up. Usually I pay more attention and make sure he gets a few snacks, but today I slacked off and fell asleep and my parents didn't really encourage him to eat.

He's up and pretty active right now... the kittens are playing with him and he's finally starting to act like himself again... maybe he did just need a long nap... I don't know... I am very concerned about him... he's basically my whole world.

Lady is epileptic and I agree with you. It doesn't sound like seizures.

I'm glad to hear he's doing better. Hopefully he was just hungry and tired.

FYI, please don't give him ham again. Ham and other pork products can trigger pancreatitis. Yorkies are especially prone to it. Not only can it be life threatening, it usually requires an emergency vet visit and a whooper of a vet bill, over $1,000. With everything you've got going on in your life, you don't need Sam to get really sick.

Please let us know how Sam is feeling tomorrow.

SaraiandSam · 08-24-2008, 08:13 PM

I didn't know that about ham... it's the first time I've ever given him anything like that and I didn't realize. It was just something that I had that I thought he might eat. I will definitely not be giving him anything like that every again!!!!!

Ladymom · 08-24-2008, 08:33 PM

Ham and bacon are two of the main pancreatitis triggers. They are just too high in fat for our dogs.

Here's some information on pancreatitis for you:

Pancreatitis (Inflammation) in Dogs

Ladymom · 08-25-2008, 05:26 AM

How is Sam this morning?

Wylie's Mom · 08-25-2008, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaraiandSam

I had a dog with epilepsy when I was younger and this doesn't seem like seizures to me... it really seemed like he was fainting.

I'm not talking about a full-blown tonic-clonic seizure - this could be an "absence" seizure or a simple-partial (both of which can look similar to what you described) - that's why I asked about the simple ticks etcetera. There are several types of seizures, not just the ones most people associate with the full blown type. It's just something to consider in case this returns and sugar/food doesn't bring him out of it (like it sort of didn't this time). Here is a link: Types of Seizures | epilepsy.com

How is he feeling today?

SaraiandSam · 08-25-2008, 09:02 AM

Sorry for making everyone wait... I just got to the computer :-) Sam is doing REALLY well this morning. He's back up to his energy level and hasn't been acting strange at all. He seems to be doing great.... I'm going to keep an eye on him and make sure, but I think we're through the woods with this one. I will look up that seizure information and become more educated just in case. Thanks for all your help and support!!

Sarai

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...hill/sammy.jpg

08-24-2008, 06:54 PM	#1
SaraiandSam YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Commerce, TX Posts: 9	Hypoglycemia Question I called a vet earlier because Sam was acting strange. After describing the symptoms the doctor said it sounded like Sam had hypoglycemia... he said to give Sam some food and make sure he got some sugar... he ate quite a bit, but he's been very tired for the last hour or so... he's been sleeping and he's usually a ball of energy. Should I be concerned or is it normal when recovering...?? I'm really worried about him!! __________________ Sarai, Barry, and Sam... so happy together.

08-24-2008, 07:04 PM	#2
chattiesmom Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 17,674	Hi, I have several questions for you.... 1) how old is Sam 2) how much does Sam weigh 3) how much did Sam eat 4) did you give him NutriCal or Kayro syrup, if so how much Usually with hypoglocemia, after you get some sugar followed by some food they bounce back pretty quick. __________________ Silk Step-In Harnesses www.foxypups.etsy.com

08-24-2008, 07:10 PM	#3
Ladymom Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 8,317	From reading your other posts. it looks like Sam is about a year old, isn't he? Hypoglycemia is usually an issue in the first few months, not in a healthy adult dog. Did you take his temperature? Does he have a fever? It would help if you could describe his symptoms like you did with your vet. __________________ http://www.myladysdogbows.com/ http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref...6213341?ref=nf

08-24-2008, 07:15 PM	#4
Wylie's Mom Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 35,889 Blog Entries: 2	Similar to what the others already said - I'm wondering what may have lead up to this: was he outside in the heat, did he eat something different, is he drinking water okay, are his gums nice and pink etcetera.... __________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann \| Pfeiffer \| Marcel Verdel Purcell \| Wylie \| Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨°

