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Diabetes
Mellitus - Canine
Animals are very
similar to humans in a number of ways, including some of the medical conditions
we see. Diabetes in dogs is very similar to the form of diabetes seen in
children. This form is responsive to Insulin which is different from the form
seen in older adults.
What is it?
In most dogs it
means a deficiency of Insulin. Insulin is needed by all cells to allow glucose
to enter them to be used as an energy source. When glucose can’t enter the
cells the levels in the blood rise and stay high leading to a myriad of
problems.
Clinical signs
• Excess
drinking & urinating because when the high levels of glucose are excreted in
the urine they take water with them.
• Weight loss
because when the cells can’t use glucose for energy so they start to
metabolise the body’s fat stores.
• Excess eating
because glucose can’t enter the cells in the brain which regulate appetite.
As diabetes
progresses a condition called ketoacidosis can occur in which case the dog can
become very sick. This occurs due to the excess fat metabolism by the body due
to the inability to use glucose.
Other problems
that occur due to diabetes are:
• cataracts
• skin
problems
• urinary
tract infections
• other
infections
Diagnosis
There are 2 types
of tests we perform to diagnose diabetes mellitus:
1.Urine tests for
glucose and ketone levels
2.Blood tests for glucose levels and other biochemistry
Once we are
suspecting the diagnosis is diabetes mellitus we will send blood to the lab to
confirm this and to look for any concurrent problems which may be contributing
to the diabetes
Treatment
Daily Insulin
injections is the mainstay of treatment of diabetes in dogs. The aim of the
treatment is to keep the blood glucose levels in the normal range for as long as
possible throughout the day. There is no set dose of insulin which can be used
to treat all cases. The dose needed will vary from case to case depending on the
dog itself, weight, diet and exercise. When a suitable dose has been arrived at
then these factors ie weight, diet & exercise should be kept as constant as
possible.
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