Content
- what is diabetes
- Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs
- Diagnosis and Treatment of Diabetes in Dogs
- The control of canine diabetes
- Warning Signs in the Diabetic Dog
Did you know that there are very few diseases that can be diagnosed exclusively in humans? For this reason it should not be surprising that dogs are susceptible to contracting numerous conditions that can also occur in us.
Some of these diseases can affect any dog, regardless of factors such as sex, age or breed, on the contrary, others can occur more frequently as our dog grows.
This is the case of diabetes, a disease that affects the dog's metabolism and endocrine system and needs chronic treatment. Due to the importance that this condition can have for the health of our pet, in this article by PeritoAnimal we will talk about diabetes in dogs, just like yours symptoms and treatment.
what is diabetes
Puppies, like us, get the energy needed for vital functions from food and as an energy source they mainly use glucose, a nutrient that is obtained from the metabolism of carbohydrates.
For glucose to be used as an energy source, it needs to pass from the bloodstream to the interior of cells, which it does thanks to the action of a hormone called insulin that is synthesized in the pancreas.
In a dog with diabetes, the pancreas is damaged (the exact cause is not known although it is suspected that it may be autoimmune) and not able to synthesize insulin.
Given the deficit of this important hormone, glucose cannot be used as a source of energy by the cells, which ultimately results in a deterioration of the organism and loss of vitality, which is clinically manifested by very high levels of glucose in the blood, a situation that sustained over time can lead to serious risks for our pet.
As mentioned before, middle-aged and old-age dogs are especially susceptible to this disease.
Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs
As in many other conditions, observation of our pet is essential to detect in advance any signs that indicate that its health is suffering some damage.
You symptoms of diabetes in dogs are those typical of hyperglycemia, a situation that is characterized by its very high blood glucose levels:
- Urine very often
- Drink water very often
- have a bigger appetite
- Weight loss
- Lethargy
These symptoms are typical of a dog with diabetes, and interestingly, they are also the same symptoms that a person with type I diabetes manifests. If you see any of these signs in our pet, you should go to the veterinarian immediately.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Diabetes in Dogs
To diagnose diabetes, the veterinarian will take into account the patient's complete medical history as well as the symptoms manifested, however, to verify the presence of this disease it will be necessary to perform a blood and urine test to determine the glucose levels in both fluids. .
If the diagnosis of diabetes is confirmed, the veterinarian will indicate how the treatment should be carried out, a treatment that is not only pharmacological but involves certain lifestyle habits.
Next, let's see all those components that should be part of the treatment of a dog with diabetes:
- Insulin: The dog will need subcutaneous insulin injections to be able to properly metabolize carbohydrates. Insulin application is simple and can be done at home. As we cannot predict how much food our dog will eat, insulin is usually applied after our pet has eaten.
- Diet: The veterinarian will indicate which food is the most suitable for the treatment of a diabetic dog, although it is generally a balanced food rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates, as these are progressively absorbed and do not abruptly change the levels of blood glucose.
- Physical exercise: The diabetic dog needs to exercise daily to encourage the passage of glucose from the bloodstream to the interior of cells.
- In bitches it is possible that the veterinarian recommends sterilization in order to improve the control of the disease.
Initially, it may be difficult to get used to the treatment for diabetes, but these measures will have to be applied in a chronic way and, in a short time, both the owner and the dog will already have got used to the new routine for living with this disease.
The control of canine diabetes
The treatment of diabetes in dogs will allow our pet to have a better quality of life, as it will help to keep blood glucose levels stable, controlling the symptoms that arise from hyperglycemia.
Keeping glucose levels stable will also help prevent all the complications that can arise from this disease, such as kidney failure, nerve damage, blindness or diabetic ketoacidosis, a metabolic disorder that can compromise the animal's life.
Our dog's insulin needs may vary depending on its appetite, level of physical activity and even changes that may occur naturally in its physiology, so the diabetic dog should be submit to periodic controls.
Your veterinarian will tell you how often your dog needs to go to the clinic to evaluate diabetes management and management.
Warning Signs in the Diabetic Dog
If your dog has been diagnosed with diabetes and you see any of the following signs, you should urgently consult the veterinarian, as they may indicate a severe decompensation of the disease:
- Excessive thirst for more than 3 days
- Excessive urination for more than 3 days
- Weakness
- Lethargy
- Convulsions
- tremors
- muscle contractions
- Decreased appetite
- loss of appetite
- Changes in behavior
- Anxiety
- Signs of pain
- Constipation
- vomiting
- Diarrhea
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.