A dog's detection of low blood sugar: a case report.
One of the life threatening complications of diabetes is hypoglycaemia. It is a common complication, with times of greatest risk being before meals and during the night. Symptoms usually develop when the blood glucose level falls below 3.5 mmol/l. Many patients with long-standing diabetes report loss of warning symptoms. Prevention of such hypoglycaemic attacks is highly desirable. Recently a dog's ability to detect hypoglycaemia in diabetic patients has been recorded. This is the first recorded case of hypoglycaemia in a non-diabetic patient being detected by a dog and also we believe it to be the first report of hypoglycaemia being detected by a dog in this country (Ireland).
O'Connor
M B
MB
The Department of Medicine, South Infirmary - Victoria University Hospital, Cork, Ireland. mortimeroconnor@gmail.com
O'Connor
C
C
Walsh
C H
CH
D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000523:psychology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D004285:Dogs / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence