Diabetes and Your Dog

While research about diabetes and pets continues, there are several factors that affect the regulation and control of your dog?s diabetes. The amount of insulin required changes based on the types of food and amounts eaten, in addition to physical activity.

Diabetes and the Importance of a Nutritional Diet

While there is no ideal diet available for dogs in general and an ideal composition of exact diet has yet to be determined for dogs, veterinarians have several recommendations. It is typically recommended that your dog food contain lower amounts of carbohydrates with increased amounts of proteins and fiber. Carbohydrates contain sugar, which directly affects blood sugar levels.

It is also recommended that you provide your dog with food several times per day in smaller amounts. This aids in the regulation of sugar levels through the ingestion of food, as intake will be decreased and spread out over a period of time. This prevents blood sugar levels from getting too high from overeating.

Diabetes, Dieting, and Treats

Just because your dog has diabetes does not mean that treats are no longer an option. Many pets are psychologically accustomed to treats as special treatment. Elimination of all treats from the diet will only serve to make your dog feel punished.

Healthy treats are available that contain low amounts of carbohydrates and sugars. This can be tricky as sugar is located in molasses, cane molasses, fructose, maltose, cane sugar, dextrose, and both malt and corn syrup. These should be avoided if possible.

Treats can also be served in the form of ?people food.? Low sugar vegetables are a great option including cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, turnips, and green peppers. Tofu can also make a great treat for your dog.

Treats should only be given in moderation and be sure to break large pieces into smaller ones. Over time, a small treat in addition to a lot of attention and love will satisfy your pet.

Diabetes, Obesity, and Diet

If your pet is obese, the process of gradual weight loss through dieting and lifestyle changes is essential. Obesity only adds to the sign and symptom severity of diabetes. There is also a strong correlation with weight loss in obese animals and a decreased amount of insulin required for the maintenance of an appropriate blood sugar.

Diabetes and Exercise

Exercise is an essential part of your dog?s life. It is associated with an overall decrease in blood glucose (sugar) levels, as the body requires energy derived from sugar molecules for exercising. Exercise is also great for your dog?s cardiovascular system, strengthening the heart and lungs. Even moderate amounts of exercise can make a difference.

Even small changes in activity made gradually over time can serve to make vast changes in your pet?s health. Every step in the right direction counts. Typically, diabetes is not a life threatening condition for a pet, as it can be controlled and regulated through a balanced diet, physical activity, and insulin if your pet is insulin dependent.

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Yes. Pets can get both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is often called juvenile onset diabetes or insulin dependent diabetes. These pet?s bodies do not produce any insulin, and pets will require a regular insulin injection. Type 2 diabetes, also called adult onset or non-insulin dependent, is not as common as type 1. In these pets, the insulin responds too slowly to increasing blood glucose levels, and then overreacts by producing way too much insulin. The body often doesn?t react to the insulin as it should.

Can My Pet Live With Type 2 Diabetes?

Your pet will be able to manage just fine with some help from you. While you may not need to perform daily insulin injections on your pet, you will need to closely monitor your pet. Your pet may need supplemental insulin or periodic injections to keep it healthy. So long as you keep the diabetes under control, there?s no reason to expect serious long term health problems. However, the key to living with diabetes is regular maintenance of the disease; managing the disease is the only way to prevent further health complications. Your vet will recommend a special diet, monitoring food intake for weight control, and medication.

Signs of Diabetes

You may not know right away if your pet has diabetes. You might notice them acting strangely, seeming tired more than usual or drinking and eating more, but still losing weight. These are all signs of diabetes, and also common warning signs of a pet?s illness. Since your pet cannot tell you specifically what is wrong, you need to always be aware of their behavior, and be on the lookout for odd or abnormal activities.

Common signs of diabetes include:

• Increased thirst
• Increased urination
• Increased hunger
• Weight loss or gain
• Fatigue
• Decreased mobility
• Cataracts
• Depression or anxiety
• Vomiting or diarrhea

Complications of Diabetes

Diabetes can have long term health complications. However, vets cannot stress enough that the easiest way to treat these health complications is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. Be aware of your pet?s behavior, and be sure to call your vet with any concerns. Nerve damage from diabetes may cause muscle deterioration and weakness, so if you notice your pet is unable to run, jump or play as they used to, call the vet.

