What are the signs of diabetes in pets? – Noticing the early signs of diabetes is the most important step in taking care of your pet. If you see any of the following signs, your pet should be examined by a veterinarian. The earlier the diagnosis, the better chance your pet may have for a longer and healthier life.
Excessive water drinking and increased urination Weight loss, even though there may be an increased appetite Decreased appetite Cloudy eyes (especially in dogs) Chronic or recurring infections (including skin infections and urinary infections)
What does a diabetic dog look like?
What Are the Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs? – Early signs, The owner will sometimes notice certain symptoms that can be early signs of diabetes:
Excessive thirst, The dog may drink frequently and empty the water bowl more often. Increased urination, The dog may ask to go outside frequently and may start having “accidents” in the house. Increased urination (and increased thirst) happens because the body is trying to get rid of excess sugar by sending it out through urine, along with water that bonds to the sugar. Weight loss, The dog can lose weight despite eating normal portions. This is because the dog isn’t efficiently converting nutrients from its food. Increased appetite, The dog can be very hungry all the time because the body’s cells aren’t getting all the glucose they need, even though the dog is eating a normal amount.
Advanced signs. In more advanced cases of diabetes, symptoms can become more pronounced and can include:
Loss of appetite Lack of energy Depressed attitude Vomiting
Threats to health. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to devastating effects on the dog’s body, which is why early detection and proper treatment are crucial. Effects of diabetes on the dog’s health can include:
Cataracts (leading to blindness) Enlarged liver Urinary tract infections Seizures Kidney failure Ketoacidosis, a potentially life-threatening acute condition that can be accompanied by rapid breathing, dehydration, lethargy, vomiting, or sweet-smelling breath; can be triggered by factors such as stress, surgery, fasting, infection, or an underlying health condition combined with low insulin level. Owners of diabetic animals should always have on hand ketone testing sticks and should test their dog’s urine if any of the above occurs. If the dog’s urine tests positive for ketones, an emergency vet should be called immediately.
Can a dog get diabetes suddenly?
10 Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs 10 Common Canine Diabetes Symptoms
Reviewed for accuracy on August 26, 2019, by Dr. Katie Grzyb, DVM can affect dogs of any age, but early detection is the most important step in ensuring that your dog continues living a happy, healthy life.Annual wellness visits are essential for early disease detection, but if you know the, you can recognize the problem between checkups and bring it to your veterinarian’s attention.
Keep in mind that the symptoms of diabetes in dogs can overlap with other diseases. For example, kidney and liver disease are linked to increased urination and thirst, while hyperthyroidism and some cancers can cause increased hunger. When in doubt, take your dog to her veterinarian for a full evaluation to rule out diabetes or other conditions. 1. Your Dog Is Peeing More Frequently You might start to see puddles on the floor or notice that your dog is nudging you to get out of the house more to pee. Increased urination, which veterinarians refer to as polyuria, is one of the most common reasons that pet parents bring their dogs in for evaluation, says, DVM, DACVIM, from BluePearl Pet Hospital in Southfield, Michigan. 2. Your Dog Is Drinking More Water Than Usual Excessive thirst (polydipsia), is linked to increased urination, but not in the way that you might think. “Oftentimes owners will think they are urinating more because they’re drinking more, but it’s actually the other way around,” says Dr. 3. Your Dog Has a Ravenous Appetite A diabetic dog may develop an (polyphagia), a symptom that veterinarians attribute to an imbalance of insulin, a hormone created by the pancreas to help control blood sugar. “Because of the lack of insulin, they’re hungry all the time. 4. Your Dog Is Losing Weight Despite Eating Normally Many conditions can cause, including cancer, gastrointestinal disease, liver disease and kidney disease, says Dr. Romine. When that weight loss—which can start gradually or suddenly—is coupled with a normal appetite, it can be a sign of diabetes.
- With insulin not working to get glucose into the brain, heart and other essential organs for energy, the body will start to break down muscle and fat to use those proteins and fat instead, leading to weight loss,” explains Dr. Romine.5.
- Your Dog’s Eyes Look Cloudy Up to 80% of dogs with diabetes mellitus will eventually develop some degree of, says Dr.
