Diabetes in Dogs
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects animals and humans alike. This is caused by the lack of insulin or improper response to insulin in the body. It cannot be cured, but can be managed successfully once diagnosed. When food is digested, the body breaks down the nutrients into glucose. This is a source of energy for parts of the body. This is absorbed into the intestines and transported throughout the entire body. The pancreas is responsible for releasing insulin into the body to tell which cells to take glucose and nutrients. When insulin levels aren’t regulated properly by the body, blood sugar problems can occur, whether hyperglycemia or diabetes.
Types
Like in humans, there are two types of diabetes in dogs too. Type 1 is when your dog isn’t producing enough insulin. Known as sugar diabetes, this happens when the pancreas isn’t functioning properly or is damaged. Dogs will need daily shots to replace this missing insulin.
Type II is known as adult onset diabetes and is the most common. This insulin-resistance diabetes occurs when the pancreas produces some insulin, but the body isn’t using it properly. This is usually linked to diet and/or obesity.
Complications
When a dog has diabetes, sugar will build up within the body. This can cause damage to the dog’s body in many ways. First, the don’t have the right fuel to function properly and secondly, it can cause direct damage to other organs too.
Genetics
Some dog breeds are definitely more susceptible to developing diabetes than others because of their genetics. Purebreds especially have a higher risk of developing diabetes for whatever reason.
Age and Weight
Dogs that are middle-aged or older have a strong likelihood of developing diabetes along with obese dogs.
Causes
The exact cause of the disease is unknown. However, there are some factors that may contribute to its development including chronic pancreatitis (nearly 30% of all cases are caused by this), medications, autoimmune diseases such as Cushing’s Disease.
Symptoms
Some signs of diabetes in dogs can include: increased urination and/or excessive thirst, weight loss, increased appetite, lethargy, vomiting, seizures, kidney failure, enlarged liver and more.
A veterinarian will check for diabetes with testing your dog’s glucose levels. High liver enzymes are also a tall tale of diabetes too. They will determine your dog’s serial blood glucose concentration curve, which will help determine the proper amount of insulin dosage and schedule for your dog.
Treatment
Treatment will vary on the severity of your dog’s symptoms, the type of diabetes they have, the results of their blood tests and their medical history. The goal for treating diabetes is to keep blood glucose levels normal (from 65 to 120). Twice-daily insulin injections are common. Your veterinarian can help teach you how to administer them properly. A high-fiber diet helps to normalize glucose levels in the blood.
Ultimately, while there is no real way to prevent diabetes from happening to your dog, a healthy diet and regular exercise can keep them as healthy as possible.
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