The different forms of canine diabetes
There are two different forms of canine diabetes that can affect your pet. These are diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus. Diabetes mellitus is the same as human diabetes, which occurs due to a lack of insulin. On the other hand, diabetes insipidus occurs when your dog lacks vasopressin. As expected, diabetes mellitus is more common. Diabetes mellitus, itself, comes in two forms. Diabetes mellitus can be, as in humans, type I diabetes, which means it is congenital. It can also be type II diabetes, which refers to diabetes that only develops later in life.
Factors responsible for diabetes in dogs
Diabetes is closely related to a wide variety of other canine diseases. These diseases can generally contribute to or cause insulin deficiency, thus causing diabetes.
Indicators of diabetic dogs
Loss of appetite and weight loss are the two main symptoms that can occur in diabetic dogs. Other symptoms also affect the eating and drinking habits of the diabetic dog. It can be seen that diabetic dogs are constantly hungry and thirsty. Frequent urination can also be a supportive symptom. Symptoms are mild at first, but when the dog’s owner doesn’t realize it, the condition is likely to worsen. If the initial symptoms are ignored or not identified, the diabetic dog may begin to experience nausea and vomiting and a decreased resistance to bacteria. This makes dogs with diabetes very vulnerable to other diseases such as bladder and kidney disorders. Even the behavior of a diabetic dog can be modified. Canine diabetes can cause depression in the diabetic dog. If you notice any of the above symptoms, don’t hesitate to see your vet for an exam. Laboratory tests will be done to look for ketones, which are released by the liver when there is a lack of insulin. The maternal presence of ketones is an indicator of diabetes. The glucose level will also be determined to detect hyperglycemia and other indicative symptoms.
Treatment alternatives for diabetes in dogs
The main form of treatment for diabetes in dogs is insulin injection, which obviously counteracts the causes of the disease in the first place. There are different types of insulins that can be injected. The main difference lies in the duration of the effective time. There are short-acting insulins that, as the term implies, only remain effective for up to four hours after injection. Ironically, short-acting insulins are actually stronger than mid-range and long-range insulins. These other two types of insulin last up to 24 hours or 28 hours from the time of injection, respectively. The choice of which insulin to inject depends on the dog’s system and the level of disease. A veterinarian will still need to verify what insulin and in what amounts is needed for each case of diabetic dog. It is also necessary to make regular visits to be able to continue observing the situation. It goes without saying that in order to treat diabetes in dogs, you, as a dog owner, must make a commitment to help your dog overcome the disease. Since insulin injections are often necessary on a daily basis, you need to spend a lot of time helping your pet recover.