Canine Diabetes Is A Common Diagnosis In Dogs.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common insulin disorders in dogs. Statistics show that one in 400 dogs typically develop diabetes mellitus. So a single owner and his diabetic dog are not alone; many other pet owners are helping their dogs stay healthy and live normal lives with this disease.

Most of the diabetic dogs have diabetes mellitus or pronounced MEL-uh-tus. In the disease diabetes mellitus, the pancreatic islet cells that produce insulin are destroyed during episodes of pancreatitis or when the immune system attacks the dogs with a form of autoimmunity. Dogs with diabetes mellitus disorder usually require shots of insulin hormone to help their bodies use the energy from the food they eat. Diabetes insipidus means that either the whole body is not making enough of the antidiuretic hormone (ADH) which controls water regulation in the kidneys, or that the kidneys cannot respond to ADH. Diabetes insipidus is very rare in dogs.

Most of the doctors are not sure about the cause of diabetes as they think it may be caused by various factors, including a genetic predisposition, diet, or even exposure to certain viruses. But physician can point to risk factors such as obesity, a sedentary life style, and genetic history. There are several risk factors for diabetes in dogs like age, gender, breed etc. Dogs that are generally over seven years of age are occasionally diagnosed at a much younger age. Normally, dogs are diagnosed between the ages of 8 and 12. Gender wise female dogs have diabetes at almost twice the rate of males. Though any dog breed may get diabetes, several studies indicate that some of the breeds tend to be diagnosed with diabetes more often, which may point to a genetic predisposition to the disease. The dog breeds that are at higher risk include Keeshond, Cairn terrier, Schnauzer (miniature and standard), Poodle, Dachshunds, and Beagles.

Some of the diabetic symptoms are low energy, lethargy, weight loss, excessively eating, not eating, or other changes in interest in food, drinking large amounts of water, urinating frequently, which may cause waking up at odd times to urinate. By the time owner notice that their dog's eating habits have changed, that he is drinking excessive water, or even vomiting, the pet may be losing weight and getting lethargic. Because the diabetes mellitus can be controlled more easily with an early diagnosis, it is important to go to a veterinarian as soon as one notices these symptoms.

The longer diabetic symptoms persist without a diagnosis, the more the blood glucose level increases and damage can occur in the bladder, kidneys, liver, and eyes. Dogs with diabetes mellitus can also have a decreased resistance to bacterial infections. The owners should tell their veterinarian all the symptoms they have observed in their dog, including the physical symptoms and any changes in mood, behavior, and energy. The veterinarian may suspect diabetes mellitus right away and take a quick blood glucose test like the ones that human diabetics use. This kind of diabetic test can give an immediate reading of current blood glucose, but is not a definitive diagnosis since elevated blood glucose readings can be caused by problems other than diabetes.

• Janny Raines
• 01/02/2009, 12:59 PM
• 0 Comments