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

It's good when your pet continues to please you in old age! But if you want to maintain a high quality of life, you must carefully monitor the health of the animal. The fact is that the "old men" very often have dangerous diseases. For example, diabetes in dogs. Like a person, it is extremely dangerous and can lead to death.

Of course, you should not assume that the disease affects all elderly dogs without exception. But the disease is not especially rare either. It is believed that every hundredth dog that has reached the age of 10-12 has diabetes. What is the “meaning” of this disease? The pancreas of animals and humans normally produces a special hormone called insulin. It is an essential part of the glucose uptake mechanism. Any “malfunction” 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 ceases to "perceive" it, as a result of which glucose also ceases to be absorbed. As a result - hyper- or hypoglycemic coma.

More about insulin

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

The task of insulin is, roughly speaking, to transport glucose directly into cells. because that is where it is absorbed by the body. As a rule, with “classic” diabetes, the synthesis of this substance either stops completely or slows down greatly. When this happens, glucose cannot be absorbed by the cells of the body, and therefore it accumulates in the blood. What this leads to, we have already written above. 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:

It is one of the most important hormones. Its synthesis occurs in the islets of Langerhans (located in the pancreas).
With any diseases accompanied by damage to the pancreas, secondary diabetes is possible. In addition, dogs can also get sick, whose owners save on their food by giving their pets either low-quality dry food, or leftover (and moldy) food from the refrigerator. In general, dry food as the only diet is evil in its purest form. Such feeding leads to pancreatitis, diabetes, and numerous pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.

diabetes insipidus

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

Such 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 veterinary practitioners warn that diabetes-like signs develop gradually in most animals treated for long-term treatment for severe kidney problems. It is for this reason that they strongly recommend bringing your pet to the clinic for urine and blood tests as often as possible. How can you tell if a 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 keep kidney function at an acceptable level. But medicines and methods 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 few of them, and not all of them have been adequately studied. As a rule, diabetes begins to develop at the age of about eight years, and most often it is diagnosed in females. But at the same time, the appearance of the disease in dogs at a younger age is not excluded, and gender, as practice shows, does not often play an important role. Note that in cases where the disease is diagnosed in young animals, the probability of their initial genetic predisposition is high. 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 nutrition of the taxi should be as balanced as possible. These cute dogs with incredible speed are able to gain excess weight, turning into a kind of "wieners on legs". And excess weight, as you already know, contributes to the development of diabetes.
Doberman Pinschers.
German Shepherds.
Labradors.
Golden Retrievers.

As with humans, dogs are much more likely to develop the disease if they weight significantly exceeds the norm characteristic of this breed. Note that neutered males are at the highest risk. In addition, diabetes is very often inherited, and therefore it is strongly recommended to completely exclude from breeding those pets whose ancestors had this disease at least once.

Even some drugs, especially if used for a long time and uncontrolled, can lead to diabetes. Particularly dangerous are glucocorticoids (drugs 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.

Can diabetes really be cured?

Unfortunately, this impossible. Yes, at the earliest stages it is quite possible to achieve a stable (possibly lifelong) remission of the disease, but there is no question of recovery here. However, this is not required: under the condition of good nutrition and a “balanced” lifestyle, your pet will be able to live and play normally, and his life expectancy will practically not suffer. In very rare cases, even relatively advanced diabetes can go into remission, but still you should not hope for this. At the first signs of the disease, it is urgent to show the pet to the veterinarian so that he can prescribe an effective treatment.

Clinical picture and diagnostic measures

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

The animal is constantly urinating. In advanced cases, it comes to the point that the movement of the dog around the house can be tracked by puddles of urine, which begins to spontaneously stand out.
The animal sleeps badly and restlessly.
He develops a pathologically intense 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 gorges, always begging the owner for a supplement.
The condition of the coat deteriorates sharply. The coat becomes hard and wiry.

Of course, diagnosing diabetes only by 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 on the fact of the detection of glucose in the urine (simultaneously with an increase in the concentration of sugar in the blood plasma). Of course, such analyzes can only be carried out in a well-equipped clinic.

