Diabetes mellitus in dogs: diagnosis, treatment, prevention

"Introduction" to diabetes

Before considering the specific manifestations of the disease and its prerequisites, it is important to give a general idea of diabetes, at least in a very simplified form.

Diabetes mellitus refers to high blood sugar levels that exceed normal limits. Sugar appears in a dog’s blood as a result of the absorption of glucose, which many foods contain (and not only those that are considered “sweet”). Upon entering the body, glucose is consumed by the corresponding groups of cells, which perceive it as an energy resource.

Diabetes mellitus develops as a result of dysfunction of cells that are unable to metabolize glucose

In order for the cells to “see” glucose, the pancreas secretes a special hormone called insulin, the concentration of which gradually decreases as the cells absorb the remaining glucose.

What is the normal level of sugar in dogs?

The ideal indicator of sugar levels in humans, as well as in dogs, is 5.5 mol/l. Approximately the same indicators apply to humans. A variant of the norm is considered to be a decrease of 0.5 points and an equally insignificant increase. But with diabetes, the numbers jump up. The disease develops starting at around 30.

Features of diabetes mellitus in dogs

The body's cells receive the energy they need to function properly from food in the form of glucose. The uptake of glucose by cells is regulated by the pancreas by producing a special hormone called insulin.

In diabetes mellitus, there is an increase in glucose levels due to various reasons, so there are several types of diabetes mellitus in dogs.

Type I – occurs when the ability of the pancreas to produce enough insulin is impaired.
Type II – occurs when the body’s cells respond to insulin in a disrupted manner, which weakens the interaction with glucose.
Type III is secondary, manifesting itself as a result of other diseases, with long-term treatment with hormonal drugs or poisoning.
Gestational type - occurs in puppy dogs and can be temporary. Sterilization often completely eliminates the manifestations of the disease, but there remains the possibility of developing a different type of disease.

It is difficult to determine which path the disease develops in dogs, but in any case it leads to elevated blood glucose levels and a negative impact on the functioning of the body.

What is diabetes insipidus?

In addition to diabetes mellitus, there is also a type of diabetes insipidus that most people are not aware of. The essence of diabetes insipidus is that the animal’s body ceases to perceive the antidiuretic hormone, which takes an important part in the regulation of water-salt balance. As a result of these disorders, the body accumulates excessive salt reserves, which lead to symptoms similar to those of diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes insipidus causes a dog to have an aversion to dry food due to its saltiness

With diabetes insipidus, dogs eating dry food begin to refuse it due to the fact that it contains a large amount of salt and a very small percentage of liquid, which further exacerbates dehydration.

What breeds are at risk?

Not all animals are equally susceptible to the presented pathology. Those at increased risk of developing this disease are:

Samoyeds;
dachshunds;
poodles;
pugs;
beagles

Diabetes is also often diagnosed in Spitz dogs and some types of terriers. Owners of such four-legged friends are recommended to regularly screen them for diabetes.

Causes of hypoglycemia

One of the most common forms of hypoglycemia is juvenile hypoglycemia.

, which develops in puppies younger than three to four months. This type of hypoglycemia is characteristic only of puppies, since their body is not yet able to effectively regulate the concentration of glucose in the blood and has a high need for it. Stress, cold, malnutrition, vomiting, diarrhea, and intestinal parasites can trigger an attack of hypoglycemia in puppies. Toy breed puppies are especially susceptible to juvenile hypoglycemia. Small breed dogs are also susceptible to hypoglycemia.

Other causes of hypoglycemia may include:

malnutrition;
loads and intense training, for example, in hunting and sporting dogs;
Addison's disease (hypoadrenocorticism);
over-administration of insulin, which can occur in pets with diabetes (when the insulin dosage is incorrect or the owner makes a mistake in the dosage);
malabsorption or impaired intestinal absorption of nutrients;
insulin-producing pancreatic tumors (insulinomas);
some other tumors that produce insulin;
severe liver disease;
portosystemic shunts;
hereditary diseases, such as glycogen storage disease;
serious systemic bacterial infection (sepsis);
hypopituitarism – decreased secretion of regulatory hormones of the pituitary gland.

