Diabetes in Dogs: What You Need to Know About It

By May 4, 2022 Dog Diet, Dog Diseases, Dog Health, Immune Support, Supplements for Dogs 0 Comments

Diabetes in Dogs: What You Need to Know About It

Diabetes in dogs is a condition that mainly affects older pets. It may induce unpleasant symptoms in animals, just as it does in people. However, with proper treatment, this illness does not have to damage their quality of life.

Today we will go over all you need to know about the condition as a dog owner and examine the various forms of diabetes, risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, prevention and diabetic management techniques.

This way, if your dog develops diabetes, you’ll have all of the knowledge you need to care for his or her health. Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

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What Is Diabetes Mellitus in Dogs?

Diabetes mellitus is a common condition in which the body does not create enough insulin or does not react correctly to it. Diabetes is an endocrine system disorder that is in charge of manufacturing hormones that govern the body’s metabolism, among other things.

Insulin is in charge of converting food into energy. When a dog consumes a meal, the nutrients enter its circulation in the form of glucose, often known as blood sugar. Glucose is used as fuel by all cells in the body.

Insulin binds to cell receptors, enabling glucose to exit the circulation and enter cells where it may be utilized as energy or stored. When there is an insulin deficiency, cells cannot get enough glucose and become energy-starved. At the same time, excessive blood glucose levels in the circulation may harm neurons and blood vessels.

Types of Diabetes in Dogs

Type I diabetes is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, and it is pretty similar to Type I diabetes in people. This is the most prevalent form that may be found in dogs.

Insulin-secreting cells in the pancreas are destroyed in Type I diabetes, resulting in an utter absence of insulin. To live properly, these dogs need insulin supplementation for the rest of their lives.

Noninsulin-dependent diabetes, often known as type II diabetes, is comparable to Type II diabetes developed in people. Obesity is often associated with this kind of diabetes.

The pancreas may generate less insulin in Type II diabetes, and the body’s cells may react poorly to the produced insulin. As a result, less glucose enters the cells (and higher glucose in the blood).

Type III diabetes is caused by hormones and is usually associated with pregnancy. This kind of diabetes is uncommon in dogs, although it may develop and be devastating.

Dogs typically recover, even though Type III might reoccur with a subsequent pregnancy. Because of this risk, veterinarians often advise spaying a dog as soon as it is medically safe.

Regardless of type, reduced glucose in the body’s cells drives the liver to create more glucose, worsening the sugar in the circulation. The kidneys will filter and absorb the additional glucose in the circulation. On the other hand, dogs will urinate and drink excessively when the surplus glucose overflows into the urine.

Other problems associated with high sugar include:

  • Infection of the bladder;
  • Muscle mass loss;
  • Damage to the liver.

Diabetes affects around 1 in every 300 dogs throughout their lives. Females, middle-aged to senior dogs, and obese dogs are at a greater risk.

Alaskan Malamute, Australian Terrier, Bichon Frisé, Cairn Terrier, Keeshond, Labrador Retriever, Miniature Schnauzer, Miniature Wirehair Dachshund, Norwegian Elk Hound, Poodle, Pug, Samoyed, Spitz, Tibetan Terrier, and Yorkshire Terrier are diabetes-prone breeds.

Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs

Diabetes symptoms include excessive thirst (polydipsia), excessive urination (polyuria), extreme hunger (polyphagia), weight loss, lethargy, dehydration, and cataracts.

Other frequent diseases and disorders that cause complications in diabetic dogs include urinary tract infections, Cushing’s disease, hypothyroidism, and pancreatitis. Diabetic dogs may exhibit different symptoms as a result of underlying illnesses.

Diabetes has long-term consequences that, if not controlled or managed, may be deadly. The following are some frequent secondary and long-term effects:

  • Seizures may occur if blood sugar levels go too low. Glucose regulation is critical in the treatment of diabetes. However, over-medication may result in low blood sugar and seizures. They may be lethal if left untreated. You must take your dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
  • Diabetes may cause hepatopathy, often known as liver disease. Fat metabolism malfunctions, resulting in excessively high amounts of fatty acids in the liver. This causes fat to accumulate inside liver cells, causing damage and edema.
  • Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is caused by persistent cell deprivation. Protein and fat cells are used as alternative fuel sources by the body. The body first relies on a new energy source known as ketones. However, ketone build-up creates metabolic acidosis, essentially acidifying the blood. These dogs are usually unwell and require specialized nursing care and treatment, commonly provided at a 24-hour specialty hospital.
  • Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar Syndrome (HHS) is a dangerous diabetic complication characterized by abnormally high blood glucose and osmolality levels. These dogs are also extraordinarily unwell and require specialized service dogs for diabetics, commonly provided at a 24-hour hospital.
  • Diabetic neuropathy is rare, although it may arise when the nerve system is damaged by persistent diabetes. These animals often walk with an irregular, disorganized stride and have partial paralysis of the rear legs.
  • Diabetic cataracts develop due to excessive blood glucose inside the eye’s lens. Glucose is required to feed and supply energy to the eye cells, but it soon gets trapped inside the lens, resulting in cataract formation.