Another common sign of diabetes is cataracts, which appear as cloudy areas in the eye. This can cause blindness if not treated properly. Other complications of diabetes include kidney and liver disease, gingivitis, gastrointestinal problems, and urinary tract infections.
With appropriate care, you can expect your diabetic pet will live a full, happy life.

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http://www.health.ri.gov/disease/diabetes/pets.php

There are a number of symptoms of pet diabetes, but a few are much more common and easy to notice. As with any pet illness, you?ll need to pay attention to your pet?s behavior and note if it?s acting strangely. Abnormal pet behavior is usually a sign of some sort of problem.

Symptoms of Pet Diabetes

Excessive Hunger

Also called polyphagia, excessive hunger is a well known trigger of diabetes. You may notice your pet eating more than usual, and somehow looking as though it?s losing weight. Other pets may eat less than normal, usually simply because they don?t feel well.

Excessive Thirst

Called polydipsia, you may notice your pet drinking much more water than normal. Your diabetic pet loses more water because of the diabetes, and therefore needs to drink more than it normally would.

Excessive Urination

Polyuria is another common sign of diabetes. Your pet?s body cannot absorb the all glucose in its body so it flushes it out with water. This leads your pet to drink more water and urinate more often.

Other Symptoms of Pet Diabetes

There are many other symptoms of diabetes to look for in your pet. You may notice your pet is moving more slowly than usual. This could be due to fatigue or lethargy, or to damaged nerves or weakened muscles. Your pet may become less resistant to illness and may seem depressed. Vomiting is common, as are liver and kidney problems and cataracts.

A Trip to the Vet

If you notice any of the above symptoms, you?ll want to take your pet to the veterinarian immediately. Any abnormal behavior or change in habits should be monitored closely in your pet, as behavioral changes are usually the first signs of an illness or disease. Check your pet regularly. Look for bald patches, changes in fur texture or appearance, behavioral changes such as inappropriate urination or anxiety, an increase or decrease in eating, a lack of enthusiasm or a decrease in physical activity.

Managing Pet Diabetes

You can manage your pet?s diabetes. Your vet will show you everything you?ll need to know to properly monitor and manage the disease. You will need to watch more pet more attentively than usual so you don?t miss early warning signs of low blood sugar. Just as with humans, your pet may need regular injections of insulin, which your vet will show you how to administer. You?ll have to monitor your pet?s diet closely, and choose a food that caters to diabetic pets. However, with proper, attentive care, there?s no reason your pet won?t live a normal, healthy life. http://www.petdiabetes.org/faq.htm http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=1&cat=1328&articleid=199 http://www.canismajor.com/dog/diabetes.html#Symp

You’ve just come back from the veterinarian’s office; your dog has diabetes. A million thoughts are running through your mind — do I have to give me dog shots? Is this my fault? Will my dog live a normal life? Will I have to put my dog to sleep?

Fortunately, diabetes in pets can be controlled just as it can for humans. Managing your dog’s diabetes is similar in practice to the way we manage it — by monitoring blood sugar levels, injecting insulin and maintaining a healthy diet and exercise. With some education, a few precautions and some support, you can manage your dog’s diabetes and give it a happy, healthy life.

What Is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition where the pancreas does not produce enough insulin. The body needs insulin to move glucose, or sugars, into cells and provide energy. In diabetics, the glucose doesn’t do this, but instead builds up in the bloodstream. This is what you test for either in the urine or blood.

Type I diabetes, or juvenile onset diabetes, occurs in puppies younger than one year and is a result of an abnormal pancreas which does not produce enough insulin. Type II diabetes, or adult onset diabetes, occurs after one year, where the pancreas used to produce insulin, but now does not produce enough. So, regardless of the age, diabetes is a result of the pancreas producing abnormal amounts of insulin.

