PURINA Pro Club

Chihuahua Update Vol. 8, No. 1 ■ June 2009

Hypoglycemia Requires Quick Intervention in Toy and Small Breeds

hihuahua breeder Jennifer Similar to Smolarz’s Chihuahua is particularly common in toy breeds.

C Smolarz of Chesterfield, Mich., Laney, Lucy had a hypoglycemic attack

who breeds under the Whisper as a 12-week-old puppy, when Amirov
prefix, began breeding the toy breed was picking her up at the airport. “When
Because puppies have not fully devel-
oped the ability to regulate blood
glucose concentration and have a high
four years ago after a decade of foster- I got her out of the crate, she was requirement for glucose, they are
ing rescue Chihuahuas. In record time, happy and active, but I noticed her particularly vulnerable. Stress, cold,
she finished a stunning bitch from the stomach, lips and ears were tinged malnutrition and intestinal parasites
Bred By Class at the 2007 Chihuahua blue,” Amirov says. “Lucy had flown may also trigger juvenile hypoglycemia.
Club of America from Dallas to Boston. It “I am absolutely positive that many
National Specialty. Signs of Hypoglycemia was too much for her. I Chihuahuas die from this condition
The win was a knew right away she was each year,” says Smolarz.
dream come true, • Loss of appetite going into sugar shock.” “An animal that goes a prolonged
but for Smolarz it • Extreme lethargy Having read about period without glucose may eventually
was even more • Lack of coordination low blood sugar shock, slip into a coma and possibly die,”
poignant considering • Trembling or hypoglycemia, prior Casal says. “In toy and small-breed dogs,
that CH Amberleigh • Muscular twitching to buying Lucy, Amirov
N Whispers She’s • Weakness knew what she had to
All That (“Laney”) • Seizures do. She left the airport “AN ANIMAL THAT GOES
nearly died at 8 • Unusual behavior and bought a palatable,
A PROLONGED PERIOD WITHOUT
weeks of age. “She • Dilated pupils high-caloric supplement
should have been • Stupor or coma for animals. GLUCOSE MAY EVENTUALLY SLIP
happy and alert, “Lucy came back
but instead she was listless, not eating pretty quickly,” says Amirov. “If I had INTO A COMA AND POSSIBLY DIE.”
or drinking, and just wouldn’t get up,” waited, I could have easily lost her
MARGRET CASAL, D.V.M., PH.D.,
recalls Smolarz. “I knew something was from this.” ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MEDICAL GENETICS
wrong, but I wasn’t sure what to do.” Hypoglycemia is a condition that AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL
She called one of her mentors who mostly affects toy and small-breed OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
helped her get started in breeding and dogs. Many toy dog breeders are aware
described the puppy’s condition. “She of hypoglycemia, but few understand
knew exactly what was happening and what happens physically when a dog that timeframe is greatly reduced when
told me to give Laney sugar water,” has low blood sugar, or glucose. compared to larger dogs.”
Smolarz says. “After about 10 minutes, Among the signs of hypoglycemia
Laney began coming around, but she Understanding Hypoglycemia are loss of appetite, extreme lethargy,
wasn’t really back to normal until the “In a nutshell, the brain can only use lack of coordination, trembling, muscle
next day.” glucose for energy,” explains Margret twitching, weakness, seizures, and
Smolarz shivers to think what Casal, D.V.M., Ph.D., assistant professor discoloration of skin and gums.
could have happened if her mentor of medical genetics at the University “They usually act like they are
had not been home that day. “Toy of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary drunk,” says Amirov. “They may be
and small-breed dogs can die very Medicine. “If glucose levels drop in lethargic, shivering or refusing to get
rapidly from hypoglycemia,” she says. the blood, then there is less energy up and play. Most won’t eat or drink.
Stacey Amirov of Providence, R.I., for the brain, which causes neuro- If you know your puppies well and
agrees that hypoglycemia can quickly logical signs such as disorientation, they are acting out of the ordinary,
become an urgent health condition tremors and coma. there’s a very good chance they are
in toys and small breeds. Another “Normally, glucose is stored in the going into low sugar shock. A simple
newcomer to breeding Chihuahuas, form of glycogen in the body, and case of hypoglycemia is often due to
Amirov breeds under the Starsen when necessary, hormones stimulate overactivity combined with too much
Chihuahua prefix. One of the first the breakdown of glycogen to supply time between meals.
Chihuahuas she bought was Cam’s the brain and other tissues with fuel,” “After a dog has crashed due to
Lucille’s a Ball of Starsen (“Lucy”). she continues. “Sometimes in toy and hypoglycemia, I follow up with a
“Lucy’s first breeding produced small breeds the process does not occur protein-rich food, such as a canned
three puppies that are finished quickly enough and hypoglycemia puppy food, to help stabilize the
champions, and four from a second begins to kick in.” blood sugar and prevent another
litter are waiting in the wings,” Juvenile hypoglycemia, which occurs crash,” she says. “If a dog doesn’t
Amirov says. in puppies less than 3 months of age, Continued on page 2
Hypoglycemia In contrast to the hypoglycemia of hypoglycemia in their Chihuahua
continued from page 1 experienced by Lucy and Laney, Casal puppies so they can take steps to help
says the disorder may occur secondary them before it is too late. “Breeders
stabilize and continues to have diffi- to other conditions. Other causes also should include information about