08-24-2008, 07:28 PM	#5
SaraiandSam YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Commerce, TX Posts: 9	Sam's symptoms Sam is 1 year 2 months and he weighs 4lbs. He's typically a bundle of energy really wild... well today I took him to my parent's house with me and we were upstairs and he just stopped and kinda froze and then it looked like he was falling asleep standing up and when he started to fall he woke up. He did it a few times... a couple times he went all the way down and then snapped up. It would be like 5 seconds and then he was up and playing again... well as the day progressed he did it more and more frequently. We came home about 6 hours ago and he was still acting strangely... so I called the emergency number for the local vet clinic and he called me back and told me it sounded like hypoglycemia. I gave him some ham which he gobbled up and some milk w/ a little sugar mixed in. I'm hypoglycemic so I just did what I do when I have an attack-nourish and get sugar in his system. I really wanted to take him into the clinic, but I only have $20 to my name and they wanted $200 up front or they wouldn't see him. I've been watching him and he hasn't done what he was doing before, but now he just seems really tired. He'll lay down and fall asleep and not come when I get up... usually if I stand up it doesn't matter if he's asleep or not, he always gets up and follows me. It's just not typical of Sam. Here's something that I considered earlier- tell me what you think. My husband abandoned us about a month ago... it's Sam and me along with 2 kittens that are as close as any brothers or sisters... they've all taken it really hard and Sam especially because I'm so upset and Sam reads my emotions and responds to them. He hasn't been sleeping very much... he'll get up in the middle of the night and bark and whine... I think that the stray cats outside his window are scaring him (he has his own room) usually if I get up and turn on the hall light he calms down and sleeps for a few hours, but then he usually gets back up a few hours later to bark and whine again... I wonder if he may just be REALLY tired... when we're at home he's spoiled, but I split my time between all 3 of my pets... when we're at my parents house they SPOIL sam completely. I'm wondering if maybe he wasn't just fighting sleep today because he wanted to play w/ my mom and dad... it's a theory... what do you think? __________________ Sarai, Barry, and Sam... so happy together.

08-24-2008, 07:40 PM	#6
Wylie's Mom Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 35,889 Blog Entries: 2	First, I'm so sorry for all that you've been through - my heart really goes out to you . I'm glad you found us. I don't know if this is from being tired...I kind of doubt it. It could be hypogly, but it is weird for his age. Did he eat enough at your parents? I'm a little concerned that this could be seizure activity as well - where it begins locally then generalized (ie, when he drops). There may not necessarily be strange body movements - but were there any? Head ticking, leg moving, eye twitch, mouth ticking or anything else? __________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann \| Pfeiffer \| Marcel Verdel Purcell \| Wylie \| Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨°

08-24-2008, 07:45 PM	#7
Ladymom Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 8,317	Dogs do pick up on our emotions and I'm sure he's very confused and upset about the change in you, but I don't think it would cause the symptoms you describe. Falling down all day just isn't normal. Is it possible he could have gotten into something toxic at your parent's house? Did you tell your vet his age and that you spent the day in away from home? I wonder if they assumed he was a puppy. Do you have a thermometer? You really need to take his temperature. __________________ http://www.myladysdogbows.com/ http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref...6213341?ref=nf

08-24-2008, 07:49 PM	#8
SaraiandSam YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Commerce, TX Posts: 9	Seizures I had a dog with epilepsy when I was younger and this doesn't seem like seizures to me... it really seemed like he was fainting. He didn't eat much at my folks house which is why I thought about hypo too. He played really hard and didn't stop to eat much. He only sees my parents once a week so he gets really caught up. Usually I pay more attention and make sure he gets a few snacks, but today I slacked off and fell asleep and my parents didn't really encourage him to eat. He's up and pretty active right now... the kittens are playing with him and he's finally starting to act like himself again... maybe he did just need a long nap... I don't know... I am very concerned about him... he's basically my whole world. __________________ Sarai, Barry, and Sam... so happy together.

08-24-2008, 08:04 PM	#9
SaraiandSam YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Commerce, TX Posts: 9	Vet talk I did tell the vet how old Sam was... I don't have a thermometer... and his pulse is 96. His gums seem pink, but his nose isn't as wet as usual... I felt him and he doesn't feel any hotter than usual... he's not having any trouble breathing... If he doesn't feel any better my parents are going to loan me some money to get him to the vet... he's my everything so I may just be overanalyzing everything.... __________________ Sarai, Barry, and Sam... so happy together.

08-24-2008, 08:13 PM	#11
SaraiandSam YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Commerce, TX Posts: 9	Thanks for the tip I didn't know that about ham... it's the first time I've ever given him anything like that and I didn't realize. It was just something that I had that I thought he might eat. I will definitely not be giving him anything like that every again!!!!! __________________ Sarai, Barry, and Sam... so happy together.

08-24-2008, 08:33 PM	#12
Ladymom Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 8,317	Ham and bacon are two of the main pancreatitis triggers. They are just too high in fat for our dogs. Here's some information on pancreatitis for you: Pancreatitis (Inflammation) in Dogs __________________ http://www.myladysdogbows.com/ http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref...6213341?ref=nf

08-25-2008, 05:26 AM	#13
Ladymom Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 8,317	How is Sam this morning? __________________ http://www.myladysdogbows.com/ http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref...6213341?ref=nf

08-25-2008, 09:02 AM	#15
SaraiandSam YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Commerce, TX Posts: 9	How is Sam this morning? Sorry for making everyone wait... I just got to the computer :-) Sam is doing REALLY well this morning. He's back up to his energy level and hasn't been acting strange at all. He seems to be doing great.... I'm going to keep an eye on him and make sure, but I think we're through the woods with this one. I will look up that seizure information and become more educated just in case. Thanks for all your help and support!! Sarai http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...hill/sammy.jpg __________________ Sarai, Barry, and Sam... so happy together.