25 Sep Diabetes In Dogs – Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Prevention And Treatment (Part 1)

Diabetes is one of the most common diseases among dogs. It’s a relatively complex disease caused by a decrease in insulin or an inadequate response to it. Accordingly, there’re two types of diabetes, insulin-dependent and insulin-resistant. Dogs can have both types, but type 2 diabetes is more common in older, obese dogs. If left untreated, the disease can damage various animal parts, including the kidneys, heart, blood vessels, eyes and nervous system. However, you should know that diabetes in dogs is a controllable disease, and many dogs with diabetes can live a happy and healthy life for years, provided they are cared for carefully.

What is diabetes?

1. Glucose: Glucose is the body’s primary fuel. After digestion, the body breaks down some nutrients into glucose. This sugar is a vital source of energy for all cells in the body.
2. Insulin: A vital organ called the pancreas releases the hormone insulin in the body. Insulin causes glucose and other nutrients to escape from the bloodstream. Body us it as fuel.

Diabetes means that the connection between glucose and insulin isn’t working correctly. You can successfully control dogs through diet, exercise and, if necessary, regular insulin medications. With proper nutrition and veterinary advice, your diabetic dog can still enjoy a happy and active life. It would help if you treated this disease with insulin, according to your veterinarian, because too little or too much insulin can be deadly to dogs.

Different types

Diabetes in dogs is divided into two types:

• Impaired insulin production and hormone deficiency
• Inability to produce insulin

Which breeds have more diabetes?

Older dogs between the ages of 6 and 9, obese or female dogs, are more likely to get the disease. Dachshund, Poodle, Keeshond, miniature schnauzer and Australian Terrier breeds are also at higher risk.

Why do dogs have diabetes?

This disease is caused by endocrine insufficiency. After being excreted in the body’s digestive tract, Dietary glucose is the source of cell energy. But some cells can’t consume glucose without the hormone (insulin produced by the pancreas). When the body produces insulin in small amounts, many cells are unable to absorb glucose. During that time, most cell deaths occur, which negatively affects the animal’s health. In other words, in case of illness, food-derived glucose is delivered only to somebody’s cells (which don’t need insulin) and most of it is excreted without any benefit.

Causes 

• Age: Diabetes can occur at any age, but it’s more common in middle-aged to older dogs. Most dogs that become infected are five years old or older at the time of diagnosis.
• Gender: Female dogs are more likely than male dogs to develop diabetes.
• Obesity: Obesity plays a role in insulin resistance and is a risk factor for pancreatitis, leading to diabetes.
• Steroid drugs: These drugs can prolong diabetes.
• Cushing’s disease: In Cushing’s disease, steroids are produced in the body so that the disease can cause diabetes.
• Other health conditions: Some autoimmune disorders and viral diseases can cause diabetes.
• Genetics: Diabetes can occur in mixed breeds, and it seems that genetics can increase or decrease its risk.
• Diabetes mellitus: The destruction of pancreatic beta cells is the cause of this disease. Diabetes mellitus reduces insulin production. As a result, the dog’s body can’t measure enough blood sugar.
• Pancreatitis: Inflammation damages insulin-producing cells and the dog’s body can’t measure enough blood sugar.
• Hyperadrenocorticism: Enlargement or presence of a pituitary gland is another cause of high blood sugar in dogs. As a result, blood cortisol levels rise, and the dog’s metabolism is disrupted.
• Tooth infection, kidney infection or urinary tract infection
• Reaction to some medications
• Eat human foods that are high in sugar. 
• Scramble, excitement and stress.

Symptoms 

Sometimes a dog owner notices sure signs of diabetes, which include:

• Excessive thirst: if he drinks a lot of water and the bowl is constantly empty, but your dog still feels thirsty.
• Increased urination: The dog may want to urinate frequently and sometimes even accidentally urinate at home. Increased urination (and increased thirst) occurs because the body tries to get rid of excess sugar.
• Weight Loss: Dogs may lose weight despite eating natural food because dogs don’t effectively convert nutrients.
• Increased appetite: This dog may always be hungry because the body’s cells don’t get all the glucose they need, even if they eat a lot of food.
• Loss of appetite
• Lack of energy
• Look depressed
• Vomiting
• Wounds don’t heal, and infections increase
• Enlarged liver
• Kidney infection
• Bleeding eyes
• Cataracts
• Hyperactivity