Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in dogs. Symptoms and treatment of diabetes in dogs

It's good when your pet continues to delight you in old age! But if you want to maintain a high quality of life, you need to carefully monitor the animal’s health. The fact is that “old people” very often have dangerous diseases. For example, diabetes in dogs. As in humans, it is extremely dangerous and can be fatal.

Of course, one should not assume that the disease affects all elderly dogs. But the disease is not particularly rare either. It is believed that every hundredth dog that reaches 10-12 years of age suffers from diabetes. What is the “meaning” of this disease anyway? The pancreas of animals and humans normally produces a special hormone called insulin. It is an essential part of the glucose absorption mechanism. Any “problems” in the production of insulin will almost certainly lead to very serious consequences.

Diabetes mellitus (without going into details) is a disease in which the production of insulin stops completely or partially, but other types of diabetes are characterized by an increase in the production of this substance. In more rare cases, the pet’s body stops “perceiving” it, as a result of which glucose also stops being absorbed. The result is hyper- or hypoglycemic coma.

More about insulin

The process of digesting food involves “grinding” it into small components, i.e. into carbohydrates, fats and proteins. In turn, the same carbohydrates are broken down by the body into elementary forms, including glucose. It is this that is absorbed in the intestines, after which it enters the blood. The problem is that without insulin it will not be absorbed. If too much “unprocessed” glucose accumulates in the animal’s blood, the blood becomes thicker and its basic characteristics sharply deteriorate.

The task of insulin is, roughly speaking, to transport glucose directly into cells, since that is where it is absorbed by the body. As a rule, with “classical” diabetes, the synthesis of this substance either stops completely or is greatly slowed down. When this happens, glucose cannot be absorbed by the body's cells, and therefore it accumulates in the blood. We have already written above what this leads to. But, in addition to hyper- or hypoglycemia (depending on the type of diabetes), the pet’s body simply does not receive enough energy, since glucose, its main source, is not absorbed by the body at all. Here are some more interesting facts about insulin:

This is one of the most important hormones. Its synthesis occurs in the islets of Langerhans (located in the pancreas).
In any disease accompanied by damage to the pancreas, secondary diabetes is possible. In addition, dogs whose owners skimp on their food by giving their pets either low-quality dry food or leftover (and moldy) food from the refrigerator can also become ill with it. In general, dry food as the only diet is pure evil. Such feeding leads to pancreatitis, diabetes, and numerous pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.

Diabetes insipidus

It is important to emphasize that diabetes is not diabetes. The latter is often found in animals suffering from serious kidney disease. When these organs are not functioning well, most of the glucose is simply thrown out in the urine. The pancreas is working normally at this time, as a result of which the insulin content in the blood increases while the amount of sugar decreases, the remains of which are immediately broken down by the body.

This kind of diabetes, by the way, is much “preferable” for owners. In this case, treatment without insulin is possible, which has a very favorable effect on the total cost of the therapeutic course.

This type of diabetes is not very common (theoretically), but veterinarians warn that signs similar to diabetes gradually develop in a large proportion of animals undergoing long-term treatment for serious kidney pathologies. It is for this reason that they strongly recommend bringing your pet to the clinic as often as possible for urine and blood tests. How can you tell if your dog may have developed diabetes insipidus? She starts constantly and very drink greedily, at the same time the volume of daily urine output increases greatly.

Fortunately, home treatment can help maintain kidney function at an acceptable level. But medications and techniques for this should still be prescribed by a veterinarian. It is highly not recommended to do this on your own, as you can simply kill your pet.

Predisposing factors

What are the reasons? There are quite a lot of them, and not all of them have been properly studied. As a rule, diabetes begins to develop around the age of eight years, and it is most often diagnosed in females. But at the same time, it is possible that the disease will appear in dogs at a younger age, and gender, as practice shows, does not often play an important role. Note that in cases where the disease is diagnosed in young animals, there is a high probability of their initial genetic predisposition. Very often signs of diabetes are found in dogs of the following breeds:

Toy poodles.
Many terriers.
Cocker spaniels.
All dachshunds (especially miniature ones). It should be noted that the diet of dachshunds should be as balanced as possible. These cute dogs are capable of gaining excess weight at an incredible speed, turning into something like “sausages with legs.” And excess weight, as you already know, contributes to the development of diabetes.
Doberman pinschers.
German Shepherds.
Labradors.
Golden Retrievers.

As in the case of humans, the likelihood of developing the disease is significantly higher in dogs whose weight significantly exceeds the norm typical for this breed. Please note that castrated males are at maximum risk. In addition, diabetes is very often inherited, and therefore it is strongly recommended to completely exclude from breeding those pets whose ancestors were diagnosed with this disease at least once.

Even some medications, especially if used for a long time and uncontrolled, can lead to diabetes. Particularly dangerous are glucocorticoids (medicines such as cortisone) and hormones, often used to synchronize the ovulation cycle in breeding bitches. In addition, they often develop a progesterone-dependent type of disease.