Blood and urine samples are taken from a sick animal without fail. In addition, it is very important for the veterinarian to exclude 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. Dangerous and something else. If a different diagnosis is misdiagnosed and an animal is treated for a completely different disease, the activity of its pancreas will deteriorate dramatically. Accordingly, when doctors nevertheless eliminate this error and prescribe a suitable therapy, time will be lost.

Therapy

Since diabetes is caused by a lack or excess of insulin. The task of the veterinarian, as well as the immediate owner of the animal, is to constantly monitor its level in the blood of the pet. The most famous way is intermittent 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 towns its stocks can be extremely small.

The specific dosage should be selected only by a veterinarian, 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 that the animal does not experience much stress.

Proper diet is very important: the diet should be perfectly balanced in nutrients and trace elements. In addition, food must be selected so as to exclude the possibility of weight gain by the pet. 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 ingredient is metformin hydrochloride. It is especially good in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and is actively prescribed to overweight animals. The drug 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.

Often also given Dibikor. The active ingredient is taurine. It significantly improves the course of metabolism, improves the absorption of nutrients. It is believed that after two weeks of its regular use, blood sugar levels are reduced to acceptable levels.

In addition, this medicine is a real salvation for dogs who, as a result of diabetes, developed a cataract. 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, the cataract will not disappear on its own, but your pet's condition will improve significantly. Finally, this remedy lowers the level of cholesterol in the blood, and therefore it is useful to prescribe it to overweight animals.

Has a similar effect Liarsin. Unlike the previous two products, it was originally intended for veterinary use. It contributes to the normalization of the endocrine secretion glands, which include the pancreas, and also improves the general condition of the body of a sick animal. As a result (especially in the early stages) it is possible to bring 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 even diabetes itself that is dangerous, but its consequences. The most characteristic is hyperglycemia, which often occurs due to errors in giving and prescribing 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 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 undiagnosed disease for a long time. Since the manifestation of diabetes mellitus in dogs is rather vague, 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 proper effect (which happens, for example, with concomitant diseases and poisonings).

The diagnosis is based on the detection of ketone bodies in the urine. With this pathology, the condition of the sick animal becomes very serious. For treatment, insulin and stroke volumes of intravenously administered buffer compounds are used to help cope with severe intoxication. As soon as the condition of the animal stabilizes, it will be necessary to re-select the required dosage of insulin.

Remember that diabetic ketoacidosis is the latest and most severe stage of this disease. If your dog begins to noticeably smell 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 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 can’t cure this for sure! Moreover, sometimes only after visible clouding of the eyes, a dog with diabetes ends 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 with hyperglycemia. Blood supersaturated with glucose, when it enters the eye, cannot “break through” to all tissues, as a result of which the lens, provided with oxygen and nutrients through diffusion, begins to die. Dead tissues lose their transparency and become cloudy. There is the same effect of a "cloudy" eye, which is the main symptom of a cataract.

What to do? Can this pathology be cured? Most likely, it will be possible to alleviate the condition of the animal, but it will cost a lot. Two options are possible here: 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 on regular blood tests. With their help, hyperglycemia can be detected in time.

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

Preventive actions

Is there anything I can do to protect my pet from this disease? Unfortunately, specific prevention of diabetes has not yet been developed, and it is unlikely to be done. The factors that can lead to the appearance of pathology are too versatile. However, some advice can be given.

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

In order not to bring the dog to the state of the ball on legs, it is much more reasonable 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. He will make a quality diet, under which your pet will be safe.

Secondly, if your pet is a representative of a predisposed breed (the list of which we have given 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 content, it is urgent to adjust the diet and, possibly, prescribe some medications (for example, Dibicor). They are much cheaper than insulin, and with timely prevention, they can stop the onset of 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.

Most importantly, diabetes in dogs is controllable!

