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Questions
- Can Dogs Get Diabetes?
- What is Canine Diabetes?
- Are There Different Forms of Canine Diabetes?
- Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs
- What Medication Will They Need to Control Their Diabetes?
- Top Tips in Caring for a Dog with Diabetes
Dogs can develop many health concerns and amongst them is diabetes. A common health condition in humans it also occurs in our canine companions and can affect from 0.36%-1% of dogs throughout their lifetime. Once thought to be a very serious, fatal condition we now know that diabetes in dogs is very treatable and many dogs with this condition can go on to live a healthy, happy life with the right management.
If your dog has just been diagnosed with diabetes or you’re concerned that they may have it, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll discuss everything that you need to know about canine diabetes, what causes it, and how to manage it successfully.
Can Dogs Get Diabetes?
Many people are familiar with diabetes in people, either with themselves or friends/family members. Just like humans, diabetes in dogs is a common diagnosis. It can be very worrying if your dog gets diagnosed with diabetes and you may be thinking the worst.
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However, the good news is that diabetes is a common illness in dogs these days, and vets are very familiar with it. It’s very treatable and with the right management from both vets and owners, dogs can do very well.
What is Canine Diabetes?
Diabetes is a lack of or inappropriate bodily response to the hormone insulin. Insulin is made by the pancreas and is responsible for moving glucose from the bloodstream into cells. All the cells in the body use glucose as an energy source.
In diabetes, if insulin isn’t moving glucose into the cells (either from insulin not being made in the body or the body not responding to it) a build-up of glucose occurs in the bloodstream. This is called hyperglycemia. It also leads to an overspill of glucose into the urine called glucosuria. Cells also don’t receive their fuel source in the form of glucose, and they become starved. This can lead to disastrous consequences for the body.
Canine diabetes is similar but a bit different from human diabetes. There are different forms of diabetes in humans, but this isn’t as clear cut in dogs.
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Are There Different Forms of Canine Diabetes?
Diabetes in dogs isn’t as defined into different forms as it is in human diabetes. Human diabetes generally has three forms, spanning from issues such as obesity and hormonal changes in pregnancies.
In canine diabetes, the forms aren’t as defined as with humans, but it’s thought that diabetes in dogs is more like type I/insulin-dependent diabetes in humans. Which is where there’s a lack of insulin being made in the pancreas and not caused to external factors.
Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs
It’s important that you know the symptoms of diabetes in dogs. This will enable you to observe your dog for any symptoms of this and get them veterinary treatment if you notice signs. It’s also useful for monitoring dogs that are receiving treatment for diabetes as well controlled diabetes will often have reduced or milder symptoms.
In cases of diabetes that aren’t under control, dogs may have severe symptoms that are gradually worsening.
Symptoms of diabetes in dogs generally include.
Drinking more (polydipsia)
Urinating more (polyuria)
Weight loss
Lethargy
Increased appetite (polyphagia)
Cloudy eyes (cataracts)
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If you think your dog is showing any of these symptoms, you should visit your veterinarian to get them checked. Where they will perform blood and urine tests, to diagnose the diabetes.
What Medication Will They Need to Control Their Diabetes?
Dogs with diabetes will need insulin therapy prescribed by their vet to control their diabetes. This will generally involve insulin injections once or twice daily that you will administer at home. Your vet will show you how to inject your dog so don’t worry, you’ll be an expert at injecting very quickly!
They may also suggest that you feed your dog a particular diet suitable for diabetic dogs with high fibre and appropriate levels of carbohydrates. Discuss this with your vet for more advice as each diabetic case is different and calorific needs will vary (overweight dogs vs. thin dogs).
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Dogs with diabetes will also need regular monitoring, so it’s important to work with your vet to do this. They may monitor your dog by doing glucose curves (multiple glucose checks throughout the day), fitting a Freestyle libre (a glucose monitoring device that stays on your dog’s skin), measuring fructosamine (a blood test that shows diabetes control over a couple of weeks) and monitoring general blood and urine panels.
Top Tips in Caring for a Dog with Diabetes
Caring for a diabetic dog can be challenging yet rewarding. With the right management and veterinary care, they can do very well. Our vet experts’ top tips for caring for a dog with diabetes include;
Know the signs of hypoglycemia (lack of appetite, disorientated, tremors, vomiting, seizures) and what to do (feed them, use oral glucose, contact your vet)
Discuss spaying female dogs with your vet as this may help to control the diabetes.
Feed a high-quality diet.
Be consistent with insulin treatment.
Have regular communication and check-ups with your vet.
Diabetes in dogs is a common health condition but luckily with the right treatment and management, dogs can live long, happy lives. For everything you need to support their lifestyle change, find dog essentials online and in-store.