culty after being given glucose, then include fasting before vigorous exercise hypoglycemia in packets they send
I take him to the veterinarian. However, or hunting dog hypoglycemia. Addison’s with puppies going to new homes,”
during a hypoglycemic attack, time disease, an endocrine disorder causing Casal says. “Sharing information is
is of the essence.” weakness, vomiting, diarrhea and very important and could save a
Experts recommend rubbing syrup dog’s life.”
on a dog’s gums, dabbing sugar water “It is not always easy to detect if
on or under the tongue, or giving a UNTIL MORE INFORMATION IS you’ve never seen it before,” Amirov
concentrated solution of glucose to says. “Once you’ve seen it, you’ll
KNOWN ABOUT THE CONDITION,
offset the drop in blood glucose. know in an instant. The trick truly is
Providing a simple sugar solution BREEDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO acting quickly to save your puppy.”
and hydrating liquid are key. Smolarz agrees. “You can’t panic.
“It also is imperative to keep them PROACTIVELY LOOK FOR SIGNS OF You just have to be there. Being pre-
warm,” Smolarz says. “I put a kitchen pared and watching carefully after
HYPOGLYCEMIA IN THEIR
towel in the microwave for 30 seconds. they’ve just been weaned or wormed
I shake it out and wrap the puppy in CHIHUAHUA PUPPIES SO THEY can help save their lives. Vigilance
it to bring up his body temperature. pays off.”
Low blood sugar can cause hypo- CAN TAKE STEPS TO HELP THEM She also never ships dogs under
thermia, so I get them warm first. 2 pounds. “As a rule, I would never
BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.
“Next, I give the puppy a teaspoon ship a puppy under 2 pounds regard-
of honey and wait a few minutes. If less of his age,” she says. “Prevention
the puppy seems to be getting better, and cautionary steps are best with
I follow up by giving small amounts collapse, may lead to hypoglycemia. toy and small-breed dogs prone to
of warm sugar water over the next Insulin-producing tumors of the hypoglycemia.” ■
few minutes.” pancreas, severe liver disease and
Measures to prevent hypoglycemia glycogen storage diseases are other
include feeding puppies and small dogs possible causes. Purina appreciates the support of
three or four times a day. A high- In dogs that develop chronic the Chihuahua Club of America
quality, nutritious dog food is important hypoglycemia, a veterinarian is likely and particularly Justin Ward,
in helping to sustain a dog. Owners also to conduct a complete medical history chairman of the CCA Health
should provide a warm environment. and physical examination to determine Related Issues Committee, in
Smolarz crates puppies and adult hypoglycemia. Other tests include a helping to identify topics for the
dogs when they are fed to ensure complete blood count, blood glucose Purina Pro Club Chihuahua
they eat. “This also helps to prevent concentration, urinalysis, routine bio- Update newsletter.
the litter bully from stealing every- chemistry and blood insulin concen-
body else’s food. When they are that tration. An ultrasound may be taken
small, you have to be sure they have of the abdomen to try and identify a
enough to eat. I make sure they have pancreatic or other type of tumor
kibble to eat freely, and I feed puppies that could cause hypoglycemia. Want to Reach the Editor?
three to four meals a day until they Treatment may consist of giving Have comments about Purina Pro Club
are 5 months old.” glucose orally or intravenously to Update? Send them to us at: Purina Pro
help increase the blood glucose con- Club Update, c/o Editor, Nestlé Purina
Possible Genetic Link centration. If an underlying illness PetCare, 2T Checkerboard Square,
In veterinary medicine, little has causes hypoglycemia, veterinarians St. Louis, MO 63164 or via e-mail at
been written about hypoglycemia. first treat this condition. today’[email protected].
“Some believe there are critical Puppies and adult dogs that appear
enzymes in the liver working in con- to be in a stupor or coma during a
cert with glucose-mobilizing hormones hypoglycemic attack should immedi-
that are not fully developed in the toy ately be given sugar water or an oral Send Us Your Questions
and small-breed puppy until they are concentrated solution of glucose,
Have questions about your Purina
older,” Casal says. “In reality, a true such as corn syrup or Nutri-Cal. Owners
Points or how to redeem weight cir-
cause for toy breed hypoglycemia has of toy breeds should be sure to have
cles for rewards and rebate checks?
not been determined. The literature a glucose source readily available.
Contact Purina Pro Club at (877) PRO-
suggests there is a problem with the “Make no mistake these little dogs’
CLUB, or (877) 776-2582, between
storage and breakdown of glycogen. brains are being deprived of fuel
7 a.m. and 5 p.m. CST Monday through
“There is no scientific evidence (glucose),” says Casal. “You have to
Friday. You also may visit www.purina
proving that hypoglycemia is heredi- act very quickly. In an emergency sit-
proclub.com to review and redeem
tary, but we always say that if you uation, one should dab sugar water
Purina Points.
have a disease that is frequently seen on or under the tongue. The sugar is
in one or more dog breeds, there usu- absorbed directly through the tissue
ally is a genetic basis,” Casal says. “It into the bloodstream.”
is possible that hypoglycemia developed Until more information is known
because it was linked genetically with about the condition, breeders are
a desirable trait.” encouraged to proactively look for signs