Glucose is the main source of energy for the animal. When sugar enters the bloodstream from food eaten, the pancreas releases a special hormone called insulin so that the cells can better see the glucose and process it. When the blood sugar level goes down, the amount of insulin also goes down. This is the normal way the body works.

What happens with diabetes in dogs? 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 - dogs from 7 to 9 years old, unsterilized females.

Possible complications:

diseases of the eyes and kidneys;
diabetic ketoacidosis - mortality from it 3%;
infection.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of diabetes in dogs are:

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 be caused by:

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 often urinates, while losing water and suffering from dehydration.

What is weight loss associated with? Cells do not process glucose, it leaves with urine, but the body is not saturated - there is no energy! The body's NZ is consumed - proteins and fats.

Diabetes paradox - dog eats a lot, but at the same time loses weight.

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

What happens to vision? Because sugar levels affect absolutely all systems, the eyes also undergo changes, for example, the lens becomes cloudy.

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

There is no direct relationship between sweets and an attack of diabetes. With such an unhealthy diet, there will be more obesity and. 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 with suspected diabetes, the veterinarian:

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

How to treat?

There is no effective method of healing. Really only control the amount of insulin, after all, the "dog" animal is not enough to give the cells a signal.

The appearance of the disease is not particularly reflected. If you provide timely assistance and care, then the presence of diabetes will not affect the condition of the pet.

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

The specific dosage and frequency of injections will be prescribed by the veterinarian, you should not prescribe the drug yourself.

The statistics say that spayed dogs (females) need less insulin. Carrying out this operation does not mean that everything will return to normal - insulin will still have to be injected.

The basis of special nutrition is uniformity.

Sugar with food comes gradually, not jumps. The veterinarian may recommend special medical food, will prescribe an individual diet.

Nutrition

The diet consists of high protein foods that are low in sugar.

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

Prevention

Veterinarians advise weight control: rare patients present with diabetes at normal weight. Therefore it is necessary:

monitor the nutrition of the pet;
give him physical activity;
regularly, up to twice a year to bring for examination.

Diabetes, of course, is not curable, but the first rule of living with such a dog is not to single it out in any way. The main thing to remember is diabetes with an adequate regime does not affect life expectancy!

Additionally, check out a short video about the disease diabetes in dogs:

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

Many medications that are used in the treatment of humans are practically useless for dogs. Most often, the disease occurs in pets from seven to nine years old. 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 the dog live a full life and no one will even suspect that your pet has any problems. The main part of the treatment process is proper nutrition.

What is diabetes in dogs?

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease characterized by the following characteristics:

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

The disease is of two types:

absolute insufficiency associated with a decrease in insulin production;
relative insufficiency, which is based on the resistance of tissues 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.
Organ cells do not distinguish between glucose.

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

The massive breakdown of fats leads to the fact that many ketone bodies are formed in the body, which can later be found in the urine. The owner can even smell the acetone on the pet's breath. This leads to an increase in acidity. As a result, a condition can develop that poses a threat to the life of the dog.

Causes of Diabetes in Dogs

An important role in the formation of the disease is played by hereditary predisposition. Yet 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;
glycosuria. Sugar in the blood becomes so high that it begins to come out with urine. Glucose takes a lot of water with it;
weakness, lethargy;
weakness of the hind limbs due to damage to the nerve fibers;
strong appetite. Due to the fact that the cells of the pancreas 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;
vision loss. Hyperglycemia leads to clouding of the lens;
obesity;
weight loss. The body consumes energy reserves in the muscles, after which the breakdown of proteins and fats already occurs. As a result of this, the dog takes a lot of food, but at the same time does not gain weight, but rather loses it;
urine becomes liquid, light pale yellow. It has a specific sweetish-sugary smell.

The above symptoms may appear either individually or in combination. Obesity can result from malnutrition, polyuria and polydyspepsia from kidney 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;
small pulse wave;
tachycardia;
swelling;
lowering the temperature;
hair loss;
extinction of sexual reflexes;
eczema, furunculosis;
the skin is dry and hard;
hypotension.

