Hypoglycemia or ??
 

We have a 2lb, 11 week old male yorkie that we suspect is hypoglycemia. He has this head bobbing/nodding occasionally with eye twitching that lasts seconds. He played his little heart out last night with our company and it's still going on today. He's still active and I can't keep a good Yorkie down! I do not have Nutrical, but used table syrup a few times on him. The pet store had nothing at all to offer that was similar to the Nutrical. Problem is, I don't know how often or how much to give him so I'm maybe giving him an 1/8 to 1/4 tsp and making sure he's eating. I'm afraid of taking it to the other extreme of hyperglycemia. I hope someone can help. My plan is to take him to the vet tomorrow. Unfortunately I work 8-4 and don't want to wait that long. I'm considering doing the fake sick thing which I'm feeling so guilty about cause I never do it, but this is soooo important.

I've heard white corn syrup was the same a nutri-cal. I sounds like it could be symptoms of hypoglycemia, usually they aren't hungry when they have an attack, and won't eat, which would cure the hypoglycemia, so that's why corn syrup is rubbed on the roof of their mouth for fastest results. This usually brings back their appetite, so it's good to have food available for this. Many people recommend free feeding so they never get too hungry, they can wear out the calorie reserves so fast through activity or stress. Here's a video of what an attack look like. NatureSick.flv - Video - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Aww poor guy- he is young and tiny- I would probably bring him in tomorrow- AND If you have never called in- DO IT!!! especially for your little guy if he is not acting normal. Does he have food out all day? The key to keeping him at a good level is keeping food in him all day- which can be hard when they are small and if you are at work.

You want to put a little bit of white karo on his gums every 2 hours. I know it's hard, but, I wouldn't let him play for more that 10-15 min at a time. Keep an eye on his gums, if they get white, I would get ahold of the vet. I almost lost a puppy to hypoglycemia a long time ago..Make sure he's able to get food and water at all times also

Linus does have food and water out all day. But does anyone know how much syrup to give the little gaffer? He just had another little head bob as he was mid-play. He's virtually crazy! Oh wait...he's in his bed trying to get a good comfortable position for the night now. Silly boy!
I did watch that video and Linus' episodes look very similar just not so pronounced as that poor girl. Will the nutrical stop this eventually???

nutrical is not a cure- as long as he is tiny- that will always be an issue- but he is just young so he will probably grow and then it isn't such an issue

WHen i use nutrical i just rub a pea sized amount on Layla's gums and that usually brings her back- you can use honey too- I'd ust use the same amount- always use less so you can always add more.

it is almost impossible to find nutrical in ontario- you might have to buy it online or just use honey

i LOVE his name- where in ONtario are you> I'm in London.

Just wanted to say that I don't think you should use it as a preventive, it can make them lose their appetite if they get too much. Joey was that size at that age, and we never once needed to use it. Just be aware of symptoms they're serious, too much sugar can bring on another attack of hypoglycemia, it's a delicate balance.

Nancy is right. Using syrup as a treatment is OK but as a preventative may well have exactly the opposite effect that you want. When the sugar is introduced into the bloodstream it causes an insulin response to balance sugar levels. Once the sugar level is balanced the puppy will seem fine. Some of the sugar will be stored and most will be burned, the blood sugar will drop again because of the insulin level and you have a second occurence. The syrup should be followed with food or something with fat calories in it to help moderate the blood sugar level. I use peanut butter mixed with syrup when I don't have nutri-cal.

Ideally the smallest amount of sugar you can apply is best. This should cause an interest in food which should be offered within twenty minutes of the sugar or syrup. He may need to be spoon fed at this point to get good calories in. If the puppy eats solid food there will be no need for preventative measure unless the symptoms return. Science Diet A-D is a smelly and calorie rich food that works well in these cases.

Keep an eye on this puppy for dehydration as well.

Do you know who that video belongs to?

