What is Low Blood Sugar?
The body needs glucose to maintain its energy levels, which are necessary for the body’s organs, cells and various symptoms to carry out their daily functions. If a cat’s blood sugar levels drop, most cells can absorb fatty acids from the reserve located in the liver. However, the brain is a unique organ that cannot take glucose from anywhere else in the body, other than what is carried in by the blood. Therefore, when blood sugar levels drop, the brain quickly loses vital fuel and can no longer function at full capacity, resulting in weakness, sleepiness, disorientation as well as coma. Low blood sugar in cats is a life-threatening condition, especially to juvenile kittens, so immediate professional care by a licensed veterinarian is vital.
Low blood sugar in cats is a symptom of an underlying disease that is causing the feline’s blood sugar levels to drop dangerously low levels. Low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia, can be the result of health conditions affecting the body’s blood glucose (blood sugar) regulators.
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Symptoms of Low Blood Sugar in Cats
The symptoms of low blood sugar in cats, even in the warning stage, are easy to detect and often unsettling to cat owners. A cat with hypoglycemia is quickly losing brain power, resulting in neurologic disorders and an increased appetite as the body relies on food consumption for an energy supply. Depending on how low the feline’s blood sugar levels have dropped, symptoms could be mild to severe.
Mild Low Blood Sugar
- Lethargy
- Drowsiness
- Pupil dilation
- Tachypnea (breathing rapidly)
- Palpitations of the heart
- Nervousness
- Nausea
- Appetite increase
Moderate Low Blood Sugar
- Poor coordination
- Tremors
- Shaking
- Tilting of the head
- Weakness
- Disorientation
Severe Low Blood Sugar
- Coma
- Seizures
- Death
Causes of Low Blood Sugar in Cats
Low blood sugar in cats is caused by an underlying condition affecting the body’s ability to produce, release, or store insulin. The hormone, insulin, is a chemical messenger that is responsible for regulating the body’s blood glucose levels. The pancreas manufactures these metabolizing hormones and releases them when a cat eats a meal. As the meal is digested, the food glucose is absorbed by the blood. The rise in plasma glucose triggers the beta cells in the pancreas and insulin is secreted to keep a balanced blood sugar level. An interference of the production, balance, or distribution of this process can result in hypoglycemia including:
- Diabetes: Diabetic cats can develop hypoglycemia upon overdose of insulin injection or if two doses overlap one another.
- Blood Infections
- Pancreatic tumors
- Anorexia
- Copious vomiting
- Excessive exercise
- Addison’s Disease: A condition of the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands produce the cortisol hormone that balances the effects of insulin.
- Glycogen storage disease: A condition that prevents the muscles and liver from properly synthesizing stored glycogen. A rare disease seen primarily in Norwegian Forest Cats.
The following can cause blood sugar levels to drop due to a dysfunctional storage of glycogen:
- Hepatic lipidosis
- Hepatic neoplasia
- Portosystemic shunt
- Hepatic disease
- Toxicity
Diagnosis of Low Blood Sugar in Cats
Your veterinarian will begin the diagnosis of low blood sugar in your cat by obtaining a full medical history. You will be asked to relay your cat’s current symptoms, diet, medications and past illnesses. The veterinarian will then continue with the following diagnostic tests:
Physical Examination
Jaundice or yellowing of the eyes can be an indication of liver failure that can lead to hypoglycemia.
Urinalysis
The current status of the cat’s kidney and liver function will be presented in the findings of a urine examination.
Biochemical Profile
A test to evaluate the level of organ secretions and hypothesize their function status.
Complete Blood Count
The number of white and red blood cells will help the vet determine if the presence of a possible blood infection.
ACTH Stimulation Test
Cortisol hormone, produced by the adrenal glands, is measured to determine the level of gland function.
Radiograph or Ultrasound
Imaging may be used to detect tumors.
Treatment of Low Blood Sugar in Cats
Treatment of low blood sugar in cats ultimately begins with identifying the underlying cause, as hypoglycemia is a symptom and not a disease. Low blood sugar can be the result of a pancreatic tumor, a disease of the adrenal gland, a blood infection, or a result of toxicity. Talk to your veterinarian about the appropriate treatment plan for your cat and his/her low blood sugar.
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Recovery of Low Blood Sugar in Cats
Low blood sugar is a life-threatening condition, but if treatment is sought out immediately, your cat has a good chance of survival. There are a wide variety of treatment options for cats with hypoglycemia that should be discussed with a licensed veterinary professional. Ask your veterinarian about treatment and an appropriate diet for cats prone to hypoglycemia and preventative care for the future.