Is it possible to cure diabetes?

Unfortunately this impossible. Yes, in the very early stages it is quite possible to achieve a stable (possibly lifelong) remission of the disease, but there is no talk of recovery here. However, this is not required: provided proper nutrition and a “balanced” lifestyle, your pet will be able to live and play normally, and its life expectancy will be practically unaffected. In very rare cases, even relatively advanced diabetes can go into remission, but you shouldn’t hope for this. At the first signs of illness, it is necessary to urgently show your pet to a veterinarian so that he can prescribe effective treatment.

Clinical picture and diagnostic measures

Of course, the symptoms of diabetes in dogs can be extremely vague and nonspecific, but still, if the signs described below appear, we strongly advise you to immediately show your pet to a specialist:

The animal constantly urinates. In advanced cases, it comes to the point that the dog’s movements around the house can be tracked by puddles of urine, which begins to spontaneously excrete.
The animal sleeps poorly and restlessly.
He develops a pathologically strong thirst. You have to constantly fill the bowl with water. Moreover, the pet constantly drinks from the toilet, licks the taps... In a word, it does everything to quench its thirst.
A relatively specific sign of diabetes in dogs is cloudy eyes.
Your pet is constantly hungry. He never gets enough, always begs his owner for more.
The condition of the coat deteriorates sharply. The coat becomes rough and wiry.

Of course, diagnosing diabetes only based on clinical signs is unrealistic, since the external manifestations of this disease are similar to the symptoms of dozens of other pathologies. However, the diagnosis is quite easy to make based on the detection of glucose in the urine (simultaneously with an increase in the concentration of sugar in the blood plasma). Of course, such tests can only be carried out in a well-equipped clinic.

Blood and urine samples must be taken from a sick animal. In addition, it is very important for the veterinarian to rule out all other diseases that can cause similar clinical signs. This is very important, since the simultaneous development of infectious diseases and diabetes is very dangerous for the animal. Another thing is dangerous. If a different diagnosis is mistakenly made and the animal begins to be treated for a completely different disease, the activity of its pancreas will sharply deteriorate. Accordingly, when doctors finally eliminate this error and prescribe suitable therapy, time will be lost.

Therapy

Since diabetes is caused by a lack or excess of insulin. The task of the veterinarian and the immediate owner of the animal is to constantly monitor its level in the pet’s blood. The most famous way is periodic administration of insulin. Unfortunately, this method has a significant drawback associated with the high cost of the synthetic hormone. And getting this medicine is far from easy: it is issued exclusively by prescription, and in small settlements its supplies can be extremely small.

Only a veterinarian should select a specific dosage, since too little or too much of the drug may well lead to the death of the pet. Sometimes the process of selecting the appropriate dosage can take several weeks. It is extremely important to inject insulin at the same time. Fortunately, today convenient “pistol” syringes are used to administer the drug, so the animal does not experience much stress.

Proper diet is very important: The diet must be perfectly balanced in nutrients and microelements. In addition, food must be selected in such a way as to eliminate the possibility of your pet gaining weight. Thus, a professional veterinary nutritionist should think about what to feed a sick animal. You obviously cannot cope with this task on your own.

Other drugs

But not only “insulin alone”. The drug plays a significant role in the treatment of diabetes Glucophage. Its active substance is metformin hydrochloride. It is especially good in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and is actively prescribed to overweight animals. The medicine can lower blood sugar levels, and therefore in mild cases it can completely replace insulin, which eases the burden on the finances of owners of sick pets.

It is often also prescribed Dibikor. The active ingredient is taurine. It significantly improves metabolism and improves the absorption of nutrients. It is believed that after two weeks of regular use, blood sugar levels decrease to acceptable levels.

In addition, this medicine is a real salvation for dogs who, as a result of diabetes, cataracts have developed. The fact is that after six months of taking it, blood microcirculation in the tissues of the eyeball improves, which helps to achieve stable remission. Of course, cataracts won't go away on their own, but your pet's condition will improve significantly. Finally, this drug lowers cholesterol levels in the blood, and therefore it is useful to prescribe it to overweight animals.

Has a similar effect Liarsin. Unlike the two previous products, it is originally intended for use in veterinary medicine. It helps to normalize the functioning of the endocrine secretion glands, which include the pancreas, and also improves the general condition of the sick animal’s body. As a result of this (especially in the early stages), it is possible to reduce diabetes into remission, but treatment for this should be started as early as possible.

Complications of diabetes

Paradoxical as it may seem, it is not diabetes itself that is dangerous, but its consequences. The most typical is hyperglycemia, which often occurs due to errors in the administration and administration of insulin. The more often you take your pet for blood tests to the veterinarian, the better the latter will be able to adjust the treatment, the less likely there will be complications. Thus, dogs most often suffer from the following complications:

Low blood sugar, hypoglycemia.
Ketoacidosis (the appearance of ketones in the blood).
Cataract. The latter is typical specifically for dogs suffering from diabetes.

