What to Do If Your Diabetic Dog Won't Eat

A diabetic dog who will not eat is not something to ignore. Many diabetic canines are given insulin shots to control their blood sugar levels, but giving insulin to a dog who has not eaten for some time can be extremely dangerous. It is never advised to give an insulin injection to your pet if he hasn't eaten his food. To learn more about what to do if your diabetic dog won't eat, read on.

Insulin Injections and Diabetic Dogs

As stated previously, many canines with diabetesare given insulin injections to control blood sugar levels. Insulin injections may be important when treating diabetes in your pet, in combination with the proper diet and exercise . But when a diabetic dog hasn't eaten, however, insulin therapy can be very dangerous. Insulin is a hormone that controls glucose levels in the blood, and giving a dog insulin when he has an empty stomach can cause hypoglycemia very quickly.

The dangers of the hypoglycemia would be far worse than the dangers of missing an injection of insulin. Hypoglycemia can rapidly lead to death in dogs, which is why it is advised that pet owners skip an insulin injection if their pet hasn't eaten his meal.

How Do I Get My Diabetic Dog to Eat?

If your pet is ignoring his food or seems uninterested in it, pet owners should try mixing a small amount of wet canned food into the dry food. They should make sure that each piece of the dry dog food is coated with the wet food. If your pet does eat, you may then give him the insulin injection. If he still does not eat, do not give the injection. Your pet may experience high blood sugar for a very short time, but it will not be enough to cause harm.

If your pet continues to have a decrease in appetite and will not eat, immediately consult your veterinarian. Especially in diabetic dogs, the proper diet and nutrition is extremely important. In addition, your dog may be ill and should be diagnosed and treated for his ailment as soon as possible so that he can get back to his daily routine.

Hypoglycemia in Dogs

Hypoglycemia in dogs is a condition where the blood sugar or blood glucose levels are less than 70 milligrams per deciliter of blood. Symptoms and signs of the condition will depend on how low the blood sugar is and how quickly it drops. Common symptoms of hypoglycemia in dogs include the following:

  • Loss of energy
  • Lethargy
  • Loss of appetite
  • Trembling or shaking
  • Muscular twitching
  • Extreme weakness
  • Seizures
  • Dilated pupils
  • Strange behavior
  • Blindness
  • Coma/stupor

Like stated previously, hypoglycemia can be caused by giving insulin injections to a dog who hasn't eaten anything. Hypoglycemia is very dangerous in animals, and can lead to coma or death. If you believe your pet is showing signs of hypoglycemia, it is recommended that you contact your veterinarian as soon as possible to prevent further damage. Hypoglycemia can be an emergency situation, so prompt treatment may be needed.

 

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