Your dog is drinking an excessive amount of water. He or she is urinating a lot more than usual. You are noticing that Fido is losing weight. Your dog seems lethargic. He or she wants to sleep most of the time. What does it mean?
While these symptoms can be an indication many illnesses, it is quite possible that your dog has diabetes. If you begin to suspect diabetes, make an appointment promptly with the dog’s veterinarian. Time is of the essence.
There are actually three types of canine diabetes – diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus and gestational diabetes.
Diabetes mellitus, which is sometimes referred to as sugar diabetes, is the most common form. It is an illness that stems from the body’s inability to produce enough insulin or the body’s ability to use the insulin effectively. This leads to the development of high blood sugar levels. Symptoms include excessive drinking and urinating. The urine will tend to be pale, almost colorless. You may see an increased appetite that accompanies weight loss. The well-trained, housebroken dog may begin urinating in the house.
Diabetes insipidus, which is also called water diabetes, causes the urine to have an abnormal concentration. Instead of the normal yellow color, a dog that has diabetes insipidus will have pale, colorless urine that is low in specific gravity. Symptoms include an abnormal output of urine. A dog with diabetes insipidus will usually have an excessive thirst for water.
Gestational diabetes is far less common. The disease affects female dogs during pregnancy because adequate amounts of insulin are not being produced or the body is unable to make efficient use of the insulin that is produced. The symptoms are the same as though of sugar diabetes.
Just as humans can be inflicted with Type I or Type II diabetes, so can dogs that are suffering from sugar diabetes. Dogs can have a congenital type of diabetes that is similar to Type I diabetes found in young people. They can also have an acquired type of diabetes that is similar to Type II diabetes found in adult people. The most common form of canine diabetes is the Type II variety.
The most advocated form of treatment for dogs suffering from diabetes mellitus is the addition of insulin by injection. Oral treatments do not work well with dogs.
If your dog is diagnosed with diabetes and the veterinarian determines that additional insulin is needed, it is possible that your dog may have to stay over at the vet’s office for a couple of days.
Unfortunately, there is no acceptable prescribed level for the dosage of insulin. Each canine case is different and the veterinarian has to adjust and readjust insulin levels to find what works best for each dog. In essence it is a method of trial and error.
In addition to providing extra insulin, it is vital that owners with diabetic dogs feed a consistent diet at the same time each day. Your dog’s veterinarian can help you choose a diet that is appropriate for your dog.
Related posts:
- Canine Urinary Problems
- Canine Bladder Stones
- Canine Ear Infections
- Canine Flu
- Canine Diarrhea – Common Causes and Solutions
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