Diabetic ketoacidosis in dogs

What causes diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)? This is a "classic". Pathology develops when the body, due to a severe lack of glucose, begins to break down fats. When this happens, ketones and fatty acids enter the bloodstream, causing a chemical imbalance known as ketoacidosis. It develops in the following cases:

When a pet suffers from an undetected disease for a long time. Since diabetes mellitus in dogs manifests itself rather vaguely, this situation is not at all surprising.
Insufficient dose of insulin.
If for some reason the insulin introduced into the animal’s body does not have the desired effect (which happens, for example, with concomitant diseases and poisoning).

The diagnosis is made by detecting ketone bodies in the urine. With this pathology, the condition of the sick animal becomes very serious. Treatment uses insulin and shock volumes of intravenously administered buffer compounds to help cope with severe intoxication. As soon as the animal’s condition stabilizes, it will be necessary to reselect the required insulin dosage.

Remember that diabetic ketoacidosis is the latest and most severe stage of this disease. If your dog begins to smell noticeably of acetone (especially from urine and feces), bring him to the clinic as soon as possible. Without treatment, the pet is doomed to die within a few days or even hours!

Diabetic cataracts in dogs

Cataracts are considered one of the most common and severe complications of diabetes in dogs. Cataract, by the way, is a dangerous pathology accompanied by clouding of the lens of the eye. The natural outcome is complete or partial blindness.

Most often, the dog becomes completely blind and it is good if only one eye is affected. Folk remedies definitely cannot cure this! Moreover, sometimes only after visible clouding of the eyes does a dog with diabetes end up at the veterinarian, and the owners should not be blamed. Until a certain time, there may be no other clinical manifestations of the disease at all, and therefore breeders notice too late that something is clearly wrong with their pet.

What causes diabetic cataracts? Problems start when hyperglycemia. When blood oversaturated with glucose enters the eye, it cannot “break through” to all tissues, as a result of which the lens, supplied with oxygen and nutrients through diffusion, begins to die. Dead tissue loses its transparency and becomes cloudy. The same “cloudy” eye effect occurs, which is the main symptom of cataracts.

What to do? Is it possible to cure this pathology? Most likely, it will be possible to alleviate the animal’s condition, but it will not be cheap. There are two possible options: either the affected areas of the lens are excised surgically, or the organ is completely replaced with a surgical implant. All this is very expensive, so I would like to advise all owners of dogs suffering from diabetes to save money on regular blood tests. With their help, hyperglycemia can be detected in time.

Thus, treatment of diabetes mellitus in dogs should be comprehensive, aimed at eliminating not only clinical signs, but also at preventing the development of associated pathological conditions.

Preventive actions

Is there any way to protect your pet from this disease? Unfortunately, specific prevention of diabetes has not yet been developed, and it is unlikely that this will be possible. The factors that can lead to the appearance of pathology are too diverse. But still some advice can be given.

Firstly, you need Strictly control your pet's weight. For example, at the very beginning of the article, we already noted that dachshunds are predisposed to gaining excess body weight. It is necessary to suppress all attempts at “whims”, completely eliminate the possibility of handouts and remove away everything that the dog can use as food. It is known that the glucose level in obese animals is very high, and this can trigger the development of diabetes at any time.

In order not to reduce your dog to the state of a ball with legs, it is much wiser to immediately create a suitable, well-balanced diet for him. It is unlikely that you will be able to do this on your own, but no one forbids you to seek help from a veterinary nutritionist. It will create a high-quality diet, which will keep your pet safe.

Secondly, if your pet is a representative of a predisposed breed (the list of which we provided above), at least take him to the vet once a quarter. This should be done from the moment the dog reaches the age of six or seven years. It is believed that during this period the risk of developing the disease becomes maximum. If a blood test reveals an increased glucose level, it is necessary to urgently adjust the diet and, possibly, prescribe some medications (for example, Dibikor). They cost much less than insulin, and with timely prevention they can stop incipient diabetes.

This disease is incurable, however, with proper care and a special diet. You can provide your pet with a quiet life so that only the owner will know about the diagnosis.

The most important thing is that diabetes in dogs is controllable!

Glucose is the main source of energy for the animal. When sugar enters the blood from food eaten, the pancreas releases a special hormone “insulin” so that cells can better see glucose and process it. When blood sugar levels drop, the amount of insulin decreases. This is a normal way the body works.

What happens when dogs have diabetes? There are two outcomes here: Either there is not enough insulin, or enough is produced, but the cells cannot see the “target”.

As a result, the cells do not understand that they need to convert sugar into energy, therefore, the cells remain “hungry” and the glucose level is high.

At risk are dogs from 7 to 9 years old, unsterilized females.

Possible complications:

eye and kidney diseases;
diabetic ketoacidosis – mortality from it is 3%;
infection.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of diabetes in dogs:

thirst;
constant urination and even;
obesity, or vice versa, weight loss;
vision problems;
lethargy.