We like both nutrical or nutridrops. I would rather use nutridrops as it goes into their system quicker. Nutrical needs to be digested first before working. Here is a link
Bovidr Laboratories Inc - Pet Nutri-Drops #93-574-Z

I got it from this thread: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...ar-videos.html

Hi Marceraella02! I live in Peterborough and if you can believe it, I have Nutri-cal in my hot little hands. I was sure that's what the vet had called it when she was talking about hypoglycemia on his initial check up. But of course, this would never happen to me. My lab likes it but Linus didn't care for it so I had to rub it in his mouth. Linus has had lots to eat today too. He is so full of p*%$ and vinegar this morning. I'm surprised this didn't happen sooner. We have an appointment today with the vet but I'm wondering if he'll still require it if the head jerking has stopped. He was doing it this morning. His head bobs back, back and puts him on his butt. I just think what if it's not hypoglycemia. Sure fits the bill though.

Well in my past with yorkies that small you cant let them play hard it really tires them out .. I give my girls half 1cc of karo syrup in the morning and night before bed ... and I keep food out all the time and even the real small ones give soft food to.. It would be a good idea to take her to vet just to get checked on... good luck..

Good post!


My Diggy had seizures as a baby. My advice is this. FEED FEED FEED try to stay away rom commercial sugar porducts (nutrical or syrup) as they do help they also cause lows. Try Complex carbs. They break down slowly andkeep a slow but steady flow in the system. If he is already in an episode YES use nutrical or syrup but to avoid having to use that many many feeding a day and most inportant THRU THE NIGHT in the morning is when MOST hypo activity occurs. Cheerios are a great frequent treat. Ignore all rules about feeding. Free feed, hand feed make games of it ANYTHING to get him to eat. Rules can come later as my vet said. Also keep him warm! and stress free as possible. Limit the long periods of play to no more than 20 minutes up without some chill out time. This is what i have learned from my experiances. Diggy had 7 seizures in 7 hours....Hypo is no joke. But easily managed. if you need any other help Im here. :)

When you give him nutrical/sugar/corn syrup, does he snap out of the episode almost immediately and return to normal or does it not work sometimes?

It takes a 5-10 minutes, kind of like when we get REALLY dehydrated and nauseous - then finally get fluids, it takes about 5-10 minutes to feel better...

Ella Bean was hypoglycemic when she came home - she was four months and less then a pound. My little munckin was almost constantly having episodes! I used Nutri-cal in emergencies and fed her throughout the day. Still, if she didn't get a little food every two hours around the clock, the drunken-looking walk would start. Needless to say I was pretty tired for the first month until she stabilized!

I was asking because if this pup doesn't stabilize almost immediately after getting sugar, there could be something way more serious going on.:)

Oh! LOL, I thought you were asking GENERALLY!! :cool:

Well Linus went to the vet this afternoon. Unfortunately it's worse. The vet believes he has a liver shunt. They drew some blood today and he's returning in the morning for another test while he's fasting. I am just beside myself about this! I specifically asked the breeder twice if she'd ever had a problem with shunts and of course, the answer was no. She's been breeding for 30 years and I'm the first with a shunt puppy. Give me a break. Linus' health guarantee is good for a year but I'm not sure what the guarantee entails. In another part of the agreement it says money will not be refunded on returned puppies. The puppy will be replaced with a puppy. I don't want another puppy especially from there. I want Linus. I just hope it's the extrahepatic and not intra. I'll wait to have the results in and then call her. I'm so sick about this!:mad:

And you are right Ellie May. Something is way more serious. Read my most recent most.

Because of the amount of attacks he seemed to be having, this is what I was thinking it was. I'm so sorry.:( It could also be MVD (small shunting throughout the liver managed by supplements and diet).

Please post the blood test results when you get them.

I am soo sorry! That is horrible. My thoughts are with you and your baby...Please keep us to date on how it is going with Linus....:(

So sorry to read this...Like Crystal said, please do post the results of the bloodwork when you get them back.
Just remember that liver problems are not a death sentence! Even if it's intrahepatic or MVD, symptoms and the problem can be controlled through special diet, supplements, and lactulose.

