Diabetes mellitus

Name: VetPen starter kit
Brand: VetPen
SKU: 99103
Price: 98.04 EUR
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Diabetes mellitus is a condition in dogs characterized by elevated blood sugar levels. Dogs with diabetes usually drink and urinate excessively. They are also constantly hungry, even though they lose weight. Fortunately, diabetes is often well treatable. Pharmacy4pets helps your dog with diabetes live as comfortably as possible.

What exactly is diabetes?

In the dog’s pancreas, the hormone insulin is produced. A dog with diabetes mellitus produces too little of this hormone. Insulin enables sugar (glucose) to enter the body’s cells. Glucose is the main fuel for the body’s cells. In diabetes, however, the sugar does not enter the cells. The cells receive no fuel, and the blood contains too much sugar. The excess glucose in the blood draws fluid out of the cells. Sugar and fluid are then excreted in the urine.

Symptoms of diabetes in dogs

Typical symptoms of diabetes include:

Excessive drinking and urinating
Increased hunger
Weight loss
Lethargy
Dehydration
Cataracts

If diabetes is not recognized and treated in time, long-term effects can be serious and may even lead to the dog’s death. Dogs with untreated diabetes become very weak and stop eating. They smell strange, somewhat like sweets, and may vomit. This condition is called diabetic ketoacidosis. Nerve damage can also occur if diabetes remains untreated for too long. It is therefore important to visit your vet if your dog shows any of the above symptoms.

The cause of diabetes in dogs

Most dogs develop Type I diabetes. This is often due to an autoimmune reaction that destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Other risk factors include:

Genetic predisposition
Elevated hormone levels (e.g. progesterone or cortisol)
Cushing’s disease
Chronic pancreatitis
Obesity

Unspayed females (prolonged exposure to progesterone), middle-aged or older dogs, and certain breeds are at higher risk. Susceptible breeds include: Labrador Retriever, Miniature Schnauzer, Yorkshire Terrier, Poodle, Cairn Terrier, and Samoyed.

Diagnosis of diabetes in dogs

Vets may suspect diabetes based on symptoms and physical examination. However, a diagnosis must be confirmed by persistently high glucose levels in the blood and urine.

Treatment of diabetes in dogs

Diabetes is mainly treated with insulin and dietary adjustments.

Insulin therapy

Your dog will receive one or two daily injections of insulin. Your vet will teach you how to do this yourself. A handy tool is the VetPen. Initially, regular blood sugar monitoring is needed to quickly find the correct insulin dose. You can also learn to check blood sugar yourself using a drop of blood from the ear. The Freestyle Libre is a useful tool to continuously monitor your dog’s sugar levels for 14 days. Your vet will discuss whether this is appropriate for your dog. You can also regularly check your dog’s urine for glucose using the Trixie Urine Test.

Diet

It is important to keep your dog’s blood sugar level as stable and predictable as possible. After eating, blood sugar rises. Dogs with diabetes are usually fed twice a day at fixed times. If you inject insulin twice a day, feed your dog before giving the injection. If you inject once daily, give the second meal seven hours after the insulin shot. Dogs with diabetes should not receive snacks (not even chew bones or sticks), as these can cause fluctuations in blood sugar levels.

The composition of the food is also important. It should be the same every day to avoid unpredictable fluctuations. A special diet low in fast sugars and high in fiber, such as Sanimed Weight Control, helps prevent blood sugar spikes.

Other treatments

If your dog is very ill, hospitalization with intensive care may be necessary. This is especially the case with diabetic ketoacidosis.

In unspayed females, sterilization is often advised because high progesterone levels during and after heat can cause or worsen diabetes.

Low blood sugar

As the owner of a dog with diabetes, it is essential to recognize the symptoms of low blood sugar. Low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia or a “hypo,” occurs when too much insulin is given. This can be due to a dosing error, but more often the insulin dose is relatively too high—e.g., when a dog eats poorly, not at all, or vomits, making the usual insulin dose excessive. A hypo can also occur when diabetes goes into remission and the previously correct insulin dose becomes too high.

The most common symptoms of hypoglycemia in dogs include:

Hunger at unusual times
Restlessness or excessive barking
Weakness or appearing drunk

As soon as you suspect your dog has a hypo, immediate action is crucial. If your dog unexpectedly asks for food when it normally wouldn’t, give it something to eat right away. Always keep glucose (dextrose) at home. Dissolve it in a little water and gently administer it into the mouth. You can also rub a small amount of honey on the inside of the lips to quickly raise the blood sugar level.

If your dog doesn’t improve, seems very weak, trembles, or appears to fall into a coma, contact your vet immediately. Quick intervention can be life-saving.