Causes of Diabetes in Dogs

Diabetes mellitus in dogs may be caused by several factors. Type I diabetes is most likely caused by the immune system erroneously targeting insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, resulting in complete or partial insulin secretion loss.

Diabetes also has additional risks and complicating variables such as genetics, hormones, and other illnesses.

Diabetes is likely caused by genetics in many instances, so certain breeds are prone to the ailment.

Hormone imbalances (progesterone, growth hormone, and cortisol) may cause glucose intolerance. The most prevalent kind of hormone-related diabetes is gestational diabetes.

Cushing’s disease is another form of endocrine illness that raises cortisol levels in the body, making diabetic dogs more difficult to control. In newly diagnosed or problematic diabetic patients, veterinarians often screen for Cushing’s disease.

Chronic pancreatitis (pancreatic inflammation) may kill insulin-producing beta cells, resulting in diabetes. Obesity and high-fat diets may lead to pancreatitis. That is why they are mentioned as risk factors.

How Veterinarians Diagnose Diabetes in Dogs

Physical exam findings, including a history of increased thirst, increased urination, and weight loss, may lead veterinarians to suspect Diabetes mellitus.

To formally diagnose diabetes, vets must discover persistently excessive blood and urine glucose levels. In addition, they may prescribe the following tests:

  • Blood chemistry and complete blood count (CBC): Vets search for high glucose levels in the blood and often detect raised liver, cholesterol, and kidney readings, as well as changed electrolytes.
  • Urinalysis: This test detects excessive glucose levels in the urine, a typical indication of diabetes. It may also suggest the presence of a urinary tract infection (a widespread occurrence in diabetic dogs). Urinary tract infections, if left untreated, will make diabetes difficult to manage. A urinalysis will also offer information on ketones, which will help rule out the more severe illness of diabetic ketoacidosis.
  • Fructosamine: Because stress temporarily raises blood glucose levels, some dogs may never get an appropriate glucose measurement in a hospital’s high-stress environment. A fructosamine test may be used to confirm a diabetes diagnosis and as a monitoring tool. Fructosamine tests offer how effectively insulin was controlled over the past two or three weeks, while blood glucose readings provide a snapshot of information.

Additional tests may be necessary to rule out concurrent disease processes, such as those listed below:

  • Radiography is used to detect co-morbidities such as kidney or bladder stones, cystitis, and pancreatitis.
  • Thyroid tests are performed to rule out any prevalent endocrine abnormalities.
  • Cushing’s syndrome testing;
  • Ultrasonography of the abdomen to search for co-morbidities such as pancreatitis and hepatopathy;
  • Blood tests for pancreatitis.

Treatment of Diabetes in Dogs

Diabetes in dogs treatment consists mainly of insulin and dietary adjustments in simple cases (those without diabetic ketoacidosis, for example). The dog diabetes cost is not high, but can be live-saving.

Insulin for Diabetic Dogs

Diabetes is treated explicitly with insulin for dogs. Insulin transports glucose from the circulation into cells, where it is utilized or stored. All insulin is absorbed subcutaneously (under the skin), requiring an injection.

The majority of dogs need insulin shots twice daily. While administering injections may seem intimidating, the quantity of insulin used usually is little, and the needles are tiny. Insulin injections are well tolerated by the majority of dogs.

Scar tissue may occur if the infusion is distributed at the same site every day. If this happens, the insulin will not be effectively absorbed.

Quantities of Insulin for Dogs

Insulin is sold in two strengths: U-100 and U-40. This refers to the number of insulin units contained in one milliliter. U-100 insulin has a higher concentration of 100 units per mL. U-40 insulin contains 40 units per milliliter.

The insulin syringes must match the kind of insulin. If a U-100 needle is used with U-40 insulin, the dog will not get the proper quantity of insulin, which might lead to catastrophic consequences.

