Bad news: diabetes is very common in humans.
Worse news? It’s becoming common in our pets too. It can be life-threatening to your dog untreated.
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You must know the signs to make sure he gets help.
What causes diabetes in dogs?
Sadly, there are many causes of diabetes in dogs.
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Some examples are hereditary or triggered by an autoimmune disease.
Sometimes it’s caused by too much sugar in the body. We’ll look at these in detail.
What kind of diabetes can my dog get?
There are three kinds. These are:
• Insipidus
• Gestational
• Mellitus (you might have heard of this one; it’s called Type 1 or Type 2)
It’s very rare for dogs to have Insipidus and Mellitus diabetes together.
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Insipidus diabetes is caused by a lack of the hormone vasopressin. It controls water absorption in the kidneys.
Symptoms of this type are urination, as the kidneys can’t retain water.
Gestational diabetes is hormonal too, but it usually only affects pregnant females.
After the pregnancy is over, diabetes will likely disappear. But rarely, it develops into Type 1 or Type 2.
Mellitus diabetes is serious. This is due to a deficiency in insulin; the sugar and glucose can’t be broken down.
This leads to too much sugar in the bloodstream.
If untreated, the or-gans will be irreversibly damaged, potentially leading to coma or death.
So there are two types of Mellitus diabetes?
Yep! As if more than one wasn’t bad enough.
Canine Mellitus Type 1 is a predisposed genetic condition. It’s this kind that starts at an early age in dogs.
The beta cells in the pancreas are slowly destroyed because of a lack of insulin.
Dogs that suffer from this kind of diabetes will need insulin shots for the rest of their lives.
Type 1 can also potentially lead to ketoacidosis.
Canine Mellitus Type 2 is associated with senior dogs, usually from 6 years old.
Unfortunately, this is due to being overweight or inactive. This kind of diabetes is gradual.
The insulin flow is impaired, and there is resistance.
If your dog’s diet isn’t corrected, you’ll need to give him insulin.
How serious is it if my dog’s diabetes is untreated?
Extremely serious. Don’t think it’s a small problem. Diabetes can kill your dog.
Your dog’s organs will deteriorate. This can result in:
• Heart problems
• Circulatory complications
• Enlarged liver
• Susceptible to infections
• Neurological problems
• Sometimes death
All these issues are extremely serious, costly, and above all, painful for your dog.
What kind of breeds suffer from diabetes?
Unfortunately, all breeds can get diabetes. But puppies, female and obese dogs are more likely to get it.
The breeds that are predisposed to it are:
• German Shepherds
• Springer Spaniels
• Cairn Terriers
• Miniature Schnauzers
• Keeshonds
• Poodles
But good news: statistics have shown certain breeds are less likely to get it.
These are Boxers, Collies, and Spaniels (besides the Springer).
But even if you have one of these breeds, you should still check them for signs. ANY dog can suffer from diabetes.
So what are the symptoms of diabetes?
You need to be aware of many symptoms, such as:
• Your dog losing weight while he has a good appetite, due to mal-nourishment.
• Blindness.
• Excessive water intake.
• Cataracts in eyes.
• Increased urination.
• Dehydration.
• Lethargy and weakness.
• Loss of appetite.
• Rapid breathing.
• Vomiting.
What do I do if I think my dog has diabetes?
Take your dog to the vet. They will run some tests.
If your dog has elevated amounts of sugar in his blood — otherwise known as hyperglycemia — he has diabetes.
High amounts of glucose in his urine is called glucosuria.
Normal sugar levels are between 80 and 120 counts. A dog with diabetes has over 600 counts.
What’s the treatment?
Natural remedies are useless when it comes to diabetes. Please don’t use them as a substitute for other treatments.
Follow your vet’s advice. Every dog is different, so you will need to keep your vet appointments up to date.
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Your dog can be treated with insulin injections. They’ll need to have them twice a day.
But the good news is, you can give it to them your-self in your own home.
Sometimes, insulin dosage needs changing. As long as you keep going to the vet, this won’t be a problem.
Is there any other way I can help my dog?
With diabetes, a good diet is extremely important.
Check out Dog Food Ingredients Debunked, and is cheap dog food the perfect formula?
These posts explain commercial dog food and what to look out for. The last post will help you find the best kind of food for your pet.
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You can make your own dog food. Some dogs enjoy raw food too.
But if you don’t want to use either of these, look at Orijen, Applaws, or Paw Naturaw Organic.
But any five-star brands are an excellent choice for your dog.
Check on the packaging or with the manufacturer on how much you should feed your dog.
This is especially important if your dog is under or over their recommended weight.
Diabetes is a serious problem that can affect any dog.
Look out for these symptoms and take to the vet, even as a precautionary measure.
Any questions? Leave a comment below.
