Diabetes In Dogs

Not too many people are aware of the fact that human beings are not the only ones that can be afflicted with the condition of diabetes. This is because there is also such a thing as canine diabetes. This is actually a serious disease that is more endocrine in nature, and the most common type there is IDDM, or insulin dependent type II diabetes mellitus. IDDM is similar to the adult onset of diabetes in the dog’s human counterpart. The other kind of canine diabetes is known as diabetes insipidus. Diabetes insipidus is actually caused by the insufficient amount of the hormone known as vasopressin. This is an antidiuretic hormone that regulates the kidney’s water reabsorption abilities.

Being the more common in dogs, IDDM actually pertains to insulin deficiency. Insulin is also another hormone that is responsible for sugar metabolism. Statistics show that the highest number of occurrences is actually in obese dogs aged 5 to 7 years. Interestingly, female dogs are more prone to the development of IDDM. Spaying is one method that can be employed to help stabilize the insulin levels in female dogs. What happens here is the elimination of the interaction of the hormones in the female dog with their blood sugar levels.

There are a number of symptoms that you should be on the lookout for when determining whether or not your dog has diabetes. These include the excessive consumption of water, frequent episodes of urination, significant weight gain, and increased lethargic episodes even during the day. However, there are also some cases when the afflicted dog would suffer significant weight loss. As rare as these cases may be, there is still much reason to be on the lookout.

If your dog exhibits some or all of these symptoms, then do not hesitate to consult your veterinarian right away. Of course, there really is no need to panic right away because diabetes is a disease that is completely manageable. However, if left untreated, canine diabetes can pave the way to more severe complications, such as cataracts and urinary tract infections. Thus, if the circumstances look a little too suspicious for comfort already, then you should go ahead and consult your veterinarian right away. Just to be on the safe side, it is actually recommended to schedule an annual full physical exam for your dog.

Once a diet plan and an exercise program are created for your dog, you have to be vigilant in adhering to it, as a pet owner. Thus, you have to be ready for this added responsibility on your part.