Low Blood Sugar Average Cost
From 427 quotes ranging from $200 - $5,000
Average Cost
$1,500
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Low Blood Sugar Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Grey and White Mix
Kitty
6 Weeks
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Not Moving Much
Low Temperature
Weak
Lathargy
Low Glucose
Severely Dehydrated
Ringworms
My 6-7 week old kitten is not doing to hot .My mom brought her home when she was a day old, she was so small so we think she might be premature and her mother abandoned her.She hasn't gained weight like other bottle fed kittens. We took her to the vet to get dewormed maybe a week or two ago and she weighed half a pound. But now she weighs a 1/4 of a pound. Yesterday morning she wasn't moving and she was really cold. We called the vet and had an emergency visit. She has swallowed a tip of a nipple while my mom and i were weaning her but the vet doesn't believe it to be whats wrong.She is at the vet but she is not healthy enough to draw blood from to do testing.They have been giving her karo syrup and fluids since yesterday. She has been having grayish poop and has been pooing and peeing often. She also has ringworms. What type of test would you recommend me to ask the vet about?
July 9, 2018
0 Recommendations
Grey faeces is concerning and is an indication of maldigestion due to a lack of bile which may be caused by liver disease, bile duct obstruction among other causes; however testing at this point is not going to be as productive as aggressive supportive and symptomatic care in an attempt to get weight on her. A general blood test would be useful but as you mentioned not practical at the moment, see how she responds to the current course of treatment. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 10, 2018
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Cat
Kage
13 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Throwing Up
Just a week ago my 13 year car was diagnosed diabetic, totally healthy every other way. So we’ve been doing feeding and insulin twice a day, 8 am and 8 pm. She’s 7 pounds and getting 1 unit 30 mins after eating. She’s a picky eater to begin with! She eats 8-10 kernels of food and about a teaspoon of boiled chicken at this point. But she has started throwing up around 2 am each morning, 3 times so far. What is going on?
June 22, 2018
1 Recommendations
Vomiting is a vague symptom and may be caused by a variety of different conditions and may or may not be related to the insulin administration; however we would normally expect vomiting to be seen twice per day if it was directly related to the insulin since she receives insulin twice per day 12 hours apart. There may be some other factor involved here and you didn’t mention if it was three concurrent days or three random days; monitor Kage for the time being but if the vomiting continues you should visit your Veterinarian and possibly have a 24 hour glucose curve done too. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
June 23, 2018
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Semi-persians
Kenji (reading 2.73); Nero (reading 3.07)
6 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
Have just taken my two 6 year old cats for blood tests - they are brothers and both have been diagnosed with congenital heart murmur. They take medication for the condition hence the blood tests. My vet tells me not to worry even though one of them has glucose reading 2.73 and the other has glucose reading of 3.07 when the normal range is 4.11 - 8.84 mmol/L. The blood glucose level is the only "abnormal" reading. They were not fasting when the blood tests were carried out....so what could be the cause of low blood glucose levels? Can you please help me understand?
Their father (pure persian) suffered from pancreatitis for years, though he died last year from a heart attack - could their father's condition be hereditary?
June 9, 2018
1 Recommendations
There are some thoughts on the relationship between genetics (hereditary conditions) and pancreatitis; however there are studies in human medicine but no solid research in veterinary medicine. Low glucose levels are a symptom and may be attributable to many different conditions including pancreatitis, dietary deficiency, liver disease, insulinoma (insulin secreting tumour), physical exhaustion, use of some medicines among other causes. Reference ranges for glucose can vary depending on textbook and equipment calibration; generally the Merck Veterinary Manual puts glucose levels in cats at being 3.3–6.7mmol/L or 60–120mg/dL. You should discuss further with your Veterinarian and have another blood test done to monitor the glucose levels to see if there is any improvement. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
www.merckvetmanual.com/special-subjects/reference-guides/serum-biochemical-reference-ranges
June 10, 2018
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domestic short hair
Apollo
6 Weeks
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Lethargy
I have taken my new kitten Apollo to a vca clinic because of the severity. they have had him on a glucose drop and have tried weaning him off but it his blood sugar drops again after a long period. They are trying to treat him for parasites and possible pneumonia, they also said that with an x-ray they noticed he had some fractures running along the spine. My main question is with the information I have provided what would your diagnosis of Apollo possibly be, and mainly what should I ask the vca to do to help my little buddy!
May 10, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Apollo seems to be having a rough start, I'm sorry that those things are happening with him. Without examining him, seeing his x-rays and knowing more about his health status, it is very difficult for me to comment on what might be going on with him, unfortunately. Your veterinarians seem to be on top of his condition and treatments, however, and I think you need to trust that they are doing everything they can for him. I hope that he is okay.
May 10, 2018
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Low Blood Sugar Average Cost
From 427 quotes ranging from $200 - $5,000
Average Cost
$1,500
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Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