The above phenomena are signs of diabetes mellitus in dogs, but they can also be caused

What happens to the pet's body? There is so much glucose that it reaches the kidneys and is excreted in the urine. The dog pees frequently, losing water and suffering from dehydration.

What is the reason for weight loss? The cells do not process glucose, it comes out in the urine, but the body is not saturated - there is no energy! The body's essential nutrients are consumed - proteins and fats.

The paradox of diabetes is that a dog eats a lot, but at the same time loses weight.

Cystitis here is a consequence of the fact that during frequent urination, during which glucose is released, bacteria begin to settle and develop.

What happens to vision? Because Sugar levels affect absolutely every system, the eyes also undergo changes, for example, the lens becomes cloudy.

Do sweets cause diabetes? This opinion exists among owners: if you don’t give the dog cola and chocolates, he won’t have anything like that.

There is no direct relationship between sweets and an attack of diabetes. With such an unhealthy diet, obesity is more likely to occur. There will be a load on the pancreas, but the fact that the gland cannot secrete enough insulin is its problem.

Diagnostics

When receiving an animal suspected of having diabetes, the veterinarian:

measures sugar levels;
checks for kidney failure, which often accompanies diabetics;
identifies concomitant infections;
performs an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity;
examines urine and blood tests.

How to treat?

There is no effective healing method. The only thing you can really do is control the amount of insulin. after all, the animal doesn’t have enough of its “dog” to give the cells a signal.

The disease does not particularly affect the appearance. If you provide timely help and care, then the presence of diabetes will not affect the condition of the pet in any way.

Treatment for diabetes in dogs includes insulin injections to replenish the amount of hormone needed to convert glucose into energy.

The veterinarian will prescribe the specific dosage and frequency of injections. You should not prescribe the drug yourself.

Statistics say that Spayed dogs (females) need less insulin. Carrying out this operation does not mean that everything will return to normal - you will still have to inject insulin.

The basis of special nutrition is uniformity.

Sugar comes in gradually from food, not in spurts. Your veterinarian may recommend special medicinal food, prescribe an individual diet.

Nutrition

The diet consists of high-protein foods that contain little sugar.

Sweets, fried and spicy foods are not allowed for ordinary dogs, and even fatal for diabetics!

Prevention

Veterinarians advise controlling weight: rare patients are admitted with diabetes at a normal weight. Therefore it is necessary:

monitor your pet's diet;
give him physical activity;
bring him in for examination regularly, up to twice a year.

Diabetes, of course, cannot be cured, but The first rule of living with such a dog is not to single him out in any way. The main thing to remember is diabetes with adequate regimen does not affect life expectancy!

Additionally, watch a short video about diabetes in dogs:

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Diabetes mellitus in dogs and humans has other things in common. However, the mechanism of disease development and manifestations may differ slightly. This means that the approach to treatment is different.

Many medications that are used to treat humans are practically useless for dogs. Most often, the disease occurs in pets aged seven to nine years. According to statistics, unsterilized females are at risk.

Diabetes mellitus in dogs is a disease that cannot be completely cured, but it can be corrected. The right measures will help your dog live a full life and no one will even suspect that your pet has any problems. The main part of the healing process is proper nutrition.

What is diabetes in dogs?

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease, the features of which are the following characteristics:

disturbance of carbohydrate metabolism;
insulin deficiency;
deterioration of the body's ability to absorb glucose;
excretion of urine in large quantities.

The disease is of two types:

absolute deficiency associated with decreased insulin production;
relative deficiency, which is based on tissue resistance to the action of insulin.

The main source of energy for dogs is glucose. Sugar enters the blood through food. Pancreatic cells consume glucose until blood sugar decreases.

The disease develops as a result of two reasons:

The pancreas does not produce insulin.
The cells of the organ do not distinguish between glucose.

No matter how the situation develops, in any case, the pancreatic cells do not cope with their task and do not convert glucose into energy. As a result, hyperglycemia occurs, and the gland cells suffer from starvation.

Massive breakdown of fats leads to the formation of many ketone bodies in the body, which can later be found in the urine. The owner can even smell acetone in the pet's breath. This leads to increased acidity. As a result, a condition may develop that poses a threat to the dog's life.

Causes of diabetes in dogs

Hereditary predisposition plays a major role in the formation of the disease. However, in most cases, the true cause of the disease is difficult to establish.

There are a number of provoking factors leading to the appearance of hyperglycemia:

hormonal drugs;
overweight;
hormonal imbalance;
inflammation of the pancreas;
pregnancy;
the first months after estrus.

Symptoms of diabetes in dogs

Common signs of diabetes in dogs include:

polyuria;
polydyspepsia;
dehydration;
glucosuria. There is so much sugar in the blood that it begins to come out in the urine. Glucose removes a lot of water along with it;
weakness, lethargy;
weakness of the hind limbs due to damage to nerve fibers;
strong appetite. Due to the fact that pancreatic cells do not process glucose, the body produces this reaction in the form of a feeling of hunger.
cystitis. Excess sugar provokes active reproduction of pathogenic microflora;
loss of vision. Hyperglycemia leads to clouding of the lens;
obesity;
weight loss. The body uses up energy reserves in the muscles, after which the breakdown of proteins and fats occurs. As a result of this, the dog takes in a lot of food, but does not gain weight, but rather loses it;
urine becomes thin, light, pale yellow in color. It has a specific sweetish-sweet smell.

