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Testing for Low Blood Sugar
What might be causing my pet’s low blood sugar?
Low blood sugar, or low blood glucose, is called hypoglycemia (hypo = low + glyc = sugar + emia = in the blood). Hypoglycemia is caused by many different conditions and some of them are quite serious. A few examples include:
The typical signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) include weakness, collapse, disorientation, tremors, and sometimes seizures.
Yes. If a blood sample is not handled properly after collection, glucose can be lost from the sample and the test result may be falsely low. This sampling error occurs because red blood cells naturally consume glucose, and they continue to use glucose even in a collected blood sample if steps are not taken to prevent this.
If a pet is healthy and has no signs of hypoglycemia (weakness, collapse, etc.) a laboratory report showing a low blood glucose value may be inaccurate due to sampling error. The blood glucose test should be repeated using a fresh blood sample. If the repeated glucose value is normal and the pet still has no signs of hypoglycemia, then the initial value was likely incorrect, and no further investigation is needed.
Finding the cause of a pet's low blood sugar usually starts with a complete history and physical examination. A pet's history of illness includes details about changes in activity or attitude, appetite and water intake, bowel function and urine output, or other changes an owner may have noted. If a pet is receiving insulin injections for diabetes, the history would also include any problems an owner might be having in giving the injections.
> "A complete physical examination may give clues about the cause of low blood sugar."A complete physical examination may give clues about the cause of low blood sugar. For example, the presence of jaundiced (yellow) gums suggests underlying liver disease; the presence of a fever might indicate an underlying infection; the presence of an abdominal mass could signal a tumor.
History and physical examination are very important, but further testing will likely be necessary. Your veterinarian may recommend doing screening tests. These are a series of simple tests that provide information about the overall health of your pet and may provide further clues about the underlying problem. They include complete blood count (CBC), serum biochemistry profile, and urinalysis.
Based on the results of these screening tests, additional tests may be recommended.
This simple blood test provides information about the different cell types in blood, including red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the tissues; white blood cells, which fight infection and respond to inflammation; and platelets, which help the blood to clot. The CBC provides details about the number, size, and shape of the various cell types and identifies the presence of abnormal cells in circulation. In a pet with hypoglycemia, changes seen on a CBC could include:
Serum biochemistry profile refers to the chemical analysis of serum (the liquid part of blood). There are many substances in serum, including proteins, enzymes, fats, sugars, hormones, and electrolytes. Measuring the levels of the various substances in the blood provides information about the health of the body's organs and tissues including the liver, kidney, and pancreas, and helps to detect diabetes.
In a pet with hypoglycemia, examples of changes seen on a serum biochemistry profile could include:
A urinalysis tests the chemical and physical characteristics of urine. Urinalysis is important in any sick animal and is necessary for the proper interpretation of the serum biochemistry profile, especially in a pet that has kidney disease or diabetes. In a pet with hypoglycemia, examples of changes seen on urinalysis could include:
If the serum biochemistry profile confirms a pet has low blood glucose, and no other abnormalities can be found, then the hypoglycemia may be due to an underlying tumor called an insulinoma. This is a tumor of the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas and causes excessive amounts of insulin to be released into the blood stream. Insulin is the hormone responsible for removing glucose from the blood.
In a pet with an insulinoma, the excess insulin causes too much glucose to be removed from the blood and blood glucose levels fall dangerously low. Affected animals show clear signs of hypoglycemia, including seizures.
There are several additional tests that might be recommended, depending on the results of a pet's history, physical examination, and screening tests. Examples of more advanced tests include:
© Copyright 2025 LifeLearn Inc. Used and/or modified with permission under license. This content written by LifeLearn Animal Health (LifeLearn Inc.) is licensed to this practice for the personal use of our clients. Any copying, printing or further distribution is prohibited without the express written consent of LifeLearn. This content does not contain all available information for any referenced medications and has not been reviewed by the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, or Health Canada Veterinary Drugs Directorate. This content may help answer commonly asked questions, but is not a substitute for medical advice, or a proper consultation and/or clinical examination of your pet by a veterinarian. Please contact your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s health. Last updated on Feb 21, 2024.
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