ABSTRACT The professional relationship between breeder and veterinary team has always been complex and often misunderstood . This article details the personal insights of a veterinary nurse ’ s direct experience with reputable licensed chihuahua breeders and their approach to juvenile hypoglycaemia in their toy-breed puppies . The article challenges whether what breeders call ‘ sugar drop prevention ’ is in fact a myth or whether there are benefits to giving honey daily to puppies under 12 weeks of age . With toy breeds being bred smaller and smaller , should we , as veterinary professionals , be doing more in practice to identify and support puppies with juvenile hypoglycaemia , and can early intervention make a difference ?
Keywords small breed , honey , sugar drop , hypoglycaemia
In the past , my pet dogs have always been rescued rather than sourced from breeders . However , in 2018 , I decided to purchase a dog from a reputable licensed breeder . There were many reasons for this but , chiefly , having always taken on dogs with pre-existing issues ( mainly rescued from work as a result of my inability to say ‘ no ’), I wanted a dog with a clean slate to add to my family unit .
Having already visited the breeder , I collected my little fluffball when he was 10 weeks of age , and named him Eddie . The breeder was highly professional , knowledgeable and a genuinely caring individual . Once I had been through all the necessary paperwork and was about to depart with Eddie , the breeder handed me a gift bag full of toys , treats and puppy information . She also gave me a jar of honey and recommended giving half a teaspoon to the puppy each day .
Naturally , as a veterinary professional , I was almost quick to discard this instruction . Why would anyone think this necessary ? Surely if my puppy was healthy , no intervention should be required ? But it got me thinking about whether there was any logic behind her recommendation . Having spoken to a few breeders , I am told that ‘ sugar drop support ’ is common and seen as effective . Having a curious mind , I asked some colleagues and embarked on my own research .
What we already know
We know that low blood sugar can be a big problem in puppies , particularly in toy breeds , regardless of whether they appear completely healthy ( Lewis & Reineke , 2020 ). This is due to under-developed storage of energy and immature liver function needed to maintain sufficient levels of blood glucose ( BG ) in the event of stress and starvation . Toy breeds are even more susceptible to hypoglycaemia due to their higher metabolic rates and higher energy requirement per unit of body mass , in comparison to larger breeds ( Metropolitan Veterinary Associates , 2021 ).
Due to their tiny size , they are also more susceptible to hypothermia , which can also lead to hypoglycaemia , due to lack of food intake and gut motility ( Schermerhorn , 2020 ). Hypoglycaemia also occurs as a result of an infestation with intestinal parasites , which can alter normal digestive motility ( Purina , 2021 ). The clinical signs include lethargy , weakness , altered mentation , poor appetite , tremors , twitching , seizures and eventually becoming comatose ( Lewis & Reineke , 2020 ).
When an animal is presented to the clinic with a BG of < 60 mg / dl or 3.3 mmol / l with supportive clinical signs , they are usually treated with intravenous dextrose ( Idowu & Heading , 2018 ). As with any medication or supplement , careful consideration should be given to the potential risks or contraindications – see Table 1 .
Table 1 . Considerations and contraindications of feeding honey to canines . Considerations / contraindications
Comments
Tooth decay Will only occur if given in large amounts , well into adult life . Obesity Will only occur if given in large amounts , well into adult life . Botulism spores
Diarrhoea and vomiting
Bee allergies Rare .
Some literature states that raw honey should not be given to puppies with compromised immune systems as it may contain botulism spores . Botulism is rare but is extremely dangerous ( Galban & Vite , 2018 ).
Under-developed immune and digestive systems can be sensitive . Honey given in large amounts causes indiscretions .
Other underlying causes May be secondary to another underlying condition , i . e . Addison ’ s disease , insulin-producing tumours , liver disease or diseases that affect glycogen storage ( Purina , 2021 ).
VOL 38 • July 2022
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