Causes of diabetes

The physiological prerequisites that contribute to the development of diabetes mellitus remain largely unclear for modern medicine. One of the reasons for this uncertainty is the lack of satisfactory statistical information on this issue. In addition, not all diabetic dogs easily reach doctors, since their diagnosis can be a mystery to the owner due to mild symptoms.

Even a completely healthy and strong dog can get diabetes.

In this regard, experts identify a fairly small range of reasons why dogs can develop diabetes:

obesity;
the consequences of hormonal imbalance in the female, which manifested itself during the period of estrus or shortly after it. Most often, diabetes is detected in those females who have experienced hormonal imbalances due to false pregnancy;
consequences of hormonal disorders that arose as a reaction to illiterate drug therapy or a number of other circumstances;
pancreatitis and other pathologies of the pancreas;
animals that have previously had problems with the pancreas have a high chance of developing diabetes
hereditary predisposition. Dogs whose parents exhibit symptoms of diabetes have a higher chance of developing the disease as they grow older;
gender It is difficult to call this factor a reason, but the fact that females are more predisposed to diabetes mellitus, unlike males, is beyond doubt. This feature is explained by the greater vulnerability of the hormonal system in bitches. The risk group includes primarily females that have not been sterilized and have not given birth;
breed affiliation.
The breeds most prone to diabetes are Doberman, Poodle, Pomeranian, Labrador Retriever and Beagle. However, this reason should be treated with caution due to the inaccuracy of statistical data. Veterinarians have not yet established a definitive link between certain breeds and their tendency to develop diabetes.

What causes diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus in a dog can develop for a number of reasons:

Age. With age, metabolic processes in the body slow down, which increases the likelihood of their disruption, which is why diabetes is more often registered in dogs over 6 years of age.
Floor. As you know, female dogs suffer from diabetes twice as often as male dogs due to their hormonal instability. In unsterilized bitches who have undergone estrus without pregnancy and false pregnancies, the likelihood of the disease increases.
Associated disorders. Viral diseases, pancreatitis, hormonal changes, and excess weight can contribute to the development of diabetes.
Breed. There is a predisposition of some breeds to diabetes: Samoyeds, terriers, miniature schnauzers, pugs, toy poodles, English setters, collies, Rottweilers, golden retrievers.
Heredity. A genetic predisposition to diabetes has been established in offspring obtained from diabetic parents.

Symptoms of diabetes

Unfortunately, in the early stages, diabetes mellitus can occur completely unnoticed by both the owner and the pet, who will not feel much discomfort. The severity of symptoms will manifest gradually, including such a set of manifestations as:

increased urination. If previously your pet only needed two walks in the morning and evening to empty his bladder, now he begins to ask to go outside much more often. At the same time, the urine itself loses its saturation, acquiring a light yellow tint. “Whitening” of urine occurs due to the fact that it is saturated with unprocessed glucose;
constant feeling of thirst. It is quite natural that frequent urges to go to the toilet lead to the need to replenish the missing fluid. However, no matter how much water the pet drinks, the mucous membrane of its mouth remains unnaturally dry. This happens because glucose literally attracts all the fluid in the body and “carries” it along with the urine;
against the background of pathologies associated with the poor condition of the pancreas, the dog may experience attacks of vomiting and diarrhea that are not associated with poisoning or other disruptions in the gastrointestinal tract;
increased appetite, not accompanied by weight gain. Due to the immunity of cells to sugar, in a physiological sense, the body of a sick dog is always in a state of hunger, regardless of how often the animal eats. His body literally cannot recognize food in food and use it for satiety;
slowing down skin regeneration processes. Due to cell starvation, the dog’s body will need much more time to heal an ordinary abrasion or deeper wound;
the appearance of an unpleasant putrid odor from the mouth. As the disease progresses, rot can be replaced by the characteristic smell of acetone, which manifests itself as a result of intoxication of the liver and kidneys, as well as serious disorders of carbohydrate metabolism;
As a result of metabolic disturbances, the condition of the body as a whole suffers. The dog's hair begins to fall out in large quantities, its teeth become more wobbly, and its skin dries out and begins to peel. All this indicates a serious lack of nutrients in the body.