Romine. Cataracts are one of the most common long-term complications seen in dogs with diabetes. In a healthy dog, the lens absorbs glucose from the eye fluid and converts the excess into sorbitol, she says. “When there is a large amount of glucose, a large amount of sorbitol is produced.
- Sorbitol has a strong pull on water, so water enters the lens and causes distortion of the fibers, blocking light from passing through.” This can cause your dog’s eyes to appear to be cloudy.6.
- Your Dog’s Vision Is Getting Worse As a result of cataract formation, diabetic dogs are at an increased risk for blindness.
A cataract that completely prevents light from reaching the retina on the back of the eye causes vision loss, says Dr. Romine. “The good news is that as long as any secondary inflammation from the cataracts is controlled, most blind dogs do very well because they have excellent senses of smell and hearing and adapt to their environments.” In some cases, blindness can be reversed by surgically removing the abnormal lens.
Blindness (and cataract formation) can occur over a period of weeks to months, or in as little as 24 hours, she says. “It can also happen early or late in the course of diabetes.” 7. Your Dog’s Coat and Skin Appear to Be Lackluster Untreated diabetic dogs will tend to have poor coat and skin quality. “When the body is not getting the nutrition it needs because insulin isn’t working, and a dog is becoming chronically dehydrated from the increased water loss in the urine, their haircoat will often start to lose its luster and thin out, and dogs will start to have dandruff and dry, scaly skin,” says Dr.
Romine. These conditions improve with therapy, says Dr. Romine, because “there is now enough energy and nutrition to put towards healthy fur, and not just maintaining critical organ function.” 8. Your Dog Is Vomiting With No Apparent Cause Vomiting is typically not something that occurs in uncomplicated diabetes cases, says Dr.
Behrend. “If diabetes goes untreated, the dog can go into (DKA), where you see vomiting, lethargy and a poor appetite. At this point, it’s an emergency situation that requires hospitalization.” (Other DKA dog diabetes symptoms include panting and weakness.) DKA can occur when the blood sugar is very high and little-to-no insulin is pulling the glucose into the tissues, says Dr.
Romine. “The body will start to produce ketones for energy, but this is not a sustainable pattern; the blood becomes acidic, and the body’s enzymes start to malfunction.” In some cases of DKA, you may notice a distinctive odor to your dog’s breath, similar to the smell of nail polish remover, says Dr.
Behrend. However, the odor is relatively uncommon and not everyone will notice it.9. Your Dog Seems Tired and Has Lost Interest in Activities “Some dogs will be less interactive with their families because they do not have the energy, and will tire faster after playing or going on walks,” says Dr. Romine.
When sugar is trapped in the bloodstream and can’t enter the tissue, the body is deprived of the glucose required for energy, says Dr. Romine. “In addition, the high blood sugar can cause electrolyte imbalances, including low sodium, low potassium and low phosphorous, making the nerves not fire normally.” 10.
- Your Dog Seems Stiff or Weaker Than Usual Your dog may stumble, appear to be stiff or have difficulty lying down.
- Dogs with diabetes can develop muscle weakness as a result of the lack of glucose going to their muscles,” says Dr. Romine.
- Another less common cause is diabetic neuropathy, which can lead to chronic or progressive hindlimb weakness, knuckling, muscle atrophy, and general weakness.
Although not as common, a diabetic dog can develop dropped hocks, a condition in which the rear legs are closer to the ground than where they should be, says Dr. Behrend. “Owners can notice that the dog is standing weirdly or walking weirdly. It’s kind of subtle.” Early Intervention Makes a Difference Learning to spot the signs of dog diabetes and communicating with your veterinarian can help you intervene early on.
Diabetes in dogs is usually a manageable disease, says Dr. Romine, “and most diabetic dogs can do very well once an insulin routine is developed.” It’s important to note that although diabetes in puppies is not as common as it is in older dogs, it can still occur. Always check with your veterinarian if you notice anything unusual, whether your furred family member is an older dog or a puppy.
By: Paula Fitzsimmons : 10 Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs
What if diabetes is left untreated in a dog?