The disease is characterized by a slow course, sometimes even for several years. Diabetes can be latent and not accompanied by clinical symptoms.

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

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

The owner of the dog may pay attention to one specific symptom: the pet refuses dry food. This is due to the fact that it has little water and a high salt content.

Diagnosis of Diabetes in Dogs

In order to make a definitive diagnosis, it is not enough just to detect one of the above signs. Each of the symptoms may indicate the presence of other diseases, it is not necessary that it is diabetes.

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

Diagnosis helps to establish the diagnosis, as well as identify related problems and complications that have arisen. To make a diagnosis, you will need to pass a series of studies:

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

Complications of Diabetes in Dogs

A long course of diabetes mellitus can result in a critical condition - ketoacidosis. Oxidation of the blood is fatal. Diabetic ketoacidosis is manifested by the following symptoms:

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

The animal needs intensive care and the use of short-acting insulin.

Treatment of Diabetes in Dogs

Treatment is carried out in stages:

Initial examination and laboratory confirmation of the diagnosis. Comprehensive examination and determination of the tactics of the treatment process.
Teaching the owner how to take blood for glucometry, as well as explaining the principles of insulin therapy: rules for storage, collection and administration.
After stabilization of the glucose level, cataract surgery, if necessary, is performed, as well as sterilization.
Preventive examination and adjustment of dosages of genetically engineered insulin. Selection of diet food.

If the owner takes proper care of his pet, then outwardly the disease may not manifest itself in any way. You may need insulin injections. The dosage is selected by the doctor, based on the weight of the animal and previous experience. The amount and frequency of insulin administration is adjusted to the response of the pet.

Caring owners even build a glycemic curve. After administering insulin for 24 hours, the blood sugar level is checked every hour. This allows you to determine when it starts to act, for how long and how much.

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, it is not possible to stabilize the condition of the pet. This is explained by the following reasons:

improper administration of insulin;
low-quality insulin;
antibodies to insulin;
obesity;
insulin resistance;
associated 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 has the ability to produce insulin, but due to vomiting or loss of appetite, the use of insulin is limited;
Vanadium. It has insulin-like properties. Available as a vitamin supplement;
Acarbose. It helps to ensure that glucose enters the intestines gradually. As a result, a more or less even level of sugar is maintained in the blood. It is capable of causing side effects, therefore it is used only if insulin therapy does not allow coping 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 smeared on the gum or tongue of the animal. Hypoglycemia can even be fatal if left untreated.

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 food and the frequency of meals. Glucose should 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 weight, the worse the cells of the pancreas will perceive insulin. The basis of the dog's diet should be food rich in protein and containing a small amount of sugar. Fried, fatty, pastries, canned - all this can be deadly for an animal.

It is better not to buy dog treats in the store. Typically, industrial products contain a lot of sugar and fat. If you want to encourage an animal, then it is best to give preference to cubes, which include proteins and fibers: chicken, zucchini.

Forbidden foods for diabetes

Dogs should never be given the following foods:

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

Food for dogs with diabetes

Of course regular food won't work. It contains a large amount of carbohydrates and fats. Suitable dietary food that contains a minimum amount of calories. Special medical food for dogs with diabetes is on sale. In such products, simple carbohydrates are replaced by complex ones, such as grains and fiber. They are sold dry and canned.

Myths about diabetes in dogs

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

It is useless to treat a pet, it is a waste of time and money, he will die anyway. In fact, treatment 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 in many owners are brought to automaticity and are absolutely painless.
Insulin is a toxic drug that will do more harm than good. Modern insulins are distinguished by high rates of efficacy and safety. They only affect blood glucose levels. According to experts, for more than a decade of practice of using modern insulins, no side effects have been detected.
If the dog has high sugar, but she feels good, 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 level of glucose, this will not stop the pathological process.
Special canine insulin is very difficult to obtain and expensive. There is no special insulin for dogs; human genetically engineered insulins are used in the treatment of animals.
If a cataract has developed on the background of diabetes, then nothing can be done, the dog will go blind anyway. This is not so, the disease is amenable to surgical treatment.