Diagnostics

No endocrinologist will make a diagnosis based only on external signs, but will definitely prescribe a set of diagnostic measures:

tests (detailed) urine/blood;
tracking glucose level dynamics;
hormonal tests;
analysis for the presence of acetone;
Ultrasound of the pancreas and (if necessary) other organs;
ECG and X-ray.

Diagnosis of diabetes in dogs is possible only after passing all the tests and conducting a series of studies.

How to take blood sugar from a dog?

While at home, you can do an analysis using a glucometer and test strips. Tips for choosing a device: it is better if it requires only a drop of blood; It measures more accurately the device that requires blood from a network of capillaries.

In a professional veterinary clinic setting, dogs' blood sugar is measured using a vein sample, usually from the very tips of the ears. It would seem that blood can be taken from the paw pads, but the vessels in them are located too deep.

Then, if the diagnosis is confirmed, a sugar test should be carried out daily and monitor the dynamics of the indicator.

Important! The most reliable result can be obtained if the dog is at home and in a good mood. After all, a state of excitement and stress can lead to an increase in sugar levels and a false positive diagnosis.

If your dog has diabetes, what to do next?

If you are mentally prepared, it simply won’t happen, but the dog is your friend and family member, it cannot be left without treatment. Every cell in the animal's body starves and dies without glucose; in order to stimulate the body, insulin will have to be regularly administered from the outside.

The goal of therapy is to relieve all symptoms and achieve a constant level of glucose in the animal’s blood. Ideally, complete remission is achieved when insulin injections are minimized or eliminated altogether.

The owner must understand that without the following measures the animal will die:

Daily insulin administration.

A strict diet in terms of products and meal times.

Daily supervised physical activity.

Keeping a diabetic dog requires a full understanding of the course of the disease, additional financial investment and dedication.

The dose and frequency of insulin injections are selected individually. The first dose is determined by the veterinarian based on the weight and condition of the animal. Further, by keeping a diary, adjusting the dose, blood and urine samples for glucose levels, the optimal volume and frequency of administration is determined.

The construction of a feeding schedule directly depends on the insulin drug used. There may be several options:

Introduction of a fast-, medium-, slowly excreted drug and feeding after a certain period.

Fractional feeding - eating food in small portions every period of time.

Constant access to food.

Injections before or immediately after meals.

Important! Under no circumstances should you give a second dose of insulin. If you are not sure that all the drug got under the skin, or perhaps one of your family members may have given the injection before you, skip the injection. A slightly elevated glucose level can be “knocked down”; a lower level can quickly kill the animal.

How long dogs with diabetes live depends directly on the success of therapy and proper feeding. The most important factor is the gradual release of glucose into the blood. What to feed a diabetic dog depends on the condition and eating habits. In any case, the food should be fibrous, slowly digested, low in calories, rich in protein. There is a special medicated food for dogs with diabetes. However, special food is not suitable for everyone and is quite difficult to buy in small towns and villages.

Misconceptions about diabetes

There are a number of common misconceptions associated with diabetes in dogs.

Misconception #1. Treat, don’t treat, the dog is in constant torment and quick death.

Properly selected treatment, diet and care for the dog provide it with a full life. The main thing for the owner is to learn how to measure sugar levels and administer insulin.

Misconception No. 2. Insulin is an unhealthy drug and harms your dog.

The first insulin was isolated in 1921 by F. Banting and C. Best from the body of a dog.
Modern insulin preparations are safe and effectively reduce glucose levels without affecting other processes in the body.

Misconception #3. It is very difficult to draw blood from a dog on its own to measure its sugar level.