The above symptoms may appear either individually or in combination. Obesity can be the result of poor nutrition, polyuria and polydyspepsia can be a result of renal failure, and visual impairment can simply develop with age.

In severe cases, clinical examination of the animal reveals the following manifestations:

weakened heart sounds;
heart weakness;
the pulse wave is small;
tachycardia;
swelling;
temperature drop;
hair loss;
extinction of sexual reflexes;
eczema, furunculosis;
dry and hard skin;
hypotension.

The disease is characterized by a slow progression, sometimes even over several years. Diabetes can occur in a latent form and not be accompanied by clinical symptoms.

This type is the result of the dog's body simply not accepting antidiuretic hormone. This leads to disruption of the water-salt balance and salt accumulation. The pathological process manifests itself in the form of the following symptoms:

strong thirst;
frequent urge to urinate;
lethargy;
weight loss.

The dog owner can pay attention to one specific symptom: the pet refuses dry food. This is explained by the fact that it contains little water and a high salt content.

Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in dogs

In order to make a final diagnosis, it is not enough just to detect any of the above-mentioned signs. Each of the symptoms may indicate the presence of other diseases, not necessarily that it is diabetes.

Hyperglycemia can be the result of stress, increased appetite can be a result of helminthic infestation. It is for this reason that a whole range of diagnostic measures is carried out.

Diagnostics helps to establish a diagnosis, as well as identify related problems and complications that have arisen. To make a diagnosis, you will need to undergo a number of tests:

general and biochemical blood test;
general urinalysis, including sediment microscopy;
urine test for acetone;
acid-base balance;
glucose monitoring;
hormonal studies;
control over the amount of fluid consumed and diuresis;
X-ray;

Complications of diabetes in dogs

Long-term diabetes mellitus can result in a critical condition - ketoacidosis. Blood oxidation can be fatal. Diabetic ketoacidosis is manifested by the following symptoms:

smell of acetone from the mouth;
lethargy;
refusal of food;
rapid breathing;
nausea and vomiting;
diarrhea;
low temperature;
coma.

The animal requires intensive therapy and the use of short-acting insulin.

Treatment of diabetes in dogs

Treatment is carried out in stages:

Initial examination and laboratory confirmation of diagnosis. Comprehensive examination and determination of tactics of the treatment process.
Training the owner in the method of drawing blood for glucometry, as well as an explanation of the principles of insulin therapy: storage rules, collection and administration.
Once glucose levels have stabilized, cataract surgery is performed if necessary, as well as sterilization.
Preventive examination and dosage adjustment of genetically engineered insulin. Selection of dietary nutrition.

If the owner takes proper care of his pet, then the disease may not manifest itself in any way. Insulin injections may be required. The doctor selects the dosage based on the weight of the animal and previous experience. The amount and frequency of insulin administration is adjusted to the pet’s reaction.

Caring owners even build a glycemic curve. After insulin administration, blood sugar levels are checked every hour for 24 hours. This allows you to determine when it begins to act, for how long and how strongly.

Important! After sterilization (removal of the uterus and ovaries) of the bitch, the body's need for insulin is much reduced.

The following recommendations will help reduce the risk of diabetes in an animal: monitor the amount of carbohydrates consumed, regular medical examinations, walks in the fresh air.

In some cases, the pet’s condition cannot be stabilized. This is explained by the following reasons:

improper administration of insulin;
low-quality insulin;
antibodies to insulin;
obesity;
insulin resistance;
accompanying infectious processes.

Hypoglycemic drugs for diabetes mellitus in dogs

Consider the list of drugs for oral use:

Metformin. Makes tissues more sensitive to insulin. It is usually used in cases where the body still retains the ability to produce insulin, but due to vomiting or loss of appetite, the use of insulin is limited;
Vanadium. Has insulin-like properties. Available as a vitamin supplement;
Acarbose. Helps glucose enter the intestines gradually. As a result, a more or less even sugar level is maintained in the blood. It can cause side effects, so it is used only if insulin therapy does not cope with hyperglycemia.

When should you sound the alarm?

If you experience the following symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor:

weakness and trembling;
unsteady gait;
convulsions;
loss of consciousness.

Before the doctor arrives, honey or sugar syrup should be applied to the animal’s gums or tongue. Hypoglycemia can even lead to death in the absence of qualified help.

What to feed a dog with diabetes?

Nutrition plays an important role in the treatment of diabetes. The owner must pay attention to the composition of the food and the frequency of meals. Glucose must enter the circulatory system slowly and evenly. Otherwise, the body will not be able to cope with excess sugar.