Conclusion

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

The main manifestations of the disease are thirst, frequent urge to urinate, increased appetite, 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 abandon store 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 medical recommendations will help make your pet's life full!

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

Causes and types of diabetes in dogs

Risk factors for the disease include:

Obesity;

Chronic pancreatitis;

stress;

Hypodynamia;

Hormonal disorders;

Heredity.

As in humans, there are two types of disease in dogs: I (insulin-dependent) and II (insulin-independent). Both types are characterized by insulin deficiency, but in the first case it is absolute, and in the second - 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 content, which has a devastating effect on the digestive 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 pronounced symptoms. The pancreas produces insulin in a sufficient or slightly reduced amount, but the cells of the body do not perceive the hormone. With inadequate or untimely treatment, the disease can degenerate into type I diabetes, as well as 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 alert to changes in the behavior and condition of a four-legged friend.

The following clinical manifestations indicate the appearance of diabetes in dogs:

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

Dehydration and intense perpetual thirst: the animal tries to compensate for the loss of fluid by increasing water intake.

Blurred vision, cataracts, cloudy lens: Elevated sugar levels damage the blood vessels in the retina.

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

The smell of acetone from the mouth.

Lethargy, apathy, depression.

Enlargement of the liver, noticeable on palpation.

Gastrointestinal disorders: abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea.

Skin pathologies, hair loss.

Rarely, the animal develops 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, an 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 concentration, hormonal levels and urine. If pathology is suspected, an ECG and ultrasound of the digestive tract are necessary.

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

To regulate the water balance, the animal is shown vitamin-mineral complexes, pituirine injections (intramuscularly) and instillation of adiurecrin into the nasal passages. Remember that diabetes is not a sentence, with timely and proper treatment, you can minimize insulin injections and achieve stable remission.

dog diet

A diabetic pet needs a carefully selected fractional diet. Feed the dog in the same small portions at the same time up to six times a day. Alkaline mineral water is well suited to quench your thirst. Veterinarians recommend supplementing nutrition with L-carnitine, selenium, zinc, magnesium, vitamins A, B6, B12, E. These elements are responsible for improving cell susceptibility to insulin and stimulating glucose uptake.

Food for a diabetic dog is characterized by a high content of proteins and fiber. Fat-free dairy products, dietary meats (turkey, veal, beef, rabbit meat), boiled egg white, steam omelet, cabbage, pumpkin, Jerusalem artichoke, zucchini are allowed.

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 should be completely excluded from the diet: onions, beans, carrots, beets, potatoes, garlic.

Preventive measures

Since in 80% of cases, diabetes in dogs is a hereditary disease, it is not necessary to talk about the prevention of the disease. However, owners can reduce the risk of pathology if they adhere to the following recommendations:

Control the nutrition of the animal, avoid overfeeding. Eliminate fatty, sweet, starchy, spicy, smoked and fried foods. A balanced menu should include complex carbohydrates, fiber, and high quality proteins.

Give your pet an active lifestyle. Physical exercise, long walks and games prevent the occurrence of excess weight. Avoid stress.

Bitches prone to diabetes should be neutered.

Take 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 suffering from diabetes: Labrador, Dachshund, Pomeranian, Pug, Doberman, Miniature Poodle, Beagle.

Diabetes is one of the most common diseases in dogs. Despite the fact that the disease is not fatal and treatable, it requires significant adjustments in the maintenance of a pet, which for the most part relate to nutrition.

Causes of the disease

Pathology is manifested in metabolic disorders, which occurs due to an increase in blood glucose. Under the influence of insulin, sugar is absorbed by the cells of the body and serves as a source of energy. The mechanism for the development of diabetes 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, the absorption of glucose stops. Carbohydrate starvation occurs, accompanied by exhaustion.

The critical age for the onset of diabetes 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 the age of 7.

