Canine Diabetes can be a Silent Killer
All Dog Owners Should Know the Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs
May 27, 2009
Canine diabetes is something that most pet owners never think about. However, anybody who lives with a canine should should be familiar with the symptoms of diabetes in dogs. This disease, if left untreated, will cause kidney damage, blindness, recurring infections, and even death.
What Causes a Diabetic Dog?
It all comes down to a lack of insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, and it's essential to regulate the amount of glucose, or sugar, in the blood. The question is, where does all this sugar come from?
Food is made up of protein, fats, and carbohydrates. These are all broken down into glucose, a form of sugar, during the process of digestion. Glucose is what fuels the body, and it's carried to all parts of the body via the bloodstream. Insulin regulates the amount of glucose present in the blood.
Sometimes the pancreas stops producing insulin, which causes type 1 diabetes. In other cases, the pancreas is producing insulin, but for some reason, the body is unable to use it. This causes type 2 diabetes, which is the kind most commonly seen in dogs. In either case, the result is the same: glucose levels in the blood become too high, which causes damage to nearly every organ system in the body.
Symptoms of a Diabetic Canine
All dog owners should know the symptoms of diabetes in dogs:
- Extreme thirst. This is the body's attempt to rid itself of excess glucose.
- Frequent urination. The dog may even have accidents in the house because he's unable to hold it long enough to get outside.
- Shivering or shakiness can be a symptom of low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, which is an emergency. Wrap the pet in a blanket to keep him warm, and take him to the vet right away.
- Unexplained weight loss, even though the dog is eating ravenously.
- Weakness and lethargy. The pet is tired all the time, and seems to have lost interest in life.
- Lowered resistance to infections. Recurring urinary tract infections are common in diabetic dogs because the high sugar content in the urine encourages bacterial growth.
- Breath smells sweet or fruity. If the dog's breath smells like nail polish remover, this is a symptom of ketoacidosis, which requires immediate veterinary treatment.
Sometimes canine diabetes progresses so slowly that the symptoms are missed by the owner. In this case, a dog can become very ill, very suddenly, which is why this disease is sometimes called a "silent killer."
Can Diabetes in Canines be Treated?
The answer is yes, although it does take a certain level of commitment from the owner. It will be necessary to feed the dog twice a day to avoid dips and spikes in blood sugar levels. The owner will also have to learn how to monitor the pet's blood glucose levels, and also how to give insulin shots twice a day. Many people are hesitant to do these things at first, but these skills are easy to learn, and become routine for both pet and owner very quickly.
Canine diabetes is a serious disease. Every dog owner should be aware of the symptoms listed above, in order to prevent serious complications. With the proper care, dogs with diabetes can go on to live long and happy lives.
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