My dog shakes and has pale gums before eating. Is it low blood sugar?

Poor Nala! If she is very pale, curled up, in shock, or in distress/pain it would be best to seek care from your veterinarian or an emergency clinic in person ASAP, especially as puppies (and very small breed dogs) can quickly become hypoglycemic. Feeding smaller meals more frequently can help with hypoglycemia and preventing it in small breed dogs. You can also use a warm washcloth to clean any crusting from the eyes or nose, however if her symptoms continue, seeing a vet in person is best.

If she has pale gums then she needs to be examined by a vet immediately to determine the cause and treat, especially if she also has abnormal breathing. Please call your vet or go to an emergency clinic. She could have an infection, parasite, clotting/bleeding problem, hemolytic anemia, mass, etc. and may need immediate treatment.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Loss of appetite can be observed with many conditions such as gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, kidney disease, pancreatitis, among many other possibilities. This could absolutely be due to anemia given her pale mucous membranes. I recommend that you have Snow evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and others depending on the findings on exam. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck and have a good night! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Hi. I am very sorry about Holly being so sick. I am very concerned about her pale gum color. She could have a true emergency going on right now - and she should be seen by a veterinarian right away. Pale gums are related to lack of perfusion or anemia (low red blood cell count). Any of the reasons that cause pale gums are a true emergency and she should be examined right away. Very best of luck to you and sweet Holly.

With a Doberman, I would first want to rule-out heart disease. Dobermans are predisposed to having a heart condition that can cause heart failure, which would present like this. However, the fact that she is a cross makes hereditary heart disease less likely. There are many other conditions that can cause these exact same problems such as intracellular parasites/bacteria, intestinal parasites and blood clotting disorders leading to anemia. Either way, the fact that she is pale and lethargic warrants an urgent visit to the veterinarian. The vet will be able to help narrow-down the cause of this and advise the best treatment. In many cases, these signs can be completely reversible and she can have a good quality of life again. I hope that helps and Sassy gets better soon.

Traxex is experiencing very general symptoms of disease, these symptoms could fit almost any internal condition, maybe she is suffering from nausea due to a gastrointestinal disease and maybe she is in pain, from the symptoms described it's very hard to know. i would recommend taking her to the vet as soon as possible in order to get her checked, if she doesn't show any other obvious symptoms during the examination, a blood test and possibly an ultrasound will be needed in order to try and find out what is wrong with her.

My biggest concern in a very young puppy with the signs you described is that she has a low blood sugar. This can worsen to the point of seizures and can be fatal if not treated. I am attaching a handout with more information below. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952329 I would recommend trying to feed Naya a small meal. If she will not eat, then I would recommend rubbing Karo syrup or maple syrup on her gums and taking her to a veterinarian immediately. If she eats and starts to feel better, then you are likely dealing with a low blood sugar level and will need to continue regular small meals. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and that Nala feels better soon. Thanks for using PetCoach.