Modern medical glucometers and needles (lancets) are excellent for collecting blood from dogs and are easy to use, which makes the blood collection procedure easier for both the pet and the owner.

Misconception #4. After treatment is prescribed, blood sugar levels can be monitored several times a month and the dose of insulin can be determined approximately based on the dog’s condition.

Without daily monitoring of blood glucose levels, it is extremely dangerous to approximate the dose of insulin. An insufficient dose will be ineffective, and an increased dose can lead to hypoglycemia and even death.

Misconception #5. A dog with elevated blood glucose levels feels great, which means it does not need to constantly inject insulin.

The negative processes occurring in the body during diabetes mellitus stop only when blood sugar levels are normal, which must be maintained constantly, despite the possible absence of external manifestations of the disease.

Misconception #6. Despite the use of insulin, the dog's blood glucose levels remain elevated, and the doctor says that this is normal.

It is not normal. Properly selected treatment, daily monitoring of blood sugar levels and selection of the appropriate dose of insulin ensure constant maintenance of normal glucose levels.

Misconception #7. Using the lowest dose of insulin in combination with sugar-lowering pills, diet and exercise is the most effective treatment option.

Diet and exercise are an integral part of treating diabetes in a dog, but blood glucose levels need to be regulated with the right dose of insulin. It is impossible to do this effectively with tablets.

Misconception #8. For diabetes in dogs, special, expensive veterinary (canine) insulin is used.

A dog can also use “human” insulin.
Modern veterinary and medical insulin preparations, highly effective and affordable, are suitable for treating dogs.

Misconception #9. When diagnosing diabetes mellitus, it is initially necessary to eliminate the disorders caused by this disease and follow a diet. Only after the dog’s general condition has improved can treatment for diabetes mellitus begin.

The main aspect of any treatment is to eliminate the cause of the disorders that have arisen. In this case, it is necessary to reduce the level of glucose in the blood and maintain it at a normal level in parallel with eliminating the consequences and stabilizing the general condition of the animal.

Misconception #10. A dog with diabetes began to develop cataracts and nothing could be done; the animal would inevitably go blind.

For diabetic cataracts, the lens can be surgically removed and replaced with an artificial one, which will provide the dog with excellent vision. This operation is successful in almost 100% of cases.

Misconception #11. Unspayed female dogs with diabetes need spaying surgery, but the surgical wound will not heal well and there may be serious complications.

In bitches, due to hormonal instability, the blood sugar level changes sharply, which is extremely dangerous in case of diabetes. So sterilization is the first thing indicated after normalizing sugar levels. When the dog's blood glucose levels are controlled, the risk of complications and healing problems is minimized.

Misconception #12. Proper treatment of diabetes leads to complete recovery and there is no need to measure sugar and inject insulin.

Unfortunately, diabetes mellitus is chronic and cannot be cured. The animal will need proper nutrition, care, and most importantly, insulin injections throughout its life. Without the constant normalization of blood glucose that these injections provide, the dog will die.

Misconception #13. Dogs with diabetes who are given insulin injections will never be able to lead a full life - they lose their appetite, they become depressed and sleep a lot.

With proper treatment, diabetic dogs are no different from healthy animals.
Photo: Nefci Modern insulin preparations are well tolerated and very effective. Following all the recommendations of the veterinarian will help maintain stable glucose levels, and the dog will remain as cheerful and active.

Treatment of diabetes in dogs

For this disease, pets are prescribed drug therapy. If the disease is secondary, treatment will be aimed at combating the main problem. If primary – to normalize blood glucose levels. The fight against diabetes of the first and second types is carried out through insulin therapy.

The basis of this treatment is hormonal injections. They normalize blood glucose levels. For such injections, different types of insulin are used, which are selected for the animal depending on the type of diabetes. The dosage of the drug is determined for each dog individually. The dog owner needs to administer insulin injections according to the following algorithm:

Take an ampoule with a hormonal drug. Hold it in your hand for a while to heat the contents.
Select the injection area. Most often, the drug is administered to the withers, belly, and chest.
Using three fingers, grab your pet's skin in the designated area. As a result of this action, you should get a fold of flesh shaped like an Egyptian pyramid.
Introduce the product to your four-legged friend.