Speaking about the causes contributing 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;
pathology of the pancreas (inflammation, chronic insufficiency);
changes in the hormonal background during pregnancy, estrus, due to medication, etc .;
unbalanced diet.

In females, the disease is diagnosed more often than in males.

Which breeds are more susceptible

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

Symptoms

Pathology can be suspected by the following signs:

polydipsia (increased thirst);
salivation is frequent, the consistency of saliva is sticky and viscous;
polyuria (increased urination), while the dog goes to the toilet often, but urine is excreted in large quantities;
polyphagia (gluttony), which is characterized by eating habitual portions at great speed;
weight deficit up to exhaustion - the dog's ribs are clearly visible, the stomach empties;
cardiopalmus;
unpleasant sour smell 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 behavior of the dog also changes. She becomes lethargic, lethargic, moves little and shows no interest in walking. If the dog is street, then it is much more difficult to notice his characteristic signs, except that painful thinness immediately catches the eye.

Diagnostics in the veterinary clinic

To make a correct diagnosis, the doctor will need not only to examine the dog for signs characteristic of diabetes, but also to 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;
glucosemetry;
Ultrasound of the pancreas (other organs - if necessary).

If the doctor diagnoses "diabetes mellitus", he prescribes the appropriate treatment, which will depend on the form of the pathology, the age of the dog and the state of health.

Method of treatment and prognosis

The principle of treatment of 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, therefore, it will be necessary to monitor the level of sugar and prevent its increase in the blood throughout the life of a pet.

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

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

Convenient places for the introduction of insulin are the abdomen, chest, withers. Fingers form a skin fold, 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 assesses the general health and behavior of the dog: the frequency of urination, weight gain, increased appetite. If the dosage of insulin is chosen correctly, then the main signs of diabetes disappear.

It is very important to remember that an excess of insulin for a dog is just as dangerous as its deficiency. So, if the owner does not remember whether he injected the drug or not, it is better not to risk it and skip one injection. Otherwise, the dog may develop Somoji 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 scheme, it can be expected 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 well-being of the animal.

What to do at home

Treatment of a dog should be under the strict supervision of a specialist, none of the folk remedies for the treatment of diabetes is effective. Every responsible owner should remember this. Moreover, passion for various herbs can only aggravate the course of the disease and provoke a fatal outcome.

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

The first thing to do is to feed and water the dog - if he is conscious. Next, you should enter 1-2 ampoules of glucose into your mouth (drip). If a pet has lost consciousness, he needs to pour a little sugar on his tongue (spread 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. Against the background of a progressive disease, a dog may develop heart and kidney failure, cirrhosis of the liver, and blindness. Thus, we can say that if you do not engage in treatment, diabetes will hit all the organs and systems of the body, which will inevitably lead to death.

Prevention measures (diet)

Almost any disease can be prevented, including diabetes. You can protect your pet from a terrible pathology with the help of preventive measures:

Sterilization. This will save the dog from hormonal fluctuations.
Strict weight control. If a four-legged pet has a tendency to obesity, it is better to transfer it to specialized feed.
Increasing physical activity, long walks, visiting dog playgrounds, classes with a dog handler.
Balanced diet.
Periodic checkups by a veterinarian.

If a dog has been diagnosed with diabetes, it is advisable to switch to a five-time fractional meal, carried out at the same time. An insulin injection is given before feeding.

With obesity, first they achieve weight stabilization, and then they switch to a strict dietary diet. It is important that the weight of the pet does not exceed the allowable limits.

The diet of the animal should be dominated by protein, fiber, the amount of carbohydrates should be minimized. The predominant products should be poultry meat, beef, sea fish, offal, cottage cheese, vegetables. Treats, white rice, canned food, bones, fatty meat, oatmeal, wheat and corn flour, seasonings are excluded from the diet.

As for the liquid consumed, it is advisable to add a small amount of baking soda to ordinary drinking water (per 1 cup 1/3 teaspoon without top).