Diabetes in dogs: causes, symptoms and treatment
Diabetes is quite common in dogs. This severe metabolic disease is characterised by a sharp rise in blood sugar levels, which has earned it the popular name diabetes.
How diabetes develops in dogs and how the metabolic disorder manifests itself is explained below. We will also explain what treatment options are available and what diabetes can mean for your dog's life expectancy.
Diabetes in dogs: what is diabetes?
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that leads to a disruption in the regulation of glucose levels in the blood. Normally the hormone insulin is responsible for transporting glucose from the blood to the cells.
However, this does not happen in dogs with diabetes, which causes the blood sugar level to rise sharply, leading to numerous physical complaints. Mostly older dogs are affected by diabetes, while the disease is more the exception in young dogs.
Diabetes can occur in two different forms. Type 1 diabetes is when the pancreas is not able to produce enough insulin. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, basically has enough of the hormone. However, there is a so-called insulin resistance, so that the necessary regulation of the glucose level is absent. Type 1 diabetes is the most common in dogs.
What causes canine diabetes?
Why dogs develop diabetes has not yet been clearly identified. However, it is assumed that the disease is caused by a combination of different factors. In addition to disorders of the immune system, risk factors include infectious diseases, obesity and hormonal disorders.
Apart from these, pancreatitis in dogs can probably also contribute to the development of diabetes. In addition, certain breeds have an increased tendency to develop diabetes due to a genetic predisposition.
The following dog breeds, for example, are affected by diabetes with above-average frequency:
- Beagle
- Dachshund
- Golden Retriever
- Labrador
- Maltese
- Pug
- Dwarf poodle
How to recognise diabetes in dogs?
Diabetes in dogs is manifested by a variety of symptoms. However, how severe the symptoms actually are depends on the severity of the disease.
Some of the symptoms that diabetes can cause in dogs include
- Excessive thirst
- Frequent urination
- Problems with wound healing
- Lassitude
- Weight loss despite normal food intake
- Cataract
If diabetes in dogs is not detected and treated in time, the metabolic disorder can in the worst case even lead to a life-threatening shock.
How does the veterinarian diagnose diabetes in dogs?
If you are concerned that your dog may have diabetes, you should consult your vet immediately. Your vet will measure your dog's fasting sugar level and will then perform a glucose tolerance test. The vet can use this test to check whether your dog can regulate the glucose level in his blood.
If your dog's blood glucose level has not reached its original baseline value even two hours after administration of a sugar solution, there is a strong suspicion that your dog actually has diabetes.
However, for a definitive diagnosis, the veterinarian will still measure the ketone levels and protein/creatinine ratio in your dog's urine.
How is diabetes in dogs treated?
Once diabetes has been diagnosed, you should expect to inject your dog with insulin every day in the future. The vet will adjust the dose exactly for your four-legged friend. They’ll also explain how to administer the injection correctly, so that the procedure is soon no longer a problem for you and your dog.
If your dog suffers from diabetes due to a previous illness, it is of course important to counteract this too with the appropriate treatment measures.
What is important when feeding dogs with diabetes?
The administration of insulin is basically only a single part of the measures required to treat diabetes in dogs. In addition, it is almost as important to avoid excessive blood sugar fluctuations by changing the diet.
For dogs with diabetes, we recommend switching to Bellfor's Favorite Menu. The cereal-free wet food for dogs contains neither artificial additives nor additional sugar. Instead, it provides your diabetic quadruped with fresh fruit and vegetables as well as an appropriate amount of animal proteins from food-grade ingredients.
If you want to give your diabetic dog a treat between meals, we recommend our high-quality dried meat. These little snacks do not contain any sugar. This makes them very low in carbohydrates and a good choice even for dogs with diabetes.
Is diabetes in dogs curable?
The earlier your dog's diabetes is detected and treated, the more likely it is that major quality of life limitations can be avoided. However, a complete cure is the exception.
In most cases, canine diabetes requires lifelong treatment with insulin and a consistent diet with a suitable food such as Bellfor Favourite Meal.
Provided you follow the vet's instructions, you can normally look forward to a several more happy years with your dog.
Can diabetes in dogs be prevented?
Due to the fact that the triggers have not yet been clearly clarified, it is not possible to reliably prevent diabetes in dogs. However, as there seems to be a connection between diabetes and obesity, we recommend that you ensure that your dog is fed according to his needs and is sufficiently active.
Avoiding being overweight can also reduce many other health risks, such as the likelihood of joint disease.
If your dog is already overweight, we recommend a moderate reduction in the amount of food and supplementation with Shiimun Slim. Shiimun Slim is our natural dietary powder for dogs, with which you can reliably support your dog's diet.
Our conclusion on the subject of dog diabetes
As you can see, diabetes is a serious disease that can have serious consequences for your dog. However, a prompt diagnosis and consistent treatment, which includes the daily administration of insulin and a change to a suitable food, can usually counteract the consequences of diabetes quite well and largely maintain the quality of life in affected dogs.
Irrespective of this, for the benefit of your dog, you should always try to avoid obesity and make sure you get enough exercise and a balanced diet with a high-quality dog food, such as the Bellfor range. This can help to at least slightly reduce the likelihood of your dog developing diabetes.
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