Illustration of a dog’s pancreas. Cell-islet in the illustration refers to a pancreatic cell in the Islets of Langerhans, which contain insulin-producing beta cells and other endocrine related cells. Permanent damage to these beta cells results in Type 1, or insulin-dependent diabetes, for which exogenous insulin replacement therapy is the only answer.
- Diabetes mellitus is a disease in which the beta cells of the endocrine pancreas either stop producing insulin or can no longer produce it in enough quantity for the body’s needs.
- The disease can affect humans as well as animals such as dogs.
- The condition is treatable and need not shorten the animal’s life span or interfere with quality of life.
If left untreated, the condition can lead to cataracts, increasing weakness in the legs (neuropathy), malnutrition, ketoacidosis, dehydration, and death. Diabetes mainly affects middle-age and older dogs, but there are juvenile cases. The typical canine diabetes patient is middle-age, female, and overweight at diagnosis.
The number of dogs diagnosed with diabetes mellitus has increased three-fold in thirty years. In survival rates from almost the same time, only 50% survived the first 60 days after diagnosis and went on to be successfully treated at home. Currently, diabetic dogs receiving treatment have the same expected lifespan as non-diabetic dogs of the same age and gender.
The condition is commonly divided into two types, depending on the origin of the condition: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes, sometimes called “juvenile diabetes”, is caused by destruction of the beta cells of the pancreas, The condition is also referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes, meaning exogenous insulin injections must replace the insulin the pancreas is no longer capable of producing for the body’s needs.
Type 1 is the most common form of diabetes and affects approximately 0.34% of dogs, Type 2 diabetes can develop in dogs, although it is not as prevalent as type 1. Because of this, there is no possibility the permanently damaged pancreatic beta cells could re-activate to engender a remission as may be possible with some feline diabetes cases, where the primary type of diabetes is type 2.
Two additional less common forms of diabetes are diabetes insipidus, which is a condition of insufficient antidiuretic hormone or resistance to it, and gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes usually occurs during pregnancy. It may be a result of glucose intolerance during the pregnancy period.
What if diabetes is left untreated in a dog?
Illustration of a dog’s pancreas. Cell-islet in the illustration refers to a pancreatic cell in the Islets of Langerhans, which contain insulin-producing beta cells and other endocrine related cells. Permanent damage to these beta cells results in Type 1, or insulin-dependent diabetes, for which exogenous insulin replacement therapy is the only answer.
- Diabetes mellitus is a disease in which the beta cells of the endocrine pancreas either stop producing insulin or can no longer produce it in enough quantity for the body’s needs.
- The disease can affect humans as well as animals such as dogs.
- The condition is treatable and need not shorten the animal’s life span or interfere with quality of life.
If left untreated, the condition can lead to cataracts, increasing weakness in the legs (neuropathy), malnutrition, ketoacidosis, dehydration, and death. Diabetes mainly affects middle-age and older dogs, but there are juvenile cases. The typical canine diabetes patient is middle-age, female, and overweight at diagnosis.
The number of dogs diagnosed with diabetes mellitus has increased three-fold in thirty years. In survival rates from almost the same time, only 50% survived the first 60 days after diagnosis and went on to be successfully treated at home. Currently, diabetic dogs receiving treatment have the same expected lifespan as non-diabetic dogs of the same age and gender.
The condition is commonly divided into two types, depending on the origin of the condition: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes, sometimes called “juvenile diabetes”, is caused by destruction of the beta cells of the pancreas, The condition is also referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes, meaning exogenous insulin injections must replace the insulin the pancreas is no longer capable of producing for the body’s needs.
- Type 1 is the most common form of diabetes and affects approximately 0.34% of dogs,
- Type 2 diabetes can develop in dogs, although it is not as prevalent as type 1.
- Because of this, there is no possibility the permanently damaged pancreatic beta cells could re-activate to engender a remission as may be possible with some feline diabetes cases, where the primary type of diabetes is type 2.
Two additional less common forms of diabetes are diabetes insipidus, which is a condition of insufficient antidiuretic hormone or resistance to it, and gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes usually occurs during pregnancy. It may be a result of glucose intolerance during the pregnancy period.