Litchfield Veterinary Hospital
Small Animal Medicine and Surgery
289 Torrington Road
Litchfield, CT 06759
860-567-1622 ph

Diabetes in Dogs

What is canine diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus, the clinical name for “sugar diabetes,” is a condition that affects the concentration of glucose, or sugar, in your dog’s blood. Diabetes results when the dog’s body makes too little insulin or doesn’t process insulin properly.

Insulin affects how your dog’s body uses food. When your dog eats, food is broken down into very small components its body can use. One component, carbohydrate, is converted into several types of simple sugars, including glucose. Glucose is absorbed from the intestines into the blood, where it travels to cells throughout the body. Inside cells, insulin helps turn glucose into fuel. If there’s too little insulin available, glucose can’t enter cells and can build up to a high concentration in the bloodstream. As a result, a diabetic dog may want to eat constantly, but will appear malnourished because its cells can’t absorb glucose.

 How common is it?
Canine diabetes is quite common—anywhere between 1 in 100 to 1 in 500 dogs develops diabetes,1 and those numbers are expected to increase.

Any dog could develop diabetes, but certain breeds are more likely to develop the condition. These breeds appear to be at greater risk for developing canine diabetes:

  • Cocker Spaniels
  • Dachshunds
  • Doberman Pinschers
  • German Shepherds
  • Golden Retrievers
  • Labrador Retrievers
  • Pomeranians
  • Terriers
  • Toy Poodles

Diabetes typically occurs when dogs are between 4 to 14 years old. Unspayed (intact) female dogs are twice as likely as male dogs to suffer from diabetes.

Reference:
1. Panciera DL, Thomas CB, Eicker SW, Atkins CE. Epizootiologic patterns of diabetes mellitus in cats: 333 cases (1980–1986). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1990;197(11):1504–1508
  Who is at risk?
Anywhere between 1 in 100 to 1 in 500 dogs develops diabetes,1 and those numbers are expected to increase. While any dog can develop diabetes, it frequently affects middle-aged to older dogs, especially unspayed female dogs.

The primary cause of canine diabetes is largely unknown, but experts suggest that genetics may play a role.

If you feel your dog is at risk for developing diabetes, consider having your pet tested during a regular veterinary examination at least once a year.

Reference:
1. Panciera DL, Thomas CB, Eicker SW, Atkins CE. Epizootiologic patterns of diabetes mellitus in cats: 333 cases (1980–1986). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1990;197(11):1504–1508.

Diagnosis and detection

Diabetes is one of many conditions that can affect your dog and cause visible changes in behavior and other signs. That’s why it is important that your dog be thoroughly examined by a veterinarian at least once a year or more frequently, if your veterinarian advises.

Knowing the signs of diabetes is the first step in protecting your dog’s health. If any of these statements describes your pet, speak with your veterinarian about the possibility of diabetes:

  • Drinks more water than usual (polydipsia)
  • Urinates more frequently, produces more urine per day, or has “accidents” in the house (polyuria)
  • Always acts hungry (polyphagia), but maintains or loses weight
  • Has cloudy eyes

When evaluating your dog for diabetes, your veterinarian may ask about these signs and will check your dog’s general health to rule out the possibility of other conditions or infections. In addition, your veterinarian will test your dog’s urine for the presence of glucose and ketones and, if indicated, will then measure your dog’s blood glucose concentration. A diagnosis of diabetes only becomes definite when glucose is found in the urine and at a persistently high concentration in the blood.

Managing diabetes

Your dog has been diagnosed with diabetes, so now it’s time to learn how to care for your diabetic pet. The goal in managing diabetes is to keep glucose concentrations regulated, avoiding spikes and drops, and to reduce or eliminate the signs of diabetes, such as excessive thirst and urination. Although diabetes can’t be cured, the condition can be successfully managed with daily insulin injections and changes in diet and lifestyle. And successful diabetes management means your dog can lead a happy, healthy, active life.

  Insulin

Controlling canine diabetes often requires insulin injections every day to restore your diabetic dog’s insulin level and manage blood glucose concentrations. Each diabetic dog’s requirements are different, so you will need to work with your veterinarian to find the correct dose and treatment regimen for your pet. It may even be necessary for your dog to stay at the veterinary clinic for a few days so your veterinarian can closely monitor your dog’s response to treatment. Your veterinarian may suggest an insulin product specifically for diabetic dogs or a human insulin product. Your veterinarian knows your dog well and will work with you to determine which product best meets the needs of you and your pet.

If your dog does need daily insulin injections, you’ll need to learn how to administer them. At first you may be nervous or even afraid of giving your dog an injection. You’re not alone! Many pet owners are anxious about giving injections, but it’s easier than you think and you’ll quickly learn how to handle daily injections with little stress for your pet or for you.

Monitoring

Monitoring your dog’s blood glucose concentration is an important part of diabetes management. Because each diabetic pet is different, your veterinarian will need to help you determine which monitoring device—such as urine glucose (and ketone) test strips or blood glucose meters—will work best for you and your dog.
 

Diet

Diet plays a vital role in helping to keep your dog’s diabetes regulated. Ideally, your dog should be fed exactly the same diet every day and at the same time(s) of day.

A diabetic dog’s diet usually includes a source of good-quality protein, in addition to complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber to help slow absorption of glucose from the digestive system. It also usually has a low fat content.

Overall, a palatable and nutritious diet that minimizes fluctuations in blood glucose and helps your dog maintain a healthy weight is important for managing diabetes. Your veterinarian can recommend a diet that’s best suited to the needs of your dog.

Exercise

Exercise helps keep pets active, healthy, and happy. But for diabetic dogs, exercise needs to be regulated because activity affects your dog’s blood glucose concentrations. It’s best to create a consistent exercise routine for your diabetic dog to avoid sudden changes in energy (glucose) requirements.

If you’re concerned about the amount of exercise your diabetic dog needs, ask your veterinarian.
 

Checkups

Regular veterinary checkups help identify changes in your pet’s condition.

Diabetes can affect a dog differently over time, even after a long period of stability. While you may feel confident in your ability to care for your diabetic dog, visiting your veterinarian regularly will help you to successfully manage the condition over time. With a chronic condition like diabetes, it is important to stay in close touch with your veterinarian and the clinic staff. You can rely on them to answer all of your questions and help you as you learn to manage your dog’s diabetes successfully.


Referance: Intervet Schering-Plough website