Treatment of hypoglycemia in dogs

How to prevent hypoglycemia (low sugar levels) in puppies or adult dogs? In order to avoid the manifestation of any symptoms of hypoglycemia in dogs, you need to seriously care for your pet and feed it on time, build a schedule and diet, the puppy should not starve, it should eat on time. If your puppy refuses the food offered to him - food, do not leave him hungry, offer something in return: boiled meat (chicken or beef), rice or some other cereal, cottage cheese, kefir, because the choice is really great . It happens that a puppy gets too busy playing and forgets to eat, so close supervision is necessary for the puppy until six months of age.

The easiest way to prevent hypoglycemia in dogs is to add sugar to a bowl of water to sweeten the water a little. And an even better natural product, which is also very healthy, is to give honey to your dog (1 teaspoon per glass of water). As already mentioned, it is necessary to do this and monitor nutrition until six months; upon reaching this age, hypoglycemia is very rarely observed in puppies of small breeds.

You can cope with hypoglycemia in a Yorkie, Spitz, or Chihuahua puppy on your own. In this case, when the disease manifests itself, it is necessary to give the dog a subcutaneous injection of 5% glucose or give the puppy a drink. Glucose for a dog can be a lifesaver. If you don’t have it at hand, you need to give the puppy (dog) some sweet water (4 teaspoons) to drink; in case of refusal, you need to force the water into the puppy’s mouth. Give your dog sweetened water every 5 hours.

If your puppy has low blood sugar, do not panic, remember - this is one of the solvable problems. If you notice that your puppy is prone to this type of illness, you need to provide first aid to your pet, but do not despair, this problem in puppies should disappear upon reaching 4-6 months of age. If hypoglycemia in a dog does not go away with age, then it is necessary to examine and subsequently treat the pet.

If you cannot cope with your pet’s hypoglycemia (low sugar levels) on your own, seek help from a veterinarian.
How to inject glucose into a dog, subcutaneous injection, watch the video We recommend watching the video:
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Feeding for diabetes

The diet for diabetes is aimed at stabilizing blood glucose levels. In this case, the pet needs to restore normal weight: the greater its weight, the worse insulin is processed. The diet consists of products with a minimum sugar content and a maximum protein content. These include:

meat;
fish;
oatmeal porridge.

Strictly contraindicated:

fried, fatty and smoked foods;
White rice;
raisins and grapes;
canned food;
flour baked goods;
sweets;
corn and millet porridge;
onion and garlic.

Standard dry food is not suitable for diabetic dogs. Special diabetic mixtures are sold, in which the concentration of carbohydrates and fats is reduced, but there is a lot of fiber.

Since your pet has a metabolic disorder, it is necessary to feed it while the insulin is working. Food is given out at the same time in small portions.

Diet

A diabetic diet is aimed at preventing your dog from gaining weight. The greater the weight of the animal, the more difficult it is for the cells of its body to cope with the “digestion” of insulin. Therefore, if this diagnosis is made to an overweight dog or an obese dog, first of all, the owner must ensure that his pet loses excess weight. At the same time, the diet should not be debilitating and lead to hunger strikes, which will only hit the animal’s weak health harder.

The purpose of the diet is to control the dog's weight.

When choosing foods, it is important for a dog owner to look for food that is enriched with protein and has virtually no sugar in its composition. Of course, it is impossible to completely eliminate sugar, but minimizing it is a feasible task.

Prohibited Products

Owners of dogs fed a natural diet should be especially careful, as they are more susceptible to various errors when preparing their diet. However, it should be noted that the list of prohibited foods for diabetic dogs has many similarities with a similar list for healthy dogs and assumes the presence of the following items:

grape;
corn;
canned food;
fried, smoked, fatty;
sweets;
bakery;
garlic;
raisin;
White rice;
artificial sweeteners;
treats for dogs.

