Dog Health And Care

Dog Diabetes – Signs And Care For A Dog With Diabetes

February 9th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

Diabetes has been described as an epidemic in humans by the World Health Organization because it has increased so rapidly over the past 50 years. To a lesser extent the increase in the disease for human pets seems to have mirrored this increase. Whether we have just become more aware of the disease in our animals or whether it is genuinely rising is not clear. However, the reality is that animals, particularly dogs, are being diagnosed with the condition in greater numbers. This article will discuss dog diabetes , including the signs and care for a dog with diabetes.

Diabetes is a condition where the hormone insulin stops working. Either it is not produced or the insulin that is produced isn’t effective. In terms of effectiveness, insulin is supposed to lower the blood sugar levels and help convert sugar in the blood to energy that can be used by all the body’s cells. If insulin isn’t produced then immediate problems like energy starvation or longer term complications like cardiovascular disease, eye problems and nerve damage can occur.

There are three types of diabetes in dogs. These are type 1 diabetes, dioestrus diabetes and pancreatic diabetes. Type 1 is the most common form of the disease. This happens when the beta cells that create insulin are destroyed by the body. Dioestrus is like gestational diabetes in humans, in that it only occurs in the female when she comes into season every six months. Pancreatic diabetes is rare and not completely understood. It occurs when the pancreas becomes damaged.

The common signs are sudden weight loss, a loss of appetite, drinking lots of water and excessive urination. One or all of these symptoms may be apparent. This is often very sudden so you will notice the change in your dogs behavior. When this occurs you should take your pet to the vet who will be able to make a firm diagnosis.

The only form of treatment at this stage is to inject insulin. This is very similar to treating humans with the disease. You should inject the dog with insulin just before it eats. You have to control what it eats and when it eats. You shouldn’t give it snacks or feed it at irregular times. Initially the dog will react negatively to getting an injection but after a while it will get used to it. Eventually it will not be an issue as the dog will start to associate it with getting food.

You should also be more careful about what you feed your dog and try to give it more exercise. Again like humans, many dogs that have diabetes are overweight so doing exercise can help them to lose weight which should improve the condition.