Causes of Hypoglycemia in Cats and Dogs

1 Causes of Hypoglycemia in Cats and Dogs

1. Causes in young cats and dogs

1) Stress — Most pets are sensitive and timid; a new environment or unfamiliar people and things can make them tense, leading to refusal to eat, diarrhea, or vomiting (stress responses) that trigger hypoglycemia.

2) Cold — When young animals aren’t fully developed, they have little subcutaneous fat and poor insulation. If their environment drops below comfort, heat escapes fast. To hold temperature, glucose burns quicker, but with low glycogen stores they easily crash from cold.

3) Poor nutrition — Growing puppies and kittens burn huge energy but have weak guts, so they easily become hypoglycemic from malnutrition. Likewise, prior anorexia or long-term vomiting can cause it. Pregnant or nursing pets may also go short from feeding their young.

4) Parasites — Parasites are a constant threat to pet health. Roundworms in the gut steal nutrients, causing hypoglycemia or gut disease.

5) Overexercise — Adult cats and dogs with briefly low appetite usually won’t crash, but a sudden bout of heavy exercise can still cause hypoglycemia.

6) Endocrine issues — Liver disease or anything affecting insulin production, release, or storage can shift blood sugar and cause hypoglycemia.

7) Drug side effects — A common cause in adult pets, especially diabetic ones. Hard to believe, but true: too much insulin pushes them into hypoglycemia.

Though the causes vary, the treatment is much the same — except when an underlying disease is the cause, which needs its own care. For quick relief, rub glucose on the gums rather than feeding by mouth, to avoid choking.

If the episode is severe, get the pet to a vet promptly. Before treatment, tell the vet the pet’s health, recent foods and medicines, and the full history if possible — that helps them choose the safest approach.

That’s our note on pet hypoglycemia causes. Whoever you care for, whether or not it has happened before, we hope you keep prevention in mind.