Dogs with diabetes are strictly prohibited from giving any treats.

The future life of a dog with diabetes

In order for your pet to lead a full life even if diagnosed with diabetes, you must first of all be prepared for the fact that your dog will require special care and attention for the rest of its life.

The key to complete and effective treatment of a dog with diabetes:

daily (mostly twice daily) glucose measurements and insulin injections;
strict adherence to the diet;
necessary physical activity;
careful monitoring of the general condition of the animal;
regular visits to the veterinarian for examination and possible adjustment of treatment, strict adherence to his recommendations.

With such serious control of metabolism, attention to proper nutrition and the general condition of the body, the life expectancy of your pet will be no less than that of a healthy dog.

Prevention methods

Since it is still not entirely clear what provokes a malfunction of the pancreas, which subsequently leads to diabetes mellitus, a healthy lifestyle should be considered one of the primary preventive measures.

A dog's healthy lifestyle is not much different from a human's - it consists of a well-regulated daily routine, physical activity, walks in the open air, balanced nutrition, hardening and the absence of infectious diseases.

But even if these rules are followed, it is impossible to exclude the disease, which is often inherited. If your pet does get sick, diabetes cannot be ignored: the longer the pathology develops, the more difficult it is to start treatment.

This is interesting! In advanced forms of the disease, ketone bodies accumulate in the blood. Ketoacidosis delays insulin therapy, which is started only after the removal of ketone bodies (otherwise there will be no result).

If the diagnosis is not made on time, the dog faces:

cataracts with subsequent loss of vision;
heart/renal failure;
fatty liver (often to cirrhosis);
physical impotence;
extreme exhaustion;
fatal.

An owner who follows the advice of an endocrinologist (who is responsible for the insulin correction regimen and an approximate diabetic menu) will ensure his dog a long and fulfilling life.

Complications of diabetes mellitus in dogs

As mentioned earlier, diabetes mellitus is a serious chronic metabolic disorder and without proper treatment or lack thereof, a dog can develop serious complications.

Diabetic cataract. High blood sugar levels can cause clouding of the lens of the eye.
Cystitis. Sugar in the urine is an excellent environment for pathogens, including those that cause bladder inflammation.
Disturbances in the functioning of internal organs. High blood sugar impairs the functioning of the liver, kidneys, nervous and vascular systems.
Ketoacidosis. An acute complication of diabetes that develops in animals with severe and long-term diabetes. Ketoacidosis is manifested by weakness and vomiting, you may notice the smell of acetone in your breath, you should immediately consult a doctor.

The result of ignoring ketoacidosis is death.

What is diabetes in dogs and why does it occur?

Sugar is the main source of energy for living organisms, and puppies are no exception. It enters the blood in the form of glucose through food. The pancreas secretes insulin into the circulatory system. When blood sugar decreases, the gland, in turn, stops producing the hormone. With this disease, the iron does not produce insulin, or the body does not recognize its presence. It turns out that blood sugar rises, which must be converted into energy. The causes may be:

Breed and gender bias. Females get sick more often, and there are also a number of species that are genetically predisposed to the disease.
Age. It has been noted that diabetes appears in older animals, especially after six years.
Diseases that affect the development of diabetes: pancreatitis, obesity, hormonal imbalances, viral infections.
Genetics. The hereditary factor has been studied and proven.

Differences between diabetes in dogs and humans

Unlike humans, canine disease is not divided into types 1 and 2. Drugs that treat humans can be absolutely useless for a pet; sometimes they are simply dangerous for animals. Also, the root causes and mechanisms that can cause diabetes in humans, dogs or cats are markedly different. Therefore, the methodology of therapy can vary radically.

The disease cannot be cured, but it is quite possible to provide proper attention to your pupil. And that means the opportunity to live quite normally. If you ignore challenges, then the most severe consequences are possible.