Diets for Diabetic Dogs

Diet therapy is an essential component of diabetes treatment. These diets often have high fiber content and good fat, protein, and carbohydrate ratios to help keep blood sugar levels stable.

It is important to remember that pet owners who have underweight pets or suffer other symptoms associated with a disease should first consult their veterinarian. For example, you can also add specific treats for diabetic dogs to make them happier after physical activity.

Potential Treatments for Diabetes in Dogs

Diabetes gene therapy is gaining traction as a viable treatment. According to research, gene therapy may minimize the quantity of insulin needed. While this is not a cure, it may assist dogs with diabetes in the future.

Recovery of Diabetes in Dogs

Diabetes in puppies needs lifetime monitoring and treatment, and pet owners must collaborate with their veterinarian providers to achieve success.

To rule out a low blood sugar incident, vets may examine blood sugar levels 4 to 6 hours after the initial insulin dosage. They may do further testing, usually done at a veterinary facility.

Following that, your dog will be assessed every 7 to 14 days. Unless a low blood sugar crisis is expected, insulin dosages should not be altered more often than every 7 days.

Adjusting insulin dosages should be done only under the direct supervision of your veterinarian. Diabetic dogs should receive a physical assessment, including a weight check, at least every three months after their diabetes is under control. Complete blood work and diabetes testing should be done at least once every six months.

There are four primary methods for assessing a dog’s reaction to insulin treatment:

  • The most accurate technique to check your dog’s blood sugar is to use a blood glucose curve. Your dog will spend the whole day at the veterinary facility, with blood taken every 1 to 2 hours. These numbers are displayed on a chart, which usually takes the form of a curve. Your veterinarian will assess whether a dose modification is required based on the shape of the curve and the highest and lowest blood glucose levels.
  • The Freestyle Libre system includes the painless insertion of a tiny sensor on your dog’s skin to assess blood glucose levels. Glucose may be monitored often — without collecting blood — using a device reader or smartphone app, which is particularly beneficial for stressed or disobedient pets.
  • Fructosamine may indicate how glucose has been controlled for two to three weeks. This is not ideal, but it might be helpful if other treatments are unavailable owing to budgetary constraints or the dog’s behavioral style.
  • Urine glucose and ketone measurements are a simple and low-cost method of monitoring pets at home. This test comes in the form of a tiny strip inserted into the urine stream. A negative test might suggest a low blood sugar episode, which would need a visit to the veterinarian. The pee test strip also detects ketones, which should always be negative. High, persistent ketones in the urine may suggest that the dog is entering DKA and is uncontrolled.

Management of Diabetes in Dogs

Management aims to reduce indications and symptoms, maintain a healthy blood glucose level, and enhance a dog’s quality of life.

Diabetes treatment objectives in dogs vary from those in people. Veterinarians do not exert as much control over animals’ glucose levels as people do. This implies that if a pet parent is experienced with diabetes management in people, target blood glucose values for dogs may be substantially higher than predicted.

Diabetic dogs’ prognosis is determined by several variables:

  • Uncomplicated diabetics are often easy to manage and need just a few visits to the veterinarian each year for monitoring.
  • Complicated diabetes situations may be challenging and irritating for pet owners and veterinarians. Diabetes is a costly and emotionally taxing illness to manage, and diabetic pets are often destroyed. As a result, pet owners must establish objectives and expectations with their veterinarian during a dog’s diagnosis and follow up during treatment.

Prevention of Diabetes in Dogs

While diabetes in dogs is not strictly preventive, there are several things pet owners can do. Every dog should see their veterinarian once a year for a general health check-up and blood tests.

Generally, senior dogs over six should be seen by a veterinarian every six months. This exam and blood testing may reveal abnormalities before they manifest as clinical symptoms.

As a result, dogs may get therapy or make lifestyle modifications before becoming ill, resulting in a higher quality of life and more extended longevity.

In addition to regular veterinarian visits, pet owners may give high-quality homemade food for diabetic dogs and frequent exercise to keep their pets slim and energetic.

The Takeaway

Diabetes is an illness that must be treated and controlled, but it is not the end of the road for your dog. Many dogs, like people, enjoy every day, long lives despite having diabetes.

However, to be the most incredible dog owner possible, you’ll want to know how to detect if your dog has diabetes, what you can do to avoid the condition, and what treatment options are available if your dog is ever diagnosed.

Finally, we all want what is best for our pets, including coping with the unpleasant prospect of sickness. We should be familiar with all these symptoms if we’re living longer with our four-legged friend.

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Image source: Wikimedia / Ray Larabie.

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