How Do I Care For My Diabetic Dog?

Your veterinarian will explain what your dogs’ special needs are and will show you how to give the injection and monitor blood and urine glucose levels. You will need to test your dog’s urine with a urine test strip (from your veterinarian or a pet store). The test strip will tell you how much insulin your dog needs.

Tips On Insulin Injections

Here are some common tips for injecting your dog with insulin.

• Remember, if you are calm your dog will be calm. Maintain a confident manner when approaching your dog with the syringe.
• Show your dog a treat before the injection and then give it the treat immediately following.
• If you are nervous, practice the injection on a piece of fruit. Your vet will also show you how to administer a shot.
• Keep a journal of dog’s daily insulin levels. This will help you and your vet better monitor its needs.
• Be sure to feed your dog at regular intervals and administer insulin shots about the same time every day. This will keep your dog comfortable and calm as it will know when to expect food and the insulin. Have your vet recommend a dog food.
• Regular exercise for your dog will help manage its insulin levels.
• When on walks, bring some honey or Karo syrup in case your dog’s sugar levels are low.
• Put a tag on your dog along with your name and address, which says it is diabetic. In case the dog gets lost, those who find it will know its medical needs.

Your Dog Can Live A Healthy Life With Diabetes

Remember, diabetes is not the end of the world. Your diabetic dog can live a full and happy life with the proper management. Diabetes will require attentive management on your part, but will not interfere with your dog?s quality of life.

Diabetes: An Overview

Currently there are two main types of diabetes mellitus diagnosed in pets. The two types of diabetes in pets are similar to humans, and include types 1 and 2.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is associated with the pancreas not being able to produce or secrete any insulin. Type 1 diabetes is dependent upon insulin injections for regulation of adequate blood sugar levels.

Type 2 diabetes is the condition associated with the pancreas not producing and secreting adequate amounts of insulin, or the body?s inability to properly use the insulin that is available. Type 2 diabetes is not insulin dependent, but can develop into type 1 diabetes over time if not treated.

Insulin: An Overview

Insulin is a hormone required by the body for the proper intake of glucose (sugar) into the cells where it can be utilized as energy. When insulin is not available, the cells will find other sources of stored energy, releasing toxins known as ketones into the bloodstream.

There are currently several types of insulin available derived from a variety of animals. Insulin is available in these types based on the speed of reaction including, long, intermediate, short and rapid. Insulin must be injected.

Diabetes: Overview of Symptoms

Diabetes is usually diagnosed from signs and symptoms noticed by attentive owners. These signs and symptoms typically include excessive hunger or loss of appetite, excessive thirst, excessive urination, unexplained weight loss, and change in breath smell. If the condition of diabetes is left untreated, further complications and symptoms can occur including weakness, seizures, sleepiness, restlessness, and unconsciousness or coma.

Diet

Diet plays a critical role in the both the regulation of the condition diabetes, in addition to its development. There is a strong correlation between overweight or obese pets and the development of diabetes.

Dietary intake is responsible for the digestion and absorption of sugars into the bloodstream. By limiting and regulating sugar intake to adequate amounts over time, the use of insulin may decrease over time. In the case of diabetes type 2, if your pet is overweight or obese, weight loss may eliminate the condition altogether.

Lifestyle: Exercise

Exercise also plays a critical role in not only the regulation of the diabetic condition, but also in the development. Again, obese or overweight animals are far more likely to develop diabetes than healthy weight pets.

Exercise is cause for sugar in the bloodstream to be utilized as energy by the cells, decreasing overall blood sugar levels naturally. Exercise is also good for strengthening of the cardiovascular system, promoting heart health.

Diabetes Management

Diabetes is not typically cause for the death of a pet, as it is manageable. Through the use of natural methods, insulin, diet, and exercise, it is possible to create an environment that maintains and regulates adequate amounts of blood sugar.

However, left untreated, diabetes is associated with several life threatening conditions, than can lead to coma and death. You must take responsibility for the health of your pet, just as you take care of your own.

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