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PAPILLONS
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PAPILLONS
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Hypoglycemia
Papillon puppy buyers should know the symptoms to watch for and be equipped to take care of it. When Hypoglycemia is caught in time, there is no reason why papillon puppies won't come out of it and never have again if the stress factor is eliminated. Please let me emphasize that hypoglycemia is not a disease or sickness nor is it genetic or inherited.
Symptoms:
Hypoglycemia,
the medical term for low blood sugar is a condition in which there is a drastic,
sudden drop in the level of blood sugar in papillon puppies. It is a
papillon puppy
problem most often in seen in toy breed puppies, and in a very tiny papillon or phalene
dogs, Hypoglycemia is usually brought on by stress or
shock in some form. It usually occurs in papillon puppies from 3 to 5 months of age
but CAN occur in mature toy breeds when they are subjected to STRESS. It is most likely caused by the uneven spurts in
growth of the internal organs of papillon puppies, especially the pancreas. The
brain will receive incorrect signals from the pancreas and not send out a
correct signal for the release of a proper amount of sugar in the bloodstream,
especially during times of stress.
Papillon puppies will appear limp and lifeless with the gums and tongue usually grayish
blue in color. Often the eyes are unfocused and barely open.
Temperature will be below normal and the papillon puppy could be shivering and trembling
in the early stages. As condition worsens, papillon puppies either go into a
coma or convulsions. Hypoglycemia is a metabolic disorder and death will result,
unless properly DIAGNOSED AND CARED FOR IMMEDIATELY. Signs of an attack are a weakness, confusion, wobbly gait, frothing or drooling
from the mouth - sometimes even a seizure and drain of blood from the head.
A check of the gums will show them to be pale, almost a grayish white in color
rather than a healthy bright pink. Papillon puppies can go into shock and, if not
cared for properly and promptly, may even die.
Causes
Some examples are:
1-Over-handling young papillon puppies and not letting them get enough rest and sleep.
2-A papillon puppy refuses to eat for over a period of 8 hours due to change of home
and/or food.
3-Exposure to low room temperatures for a period of time.
Hypoglycemia is usually first triggered by papillon puppies not
eating or not being offered palatable or high calorie food. Any significant stress,
such as a routine trip to the vet's or change in homes, that occurs in the absence of a recent
meal, can cause the blood sugar to drop to dangerously low levels. Because of their tiny size
papillon puppies
cannot eat a lot at one time, and literally run out of fuel quickly.
Papillon Puppies should be fed several times a day a high quality diet.
Low
environmental temperatures, infections, vaccinations, strenuous exercise such as
being "played with" by young children who do not allow papillon
puppies adequate rest time, and
inadequate nutrition increase the risk even further.
Treatment
The
level of the blood sugar must be raised at once and the stress condition
treated. Honey, dipped on your finger and rubbed on the tongue and roof of
the mouth several times over a hour or more can relieve the first symptoms. Make
sure there is water available.
Feeding recommendations for papillon puppies at risk for hypoglycemia include: frequent
(4-5 times a day) feedings of high-carbohydrate, high -protein and/or -fat
foods. Feeding soft moist foods may help to prevent a hypoglycemia attack
due to the high sugar content. Gatorade mixed with a little honey, Ringers
lactate with dextrose or Pedialyte are good products to use if dog is having an
attack. These products have electrolytes, which ailing papillon or phalene
puppies need.
Honey and corn syrup can be used also. For papillon puppies who have had recurrent or
prolonged signs, monitoring the urine for ketones with a "dipstick"
made for diabetics is helpful, since a return to "ketone negative
status" signals a return to normalcy. If these measures don't correct
the problem, a trip to the vet is recommended. Intravenous feedings may be
necessary and the vet will need to check the papillon puppy for more serious problems.
Even if this never occurs to your papillon puppy, or adult, it is important that you know about this to aid your Vet in diagnosing the problem. This usually affects tiny papillons or phalenes and most of them outgrow this danger by 6 months of age. However, it can happen to tiny papillons even as an adult and careful attention must be paid to the diet of any TINY TOY DOG.
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