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Emergency

Emergency or low blood sugar: call your vet now

If he collapses, has a seizure, won’t respond or is struggling to breathe, go to an emergency vet now. Ring ahead on the way if you can, but don’t wait for a reading or for anyone online to reply.

I'm an owner, not a vet. This is not veterinary advice, so check anything medical with your own vet.

Call your vet now, or an emergency clinic if your vet is closed. Even one of the signs below is enough.

Save my vet's number

If he collapses, has a seizure, won’t respond or is struggling to breathe, go straight to an emergency vet. Call them on the way if you can.

Signs to act on now

He doesn’t need to show all of these. Even one is a reason to call. You know your dog best, so if you’re worried, call your vet, even if it’s not on this list.

  • Weak, or not himself
  • Wobbly on his legs, or walking oddly
  • Trembling
  • Dazed, flat, or not coming when you call him
  • Vomiting
  • A seizure
  • Collapse
  • Not eating his meal around insulin time
  • A urine strip showing ketones (any colour other than negative)

If you think his sugar is low

  • If he’s weak, wobbly, trembling, dazed or worse, call your vet or an emergency clinic now.
  • If your vet gave you a plan for low sugar, follow it.
  • How much sugar to give, if any, has to come from your vet’s plan or the vet on the phone, not from the internet.
  • If you think the insulin and syringe didn’t match (U-40 and U-100 mixed up), this is an emergency. Call your vet or an emergency clinic now, and don’t try to correct it yourself.
  • If he can’t swallow properly, never pour anything into his mouth, because he could choke. Get him to a vet now.
  • Once he’s safe, ask your vet to write down what to do if it happens again, so you have a plan ready next time.

What to tell the vet on the phone

  1. 1What he’s doing right now.
  2. 2When he last ate, and whether he’s had his insulin yet.
  3. 3Any glucose reading you’ve already taken, and what time you took it.
  4. 4Ketone results, if your vet has shown you how to check.

I never give insulin amounts here. Yours comes from your vet's written plan.

My diabetic dog had a seizure.

This is an emergency, even if the seizure stops, so contact a vet or emergency clinic straight away. Low blood sugar is one possible cause, but there are others. Follow what the clinic says about getting your dog there safely.

Keep your hands away from your dog's mouth, and don't force food, water or medicine into a dog who can't swallow properly. If you can, note when it started and the last meal and injection times, but don't let that slow you down. Don't wait for another seizure or a better reading before getting help.

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