Hypoglycaemia - Xylitol?

Re: Hypoglycaemia - Xylitol?

Julie Innes — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 23:14:06 GMT

I treated a chihuahua with suspected xylitol tox last year- it was a nightmare, every time we tried to take it off the glucose drip it visibly wilted (mind you, it did only weigh about 1kg!) After 3-4 days we finally got it off the drip and it has never looked back!

But does sound like your gun dog might have other issues, so not sure how helpful my post is!

Re: Hypoglycaemia - Xylitol?

Jenny Smith — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 21:04:49 GMT

Weirdly there's a big discussion about this happening at the moment on the internal vets now forums. One person posted a case about a hypothermic/hypoglycaemic springer who had been out on gun dog duties with the owner. Lots of other case reports filtering through including younger lurchers out lamping as well as the traditional gun dog types

Jenny

Re: Hypoglycaemia - Xylitol?

Neil Wheadon — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:41:18 GMT

There is a striking pattern though from other cases seen - cold water immersion, either swimming or trapped in water tanks.

Any triathletes out their?

Neil

Re: Hypoglycaemia - Xylitol?

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:45:42 GMT

[quote user="Neil Wheadon"]

The other differential from Veterinary Emergency Care is

Hunting Dog Syndrome

[/quote] There was big deal about this in the UK a couple of years ago. It is quite clear that this is due purely to the dogs becoming hypoglycaemic following exhaustion of their glycogen stores and not being fed during periods of long continual exercise. This phenomenon is well known to cyclists and is variously known as the bonk, the knock or meeting the man with the hammer, to marathon runners it is 'hitting the wall' This is not a syndrome it is a physiological process!

Re: Hypoglycaemia - Xylitol?

Joyce Whitehead — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:08:03 GMT

We see a few working spaniels each year with hypoglycaemia on shoot days. Less than we used to, as the owners are getting better at preventing it. We are in a rural are with many local shoots around. Interestingly I rarely remember seeing it in working cockers, which are now more common here, it is nearly always in springers. Generally they are dogs who are too excited to eat in the morning when they see signs of going working, and will get tired and weak, some have presented fitting due to the hypoglycaemia. in most cases however, once they are rested and given something high in glucose all settles and they are fine. The fitting ones we have dripped with glucose enhanced iv fluids, the rest treated symptomatically. Many of the guns now carry glucose gels or tablets just in case. We try to encourage the owners to give a high carb meal early in the day before work but some of them can't get the dog to eat, or just don't listen.

Re: Hypoglycaemia - Xylitol?

Neil Wheadon — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:01:30 GMT

The other differential from Veterinary Emergency Care is

Hunting Dog Syndrome

There is an article written by a DVM where he says he has treated 21 cases and there is a review of his findings at http://wenaha.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/hunting-dog-hypoglycemia.html

Thoughts?

Neil

Re: Hypoglycaemia - Xylitol?

Neil Wheadon — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:36:45 GMT

Thankyou Andrew

The ALT being slightly elevated is a concern, and the references suggest liver issues start 3-5 days after, so could be a red herring

Neil

Re: Hypoglycaemia - Xylitol?

Andrew Kent — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:06:09 GMT

Xylitol certainly sounds probable. I have treated a couple of dogs post xylitol ingestion, the hypoglycaemia tends only to last for 24-48 hours so support them through that period and then should maintain on their own.

the only additional concern is that some dogs will then go on to develop an acute hepatitis a few days after ingestion (I think up to 4 days). So the recommendation is to check liver enzymes daily for 4-5 days. The dose required for hepatitis is higher than for hypoglycaemia so hopefully it won't be an issue, but if it does develop the prognosis is pretty guarded.

Andy