GotoAID Cats - Hypoglycemia

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Hypoglycemia - Low Blood Sugar

Young animals with little body fat recovering from stress, illness, or surgery and older animals with underlying medical problems such as diabetes can be prone to hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) episodes. Some animals with prolonged low blood sugar will have a seizure. Animals also being treated with too much insulin can also have a hypoglycemic crisis.

Symptoms

Weakness	Glassy-eyed
Lethargic	Twitching
Sleepy	Shaking
Disoriented	Seizure
Wobbly

Steps

In mild cases of low blood sugar (e.g. weakness or lethargic), give your cat something to eat like a couple of tablespoons of canned food. (Only do this is if your cat is still standing and able to eat and swallow normally.)

In severe cases such as collapse, extreme lethargy, shaking, rub 1-2 drops of Karo Syrup or honey on your pet’s gums and seek immediate veterinary attention.

If your cat is going into shock, cover her with a blanket and a hot water bottle to keep her warm.

If your pet is non-responsive and has stopped breathing, be prepared to give artificial respiration by closing your cat’s mouth with one or two hands and gently breathe into your cat’s nostrils.

Administer 10-20 breaths per minute for cats. With each breath, one should see the chest slightly rise. Avoid breathing too hard or over-inflating the chest.

Keep breathing for your cat until she is able to breathe on its own or until veterinary help is available.

Check that your cat’s heart is still beating by feeling for the heart on your cat’s chest and/or feeling for your cat’s pulse. (The pulse is easily felt in the femoral artery located on the inside of the thigh.)

If no pulse or heart beat is felt, begin CPR immediately while someone drives you and your cat to the animal hospital

Warnings

Provide plain water before sugar syrup to make sure that your cat can swallow it

If your cat can not lap up the sugar syrup you can rub it on her gums and lips

Make sure to call your vet immediately

Take care not to get bitten if applying Karo Syrup or Honey to an animal that is having a seizure

Tips

Signs of shock may include weakness, collapse, pale or grey colored gums, irregular breathing, high heart rate, weak pulse and body temperature changes (e.g. very cold or very hot).

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