Table of Contents
Introduction
Lethargic, weak pups that are not nursing well may be hypoglycemic or have low blood glucose. These pups often have pale gums and foot pads, are cool to the touch and uncoordinated (which isn’t always obvious in very young pups), and may suffer seizures.
If you have a weak pup that is showing these signs, you can simply treat the pup or you can check its blood sugar. However, be cautious giving repeated treatments without confirming the issue is truly low blood sugar since neonate puppies can’t control their blood sugar well. Therefore, if you give too much sugar, you can cause hyperglycemia.
What is Low Blood Sugar
Blood sugar is the concentration of glucose present in a puppy’s blood. It is measured in mg/dl or milligrams per deciliter. At birth, pups have glucose stored in their liver so don’t need nutrition immediately for glucose, though they do need colostrum for antibodies and immunity. Pups whose dams have fasted for the 72 hours prior to whelping are more likely to experience dropping blood sugar levels in the first 24 hours of life.
Blood sugar in neonate puppies below 90 mg/dl have a much lower likelihood of survival (Mila, 2016) than pups with higher blood sugar levels.
Blood sugar:
- below 70 mg/dl is much too low and must be supplemented if the pup is to survive
- 71-89 mg/dl is equivocal and should be supplemented
- 90-125 mg/dl is normal
How to Check for Low Blood Sugar in Pups
You can check a pup’s blood glucose with several drops of blood using a regular human glucose meter. To get that blood, cut one or more of the pup’s toenails to the quick and touch the test strip to several drops of blood. Follow the meter directions to then test the test strip.
Practicing with your own blood until you become accustomed to the meter and process will be very helpful when you need it in a crisis.
What to Do With a Pup with Low Blood Sugar
If you have a pup that has or you think has low blood sugar, try the following treatments but remember, pups can’t control their blood sugar well so do not give too much of any stimulant.
Give it an oral stimulant containing sugars, one drop or dab at a time on its tongue.
Examples are:
- Light Karo syrup
- maple syrup
- frosting
For longer term supplementation, say for a day, use a homemade 5% glucose solution (see below for details).
Take the pup to your vet for a 20% dextrose solution (0.30 ml/30 grams body weight) intravenously or intraosseously. Your vet can monitor the pup’s serum glucose.
Using a 5% Glucose Solution
- one teaspoon of white corn syrup (light Karo syrup)
- four tablespoons unflavored Pedialyte
- eye dropper
Give weak or hypoglycemic puppies five to six drops using an eye dropper for every 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of body weight. Give the glucose one drop at a time on the puppy’s tongue, making sure it has swallowed each drop before giving the next. Then put the puppy with its dam for stimulation and warmth or put it in a warming box at 100-101 °F (37.8-38.3 °C).
