Diabetes affects approximately 1 out of every
500 dogs in the U.S. Untreated, it
leads to death; it also causes kidney failure and
cataracts (which can lead to blindness). An
interesting fact is that 22% of dogs that had gone
blind were brought to their veterinarian for behavioral
problems, not blindness - the owners hadn’t
even realized that their dogs had gone blind.
The good news is that Diabetes is not a death
sentence for our beloved four-legged buddies -
with the correct diet and insulin, we can continue
to enjoy them for their normal life spans!
WHAT IS DIABETES?
Diabetes occurs
when the pancreas (an organ about the size of a
chili pepper located near the stomach and small
intestine) produces insufficient insulin. All the
body’s cells use blood glucose
for energy, and insulin is needed to get the
glucose where it’s needed. When the
body doesn’t produce enough insulin, glucose
can’t get into the cells, so it remains
circulating in the blood; this causes glucose
overload, so the kidneys need extra water to
flush it from the body - that’s why a diabetic
dog drinks more water and urinates more often. Since
the sugar in the blood can’t get into the
cells, the cells send chemical messages to the
brain saying “they are starved - eat more!” Most
dogs get a Type I Diabetes (in humans referred
to as juvenile-onset diabetes) where the body
produces little or no insulin.
WHAT DOGS GET DIABETES?
Although
any breed can develop diabetes, there are certain
breeds that seem to be more prone to it: Keeshonds;
Australian, Fox, Cairn and Yorkshire Terriers;
Bichon Frises; Samoyeds; Malteses; Lhasa Apsos;
Miniature Pinschers; Poodles; Dachshunds and Beagles. Dogs
that have had Pancreatitis or inflammation of the
pancreas are more likely to develop diabetes. Diabetes
can occur at any age, but it is most common in
animals 10 years
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
Your dog has started drinking a lot of water
(polydipsia) – more than normal
Your dog urinates frequently (polyuria). Many
pet guardians don’t think anything of this
until their companion animal begins urinating
in the house.
Blood tests show that the dog’s blood
glucose (sometimes referred to as blood sugar)
levels are very high - this is called Diabetes
Mellitus (the word “mellitus” comes
from the Latin word for honey).
Your dog’s appetite has significantly
increased; he may seem hungry all the time. And
even though he is eating more, he is losing weight.
The dog’s energy and physical abilities
are diminished because their cells are starved
for energy.
Cataracts oftentimes develop in dogs due to
the excess blood glucose causing swelling in
the eye.
WHAT TYPE OF TREATMENT IS AVAILABLE?
Medication
Affected animals usually require insulin injections;
insulin pills don’t work well for dogs. In
a dog, we have to keep the blood glucose lower
than in a cat, because the dog can develop cataracts
if the blood glucose is too high, and because owners
are distressed if their dogs have to be let out
frequently to urinate or if they urinate in the
house. I like to keep dogs’ blood glucose
between 120 and 150.
Play and Exercise
Consistent daily exercise helps control diabetes,
because it causes blood glucose to decrease as
the muscles require energy (but excessive exercise
may cause hypoglycemia or low blood sugar). Don’t
expect your diabetic companion animal to be a couch
potato all week, and then expect him to exercise
for hours on weekends - be consistent.
Should you overdo the exercise or insulin in your
diabetic pet, you will see classic symptoms for
hypoglycemia (same for humans): lethargy,
unsteady walking, confusion, loss of bladder control,
vomiting and, at the extreme, seizures and loss
of consciousness. Treatment of hypoglycemia
consists of getting sugar into your pet (or a person)
as quickly as possibly by rubbing corn syrup or
honey on the gums, then going to the veterinarian
(or doctor).
CAN MY DOG STILL HAVE TREATS?
Diabetic
dogs can still have treats, but they can’t
contain any sugar, such as molasses, fructose,
dextrose or maltose (all popular ingredients added
to many commercial treats to make them tasty). Dehydrated
meat products and low-sugar vegetables make good
rewards. Most cat treats don’t contain
the problem sweeteners so you can give these as
treats to your diabetic dogs.
WANT MORE INFORMATION?
There is
a great deal of information about diabetes on the
internet. One site gives step-by-step
photo illustrations of how to mix, draw and inject
insulin (www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ClientED/diabetes.asp).