It is important to monitor your pet's weight. The more you weigh, the worse the pancreatic cells will perceive insulin. The basis of a dog's diet should be food rich in protein and containing a small amount of sugar. Fried, fatty, baked goods, canned - all this can be deadly for the animal.

It is better not to buy dog treats in the store. Typically, industrially produced foods contain a lot of sugar and fat. If you want to reward an animal, it is best to give preference to cubes that contain proteins and fiber: chicken, zucchini.

Prohibited foods for diabetes

Under no circumstances should dogs be given the following foods:

raisin;
grape;
fatty meat, skin;
chocolate;
canned food;
onion garlic;
White rice.

Food for dogs with diabetes

Regular food certainly won't do. It contains a large amount of carbohydrates and fats. Diet food that contains a minimum amount of calories is suitable. Special medicated food for dogs with diabetes is sold. In such products, simple carbohydrates are replaced by complex ones, such as grains and fiber. They are sold dry and canned.

Myths associated with diabetes in dogs

Today, there are a large number of misconceptions that can interfere with effective treatment and even kill the animal. Let's look at a number of common myths:

It is useless to treat a pet, it is a waste of time and money, it will die anyway. In fact, therapeutic tactics have long been worked out and successfully applied. Proper nutrition, care and control will help prolong the life of the dog. The procedures for measuring glucose and administering insulin have become automatic and absolutely painless for many owners.
Insulin is a toxic drug that will do more harm than good. Modern insulins are characterized by high levels of efficiency and safety. They only affect blood glucose levels. According to experts, over more than ten years of practice using modern insulins, no side effects have been identified.
If your dog has high blood sugar but feels well, then everything is fine. In fact, despite the apparent norm, the processes of damage to the vascular and nervous systems are actively developing. It is not enough to only partially correct the glucose level; this will not stop the pathological process.
Special canine insulin is very difficult to obtain and is expensive. There is no special insulin for dogs; human genetically engineered insulins are used in the treatment of animals.
If cataracts occur as a result of diabetes, then nothing can be done; the dog will go blind in any case. This is not true; the disease can be treated surgically.

Conclusion

Diabetes mellitus in dogs is not a myth, but a reality of our days. Poor nutrition, hormonal imbalances, genetic predisposition - all this can lead to chronic carbohydrate imbalance.

The main manifestations of the disease are thirst, frequent urge to urinate, increased appetite, and weight loss. Diabetes can lead to life-threatening conditions for your pet.

Treatment includes drug therapy and dietary nutrition. The dosage and frequency of insulin administration is determined by the doctor. You should give up store-bought food and purchase a dietary product.

Remember, your dog's health is in your hands. The doctor will explain how much, when and how often to feed the animal. Following your doctor's recommendations will help make your pet's life fulfilling!

Diabetes in dogs is an endocrine disease caused by changes in the functioning of the pancreas, which result in disruption of metabolic processes and a decrease in the level of the hormone insulin. Most often, middle-aged dogs (6 to 9 years old) suffer from the disease. Females are more susceptible to the disease than males.

Causes and types of diabetes in dogs

Risk factors for the disease include:

Obesity;

Chronic pancreatitis;

Stress;

Physical inactivity;

Hormonal disorders;

Heredity.

As in humans, there are two types of the disease in dogs: I (insulin dependent) and II (non-insulin dependent). Both types are characterized by insulin deficiency, but in the first case it is absolute, and in the second it is relative.

Type I diabetes in dogs

The pancreas no longer secretes enough insulin, a protein hormone that is responsible for glucose control and cellular energy supply. The inability of the pancreas to produce insulin leads to an increase in sugar levels, which has a devastating effect on the gastrointestinal tract, nervous and circulatory systems. The causes of the disease are most often associated with autoimmune lesions and genetic predisposition.

Type II diabetes in dogs

The disease is characterized by gradual development and less severe symptoms. The pancreas produces insulin in sufficient or slightly reduced quantities, but the body cells do not perceive the hormone. With inadequate or untimely treatment, the disease can degenerate into type I diabetes, and also cause hypertension, vascular damage, trophic ulcers and gangrene.

Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs

Early detection of the disease is one of the main reasons for successful treatment. Owners should be very attentive to changes in the behavior and condition of their four-legged friend.

The appearance of diabetes in dogs is indicated by the following clinical manifestations:

Light-colored urine, copious and frequent urination: glucose molecules remove fluid from the body. Loss of water can lead to a deficiency of potassium and sodium - electrolytes that regulate vascular tone.

Dehydration and severe endless thirst: the animal tries to compensate for the loss of fluid by increasing water consumption.

Poor vision, cataracts, cloudy lenses: Elevated sugar levels damage the blood vessels in the retina.

Increased food consumption, accompanied by weight loss: glucose no longer enters the cells in the required quantity, the level of carbohydrates decreases sharply. As a result, muscles and fat become the source of energy, which leads to exhaustion.

Smell of acetone from mouth.

Lethargy, apathy, depression.

Enlargement of the liver noticeable on palpation.

Gastrointestinal disorders: abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea.

