title: Retrospective evaluation of the use of glucagon infusion as adjunctive therapy for hypoglycemia in dogs: 9 cases (2005-2014).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the use of glucagon infusion for adjunctive treatment of hypoglycemia in dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multicenter retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  One university and 1 private veterinary referral hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs were included if they were hospitalized and received glucagon therapy for hypoglycemia, defined as blood glucose concentration (BG) <60 mg/dL. A total of 9 dogs were included from September 2005 to May 2014.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The medical record for each eligible case was reviewed. Data recorded included signalment, presenting complaint, underlying disease process, presenting BG, BG after dextrose supplementation, BG before glucagon administration, maximum BG while receiving glucagon, and BG after discontinuation of glucagon, if available. Adverse reactions to glucagon and outcome of case were recorded if available. The most common causative disease was insulinoma (n = 7). Median serum glucose concentration on presentation was 30 mg/dL (20-41 mg/dL). The median bolus of glucagon was 50 ng/kg followed by a median maximum dose of a glucagon CRI of 15 ng/kg/min. The mean time period on glucagon CRI until normoglycemia (defined as BG > 60 mg/dL) was 7 hours. All hypoglycemic patients had improvement of BGs when glucagon was added. Statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) were found between BG measurements on glucagon CRI compared to BG at presentation, BG after dextrose, and BG prior to glucagon with a Friedman statistic of 17.3. A CRI was found to effectively increase the BG without recurrence of hypoglycemia after weaning. The majority of patients (5/9) survived to discharge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Glucagon CRI was accompanied by an increase in BG in hypoglycemic dogs. Glucagon CRI appears to be a safe method and can be readily utilized in most practice settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center, Columbus, OH.
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Datte
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center, Columbus, OH. guillaumin.2@osu.edu.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guillaumin
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center, Columbus, OH.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center, Columbus, OH.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Monnig
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center, Columbus, OH.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005934:Glucagon / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D005934:Glucagon
keywords: canine; dextrose; hypoglycemic; insulinoma