Dog Diabetes

Diabetes Mellitus affects about one in 400 dogs. Dog diabetes symptoms are similar to those in humans. Most diabetic dogs are stricken with type-1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes rather than type-2, which is definitely treatable and enables dogs with diabetes to live the same length and quality of life. Left untreated, a diabetic dog may suffer from dehydration, malnutrition, ketoacidosis, nerve damage, blindness and death. Diabetes in dogs is a serious canine disease and needs to be treated.

Symptoms
A diabetic dog will generally show a gradual onset of this disease over a few weeks, and you may not notice anything right away. The first obvious symptoms would be your dog suddenly losing or gaining a lot of weight and excessively drinking and urinating. Dogs with diabetes can suddenly start eating ravenously (up to three-times normal) or not eating at all. The next symptom you would notice is the diabetic dog having vision problems and cataracts, and his gait possibly becoming stilted or wobbly.

A quick test at this point can be done using urine keto/glucose strips on the dog. If the keto/glucose strips show glucose in the urine, diabetes is indicated. If a strip shows ketones in the urine, the dog should be taken to an emergency clinic right away. A test can also be performed with a home glucose meter by obtaining a blood sample with a lancet via an ear prick, paw prick or lip prick. Owners should watch for noticeable thinning of the skin and apparent fragility: these are also serious and indicate that the diabetic dog is metabolizing (breaking down) its own body fat and muscle to survive. Dehydration is also common by this point and death can follow quickly.

An acute hypoglycemic episode (very low blood sugar) can happen even if you are careful, since insulin requirements sometimes change without warning. The symptoms for these episodes are depression/lethargy, confusion/dizziness, loss of excretory/bladder control, vomiting, and then loss of consciousness and/or seizures. If this happens you should administer honey or corn syrup immediately by rubbing it on the gums (even if unconscious, but not if in seizures), and rush it to the vet. Carry more honey or corn syrup with you on the way and keep rubbing it on the gums, where it can be absorbed. This could save the dog's life and every minute without blood sugar can cause brain damage.

Treatment
For a Diabetic dog, insulin injections can be given in small amounts at the start of treatment so blood sugar levels can begin to slowly stabilize. The goal at first is to regulate the dog's blood glucose, which may take a few weeks or even many months, while trying to keep the blood glucose values in a comfortable range during the whole day, or most of it. In some cases dogs with diabetes may need to be hospitalized so the insulin injections can be monitored and the correct dosage can be figured out. Once the disease is more stable, a dog can be treated at home. When the diabetic dog has returned home you will be able to monitor him by testing his urine and/or blood. Oral medications like Glipizide, which stimulates the pancreas by promoting insulin release, may also be prescribed for dog diabetes. This would be more for a dog with type-2 diabetes, but it has been found that insulin injections are more effective in almost all cases.

Glucobalance is a natural remedy that may also be considered for treating diabetes in dogs. It helps control blood sugar levels and improves Insulin availability and production. It also reduces high cholesterol, boosts the immune system and increases general energy levels in your dog. Glucobalance is a very effective treatment that may be used on it's own or in conjunction with prescription medicines from your vet.

Diet is also a critical component of treatment for the diabetic dog, and in many cases can be effective on its own. A low carbohydrate diet reduces the amount of insulin needed and keeps the variation in blood sugar low and easier to predict. Also, fats and proteins are turned into blood glucose much more slowly and evenly than carbohydrates, reducing blood-sugar highs right after mealtimes. Another alternative is to feed a normal healthy diet but give insulin bolus supplements at mealtime. Dogs with pancreatitis, a fairly common condition for diabetic dogs, often need a restricted-fat diet.