Diabetes In Dogs
04 Sep 2008
Many pet owners are surprised to find out that diabetes is one of the more common diseases that veterinarians see in dogs and cats. Just like in humans, diabetes is caused by a deficiency of insulin, insulin is a hormone which is produced by the pancreas and is used by the body to absorb blood sugar. When the pancreas does not produce enough insulin the body can’t process the blood sugar, and it increases.
Although diabetes is not completely curable, it is manageable with dietary changes, exercise and in many cases insulin injections. The important thing is to catch it early because left untreated, it can lead to blindness, kidney and liver problems, coma and sometimes even death.
The most common symptoms of diabetes in pets are increased thirst and urination, additional symptoms include cataracts, recurrent infections, weight loss and an increase in appetite.
With proper diabetic dog foods, exercise, blood sugar checks and insulin shots as necessary many diabetic pets can maintain good quality of life for five or six years after diagnosis.
