If you have a pet dog and ask how do you know if your dog has diabetes, then you have to answer that question with a big, enthusiastic YES! As a dog owner, you know your dog as if he were a member of your family. He is part of your family and if he does anything out of the ordinary, even if you think he is sweet and loving, you need to take him to the vet for a checkup. The reason for this is that diabetes in dogs can be deadly. Just as humans have diabetes, so do dogs.
Just like humans, diabetic dogs can suffer from diabetes. However, modern medical technology is making the lives of many diabetic dogs much better than ever. In diabetes, the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, which in turn builds up in the bloodstream. As a result, the glucose levels rise causing all kinds of symptoms, from excessive thirst to blindness and even heart problems. Here are some symptoms you should look for in your dog if he or she has diabetes.
Excessive thirst This is one of the earliest symptoms of canine diabetes mellitus and can be expected around the first year of age. As a dog ages, his thirst tends to become more insatiable as his blood sugar level falls. For diabetic dogs, excessive thirst can be expected around the third week of life and can continue on into adulthood. It is quite common for a male dog to go into ketoacidosis, where his urine contains an excessive amount of ketones, at about the age of eight weeks.
Insulin deficiency When a dog has diabetes, his pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin to help process blood glucose. This is because his pancreas has not developed properly. Diabetes insipidus is a blood sugar condition wherein his pancreas does not secrete adequate insulin. This means that he can’t process insulin, which then causes a drop in glucose in the bloodstream. A dog with insulin deficiency is at a much higher risk of developing pancreatitis, a potentially fatal disease. Pancreatitis is characterized by inflammation of the pancreatic duct and is therefore a serious condition.
Excessive weight A dog that lacks insulin usually becomes obese. Obesity in dogs is associated with insulin resistance, which means that the dog will have a difficult time absorbing nutrients in his diet and may suffer serious nutritional deficiencies. To curb the weight, a dog needs regular exercise, but his regular exercise is compromised due to his inability to respond to diet modification. In addition, regular diet injections will not help.
Chronic renal failure Another kidney disease that can indicate diabetes is chronic renal failure. The kidneys are the bodies’ filtration system. If they fail to filter toxins out of the blood, glucose can build up in the body and cause diabetes. This disease is usually indicated through symptoms like vomiting, extreme thirst and urination, or blood in the urine. Tests for this disease will reveal high levels of glucose in the urine.
Dogs with pancreatitis also have a higher risk of diabetes. There are two forms of pancreatitis: acute and chronic. Acute pancreatitis is a sudden, chronic inflammation of the pancreatic duct. Chronic pancreatitis is a chronic inflammatory response to an infection in the pancreatic duct. Both types have been linked to diabetes, and they both require medical treatment.
Excessive weight When a dog’s pancreas is over-producing insulin, it will cause him to gain excessive weight. This excess weight can cause diabetes by interfering with the blood sugar levels. Weight loss is one of the symptoms of diabetes. To avoid this condition, your vet will recommend an appropriate diet for your pet. Some dogs are given diabetes medications to suppress their appetites, while others are fed a special diet that helps lower their blood sugars. Depending on how severe the diabetes is, this could be a lifesaver.