I look at Linus differently now. I'm afraid he's going to seizure. His little head bobs more now (I think). He's still active as anything (humping all his stuffed animals...sheesh!). I'm on complete brain overload right now, can't eat cause I'm so stressed out about this but I can't remember, once the blood tests confirm it's a shunt, I do have to go on for more diagnostic testing to confirm what kind of shunt??? I'm also concerned about his diet. I bought him canned puppy food this morning because I didn't feel he was eating enough of the wet/dry kibble and he loves it. The vet says she's not concerned about the protein right now, just that he's eating. I think we're going to worry about diet very soon...like when these results confirm the shunt then we'll think of diet. But I'm wondering since he's loving the canned food and eating a great amount, is this why his head seems to be bobbing more or am I just freaked right out. I'm sorry to ramble on! I'm soooo upset! I also phoned the breeder and asked if the results come back and it's a congenital defect, what is she going to do? She said they usually replace the puppy. I don't want another puppy and risk this again. We're are also in love with him and don't want to give him up. Forget it. She said she's very interested in knowing what the results are. She says it sounds like a head injury. Linus hasn't fallen at all. He doesn't even use the stairs yet cause he's so petite. Well I'd better let you all go. Holy I can ramble on!

When protein is ingested, it produces ammonia which is supposed to be filtered by the liver, but when there is a liver shunt, the ammonia is not able to be filtered and it enters the bloodstream...Hence, the neurological symptoms (bobbing head). Meats/poultry produce the most ammonia and are hardest on their livers. Vegetarian/dairy protein is much preferred in these cases because they produce less ammonia.
Seizures are symptoms of Hepatic Encephalopathy which happens when toxins are backed up...This baby needs lactulose asap if he's exhibiting any neurological symptoms whatsoever or lethargy or any slew of symptoms associated with liver shunt. Has he gone #2 recently? If so, was it firm?

Very interesting, would you say that the video I posted was a better example of liver shunt or hypoglycemia?

Here's the link again. NatureSick.flv - Video - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

I really thought Linus' mini episodes looked like that Yorkie's, but his were milder.

He did this afternoon and it was firm. Looked normal to me. Good colour too. Tomorrow I will know more with these blood test results. I will figure this out once the liver problems have been confirmed. What is the purpose of lactulose?

I am so sorry to hear about your baby. Please keep us informed of what is going on with him. Did the breeder have a BA test done before you purchased him? I know of someone who has had the surgery done on one of her dogs (that came from a breeder in Germany) and she is living a full happy and healthy life. Please send me a message if you need the name of a good vet specialty clinic in ON that can do the surgery. I will be keeping my fingers crossed that it is not LS and there is a simple explanation. I agree with the earlier post...your baby needs to be treated immediately and should be on a protein restricted diet. I don't mean to scare you but untreated LS can be fatal and if your baby is displaying acute signs then it needs immediate attention. Please keep us posted.

I "think" lactulose binds the toxins so they can be excreted through their stool. This pup absolutely needs to be on it immediately.
And as much as I hate to disagree with people's vets, I would say right now it is time to be extremely concerned about diet. Not tomorrow, not the next day... If this is liver shunt, it may do more damage to continue feeding him this way. I would get some canned L/D from the vet for now.

The blood tests that the vet is doing now only show liver function, but can't diagnose liver shunt. LS will be suspected if his bile acids are high but it could also be MVD. A Protein C blood test sent to Cornell can help in the diagnosis and then you could go on to scintography. Some vets insist on ultrasound and that is good to see the size of the liver and to see if there are bladder stones secondary to the liver problem but they are only 60-80% accurate in diagnosing shunts.

If this were my pup, he would be on Denosyl or Vetri DMG, lactulose, milk thistle, fish oil, vitamin e, possibly probiotics and low protein diet if hte results are high. I may even start now because of the severity of the symptoms...since they seem to be getting worse...

We are here if you have any questions. :(