Glucose paste can be found in most human pharmacies and used at home to restore normal blood glucose levels in dogs. When blood sugar levels drop, animals can have seizures, become comatose, and die within several hours. Puppies and dogs with hypoglycemia and animals injected with too much insulin during diabetic therapy will need glucose paste as an emergency first-aid treatment to help stabilize them quickly prior to seeking veterinary care.
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Use in Hypoglycemic Dogs
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Hypoglycemia in dogs occurs when blood sugar levels drop below the norm--usually qualified as less than 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl). Normal glucose levels can be anywhere between 65 to 120 mg/dl and symptoms may not present until the dog's levels are dangerously low.
Characterized by extreme lethargy, dilated pupils, muscular twitching and/or seizure and stupor or coma, hypoglycemia can be a problem in animals with Addison's disease (lack of hormone production of the adrenal glands) and dogs that are over-exercised, have severe liver disease, or have some type of systemic bacterial infection. In particular, toy and small breed puppies who are not eating or drinking well, have been weaned from the mother too early, or have large parasitic infections (intestinal worms or fleas) are prone to hypoglycemia. Repeated hypoglycemic attacks can result in brain damage.
It is imperative that dog owners squirt a line of glucose paste into the mouth or on the gums if the dog is awake when symptoms first appear. The glucose paste should begin showing results in 30 minutes. A veterinarian needs to be called if symptoms continue beyond that time. If the animal is unconscious, owners need to rub the paste on the gums only, call a veterinarian, and transport to the vet clinic immediately. An unconscious dog may need an intravenous glucose drip and be tested for brain damage.
Use in Diabetic Dogs
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Dogs diagnosed with diabetes are placed on life-long therapy to maintain normal insulin levels in their blood. Typically, dog owners are educated by their veterinarians on how to test their animal's blood glucose levels and administer insulin injections at home. They are also instructed to provide high-fiber, complex carbohydrate diets to their dogs to help alleviate blood glucose spikes after eating. If the diabetic animal stops eating its normal daily amount of food or over-exercises prior to eating, it is very easy for the owner to administer too much insulin and send the dog into insulin shock.
Symptoms of insulin shock include weakness, disorientation, ataxia (inability to control the limbs) and seizures. Food needs to be offered immediately to conscious dogs. If the animal refuses to eat or is unconscious, owners can rub glucose paste on the animal's gums to increase glucose levels in the blood and offset high insulin levels. A veterinarian needs to be contacted immediately to examine the dog and stabilize his blood glucose levels.
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