Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Nutritional support for low blood sugar in a dog with insulinoma
By Moreno, Gabriela Pinheiro Tirado et al.·Published in Research in veterinary science·2026·Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Adjuvant nutritional management of canine insulinoma: A case report.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 12-year-old male neutered Lhasa Apso was brought to the vet for persistent low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and signs of weakness. Tests revealed he had insulinoma, a tumor that causes excessive insulin production. After surgery, he still experienced low blood sugar and tremors, so the vet switched his diet to a special food for diabetes, adding lentils, psyllium, and beta-glucans. This dietary change helped stabilize his blood sugar levels, reduced his symptoms, and allowed for a lower dose of medication.
People also search for: dog insulinoma treatment · Lhasa Apso low blood sugar · diabetic diet for dogs
Abstract
Insulinoma is a functional tumor of pancreatic beta cells characterized by excessive insulin secretion, resulting in persistent hypoglycemia. This report describes the case of a 12-year-old male neutered Lhasa Apso dog admitted to the hospital service with persistent hypoglycemia and neurological signs. Complementary examinations suggested insulinoma, which was confirmed by histopathology. Although the surgical procedure was uneventful, postoperative hypoglycemia persisted, with frequent episodes of tremors and prostration, mean serum glucose concentration was 36 mg/dL. Due to limited access to specific drug therapies, nutritional modification was implemented using a commercial diet formulated for diabetes mellitus, supplemented with lentils, psyllium, and beta-glucans. The dietary intervention led to reduced glycemic variability, resolution of hypoglycemia-related clinical signs, decreased glucocorticoid dosage and an improvement in mean blood glucose concentration was observed, reaching 53 mg/dL. This case report highlights the importance of nutrition as a low-cost and accessible adjuvant therapy for dogs diagnosed with insulinoma.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41967456/