Overview

What is diabetes mellitus?

Diabetes mellitus (aka "Sugar Diabetes") is a serious condition caused by a deficiency of insulin produced by the pancreas. This results in an excessive amount of glucose or sugar in the blood.

Diabetes mellitus is often diagnosed in dogs over five years old, and is known as "Adult Onset", or Type II diabetes. Type I diabetes (juvenile onset) is very rare in dogs.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

What are the symptoms of diabetes mellitus?

The symptoms diabetes are generally related to the higher blood glucose levels and the inability of the dog to use that glucose as a source of energy (because of a lack of insulin).

The most common symptoms are:

• Increased water consumption
• Increased urination
• Weight loss
• Increased appetite

How is diabetes mellitus diagnosed?

Diagnosis is made based on the above symptoms in conjunction with persistently high blood glucose (as determined by a series of blood tests over a period of time) and the presence of glucose in the urine. To keep the body from losing glucose, the kidneys do not allow glucose to be filtered out of the blood stream until an excessive level is reached. This means that dogs with a normal blood glucose level will not have glucose in the urine. Diabetic dogs, however, have excessive amounts of glucose in the blood, so it will be present in the urine.

Treatment

How is diabetes mellitus treated?

Diet

Your dog will need to have it's diet regulated, being fed the same food at the same time, and in the same portions, everyday. A high fiber diet is usually recommended, as high fiber foods tend to be low in sugar and won't place so much stress on your dog.

Insulin Injections

When first starting treatment the right dosage of insulin will need to be determined over a series of hospital visits. Once dosage is set and the glucose level is brought within the normal range, your dog will need an insulin injection once or twice a day.

Small needles are available which cause very little to no pain in your dog and within a short period of time the procedure becomes routine. Administration times, dosages and type of insulin will be determined by your veterinarian.

Home Care

How do I monitor my dogs's diabetes?

Monitoring can be done in part through the collection of occasional blood samples by your veterinarian, but it is particularly valuable to keep accurate records of the following information:

Daily records:

• Time of insulin injection
• Amount of insulin injected
• Amount and time of food fed and eaten
• Amount of water drunk
• Amount of urine produced

Weekly record:

• Weight of your dog

In addition to these records, it can be beneficial to measure glucose levels in the urine. Kept at regular intervals, urine glucose levels can be an important aid in marking progress trends.

What happens if my dog receives too much insulin?

If your dog receives too much insulin, it is possible for the blood sugar level to drop dangerously low. It is important to be very careful in giving the correct dose of insulin.

The typical signs displayed by a dog with a very low blood sugar level are weakness and lethargy, shaking, unsteadiness and even convulsions. If a diabetic dog shows any of these signs it is important to seek immediate veterinary advice or attention. In mild cases of hypoglycemia, you may observe "wobbling" or "drunken" walk or appearance and the dog may not arouse when you call or pet them. In cases of mild or early hypoglycemia, you should administer approximately a tablespoon of corn syrup, honey or sugar solution by mouth. If more severe signs are displayed such as ataxia or severe incoordination and unsteadiness during walking, or convulsions, you should seek immediate veterinary care. Your veterinarian can advise you on specific emergency treatment of low blood sugar in your dog.

Links

• Diabetes Mellitus- Washington State University