Skin pathologies, hair loss.

In rare cases, the animal may experience tachycardia, hind limb weakness, and poor wound healing. If you suspect your dog has diabetes, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. Remember that a strong decrease or, conversely, increase in blood sugar can lead to a diabetic coma.

Diagnosis and treatment of diabetes in dogs

If a lack of insulin secretion is suspected, veterinarians carry out a set of measures aimed at accurate diagnosis: visual and tactile examination of the animal, general and biochemical blood tests, monitoring of hemoglobin and glucose concentrations, study of hormonal levels and urine. If pathology is suspected, an ECG and ultrasound of the gastrointestinal tract are necessary.

Treatment of the disease includes managing symptoms, achieving stable glucose levels, and preventing worsening. In order to normalize sugar levels, insulin therapy is practiced, the frequency of which is determined by the attending physician. Dogs receive pork insulin, which has a prolonged action.

To regulate the water balance, the animal is prescribed vitamin-mineral complexes, injections of pituirin (intramuscular) and instillation of adiurecrine into the nasal passages. Remember that diabetes is not a death sentence; with timely and proper treatment, you can minimize insulin injections and achieve stable remission.

Dog diet

A pet with diabetes needs a carefully selected fractional diet. The dog must be fed the same small portions at the same time up to six times a day. Alkaline mineral water is good for quenching thirst. Veterinarians recommend supplementing the diet with L-carnitine, selenium, zinc, magnesium, vitamins A, B6, B12, E. These elements are responsible for improving cell sensitivity to insulin and stimulating glucose absorption.

Food for diabetic dogs is characterized by a high protein and fiber content. Low-fat fermented milk products, dietary meats (turkey, veal, beef, rabbit), boiled egg whites, steamed omelet, cabbage, pumpkin, Jerusalem artichoke, and zucchini are allowed.

From the diet you should completely exclude sugar-containing and flour products, corn and wheat flour, oatmeal, canned food, spices, cream, fatty meat and fish, white rice, vegetables and fruits containing a large percentage of fast carbohydrates: onions, beans, carrots, beets, potatoes, garlic.

Preventive measures

Since in 80% of cases diabetes in dogs is a hereditary disease, there is no need to talk about preventing the disease. However, owners can reduce the risk of pathology if they adhere to the following recommendations:

Control the animal's nutrition and avoid overfeeding. Avoid fatty, sweet, flour, spicy, smoked and fried foods. A balanced menu should include complex carbohydrates, fiber and high-quality proteins.

Provide your pet with an active lifestyle. Physical exercise, long walks and games prevent excess weight gain. Avoid stress.

For bitches prone to diabetes, sterilization is indicated.

Bring your dog to the veterinarian regularly for preventive examinations and tests if it is genetically predisposed to the disease or belongs to the breeds most often affected by diabetes: Labrador, Dachshund, Pomeranian, Pug, Doberman, Miniature Poodle, Beagle.

Diabetes mellitus is considered one of the most common pathologies in dogs. Despite the fact that the disease is not fatal and can be treated, it requires significant adjustments to the maintenance of a pet, which mostly relate to nutrition.

Causes of the disease

The pathology manifests itself in metabolic disorders, which occurs due to an increase in glucose in the blood. Under the influence of insulin, sugar is absorbed by the body's cells and serves as a source of energy. The mechanism of diabetes development is as follows: for various reasons, the pancreas is not able to produce enough insulin, sometimes it does not secrete it at all.

Thus, the cells of the body do not receive the hormone produced, and their absorption of glucose stops. Carbohydrate starvation occurs, accompanied by exhaustion.

The critical age for the onset of diabetes mellitus is considered to be 4-14 years, while experts are sounding the alarm in connection with the “rejuvenation” of the disease. So, 10 years ago, pathology was diagnosed in animals that had reached 7 years of age.

When talking about the reasons that contribute to the development of diabetes, it would be wrong to focus solely on the age of pets, since the disease can manifest itself in a dog at any age. Provoking factors include:

overweight, obesity;
pathologies of the pancreas (inflammation, chronic insufficiency);
changes in hormonal levels during pregnancy, estrus, due to medication, etc.;
unbalanced diet.

The disease is diagnosed more often in females than in males.

Which breeds are more susceptible

It has been proven that there is a natural predisposition to diabetes mellitus, traced at the genetic level. Thus, diabetes mellitus is more often diagnosed in beagles, poodles, Samoyeds, pugs, and some types of terriers.

Symptoms

Pathology can be suspected based on the following signs:

polydipsia (increased thirst);
frequent salivation, the consistency of saliva is sticky and viscous;
polyuria (increased urination), while the dog goes to the toilet often, but urine is released in large quantities;
polyphagia (gluttony), which is characterized by eating the usual portions with great speed;
weight deficiency to the point of exhaustion - the dog’s ribs are clearly visible, the stomach falls in;
cardiopalmus;
unpleasant sour odor from the mouth;
dull, tousled coat, alopecia;
cataract;
dry skin, skin diseases;
enlarged liver;
poor blood clotting and slow wound healing;
vomiting, diarrhea (in rare cases).

The dog's behavior also changes. She becomes lethargic, apathetic, moves little and shows no interest in walks. If the dog is a street dog, then it is much more difficult to notice his characteristic signs, except that painful thinness immediately catches the eye.

Diagnostics in a veterinary clinic

To make a correct diagnosis, the doctor will need to not only examine the dog to identify signs characteristic of diabetes, but also conduct a number of necessary instrumental studies. To confirm or exclude the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, the following is indicated:

urine test for acetone;
general and biochemical blood tests;
hormonal tests;
glucosametry;
Ultrasound of the pancreas (other organs as necessary).

If a doctor diagnoses diabetes mellitus, he will prescribe appropriate treatment, which will depend on the form of the pathology, the dog’s age and state of health.

Treatment method and prognosis

The principle of treating diabetes mellitus is to stabilize the general condition, eliminate symptoms and, most importantly, bring glucose to normal levels (no more than 8-10 mmol/l).

Normalization of glycemic metabolism is carried out with the help of insulin injections, as well as the management of primary and secondary pathologies. It is impossible to completely cure diabetes, so you will have to monitor your blood sugar levels and prevent them from rising in the blood throughout the life of your pet.

Important: for type 1 diabetes mellitus, so-called short-acting insulin is used, for type 2 diabetes, long or medium-acting insulin is used. When insulin is administered, glucose is brought to a level above the upper normal limit. This measure is due to a reduction in the risk of hypoglycemia - a sharp drop in sugar.

The drug is administered using special injection pens or insulin syringes. The dosage of the medicine is prescribed by the veterinarian based on the condition of the dog. At first it is minimal (0.5 units/kg body weight), then it can gradually increase. To select the dosage, the doctor will need to observe the dog’s condition for several days, and sometimes even months.

Convenient places for insulin administration are the abdomen, chest, and withers. Use your fingers to form a fold of skin, after which a needle is carefully inserted into its base.

The specialist monitors the dynamics of changes in glucose levels, usually using blood tests (every 2-4 hours) as the most convenient method. The veterinarian also evaluates the dog’s general health and behavior: frequency of urination, weight gain, increased appetite. If the dosage of insulin is selected correctly, then the main signs of diabetes disappear.

It is very important to remember that too much insulin is just as dangerous for a dog as too little. So, if the owner does not remember whether he administered the drug or not, it is better not to risk it and skip one injection. Otherwise, the dog may develop Somogyi syndrome, which poses a danger to the patient’s life.

If the doctor's instructions are strictly followed and insulin is administered strictly according to the schedule, you can expect that the dog will live a long and full life. However, from the moment diabetes is diagnosed, the veterinarian becomes a constant consultant and observer of the animal’s well-being.

What to do at home

Treatment of the dog must be carried out under the strict supervision of a specialist; none of the folk remedies for treating diabetes mellitus is effective. Every responsible owner should remember this. Moreover, addiction to various herbs can only aggravate the course of the disease and provoke death.

The owner should be prepared for the fact that blood sugar levels may drop from time to time. Hypoglycemia in dogs manifests itself in weakness, lethargy, loss of consciousness, convulsions, and unsteady gait. If the animal is not provided with timely assistance, it may die.

The first thing to do is feed and water the dog - if it is conscious. Next, you should introduce 1-2 ampoules of glucose into the mouth (drip). If your pet has lost consciousness, you need to sprinkle a little sugar on its tongue (coat it with honey). The time when this condition was recorded should be noted in the log.

Possible complications

Chronic pathology leads to the development of ketoacidosis, which complicates insulin therapy. As the disease progresses, the dog may develop heart and kidney failure, liver cirrhosis, and blindness. Thus, we can say that if left untreated, diabetes will affect all organs and systems of the body, which will inevitably lead to death.

Prevention measures (diet)

Almost any disease can be prevented, and this also applies to diabetes. You can protect your pet from this terrible pathology with the help of preventive measures:

Sterilization. This will relieve the dog from hormonal fluctuations.
Strict weight control. If your four-legged pet has a tendency to obesity, it is better to switch it to specialized food.
Increasing physical activity, long walks, visiting dog parks, training with a dog handler.
Balanced diet.
Periodic examinations by a veterinarian.

If a dog has been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, it is advisable to switch to five split meals a day, given at the same time. An insulin injection is given before feeding.

In case of obesity, they first achieve weight stabilization, and then switch to a strict diet. It is important that the pet’s weight does not exceed acceptable values.

Protein and fiber should predominate in the animal’s diet, and the amount of carbohydrates should be minimized. The predominant products should be poultry, beef, marine fish, offal, cottage cheese, and vegetables. Treats, white rice, canned food, bones, fatty meat, oatmeal, wheat and corn flour, and seasonings are excluded from the diet.

As for the liquid consumed, it is advisable to add a small amount of baking soda to regular drinking water (1/3 level teaspoon per 1 glass).