Diabetes Disease in Cats & Dogs

Diabetes affect humans and many people do not know that cats & dogs can also be affected by diabetes. A dog or cat can have diabetes long before any symptoms show up for the owner to notice. Diabetes disease in dogs and cats can be controlled with insulin but it is not an easy task just like in people.

Diabetes generally affects dogs early in their lives, which is from a lack of insulin production and secretion by the pancreas. This particular type of diabetes is usually from genetics and can be regulated and finally managed with lifelong insulin. Cats on the other hand seem to be affected with diabetes much later in their life but there are certain factors with cats having diabetes that can have a big influence on the way that their bodies react to insulin which is genetics, weight, and even their daily diet. Even though diabetes is normally seen in certain breeds of dogs such as the Miniature Schnauzer, and in cats who are much older or overweight, diabetes can affect any dog and cat no matter if they are overweight or not and diabetes does not care what type of breed a dog is.

The purpose of insulin in the body is to help the cells absorb the glucose to use to provide the body with energy. A body's lack of insulin will tell the body to think there is not enough glucose in the blood. At this point, even though the body still has an adequate supply of insulin, the liver receives signals to begin producing more glucose by breaking down body fat and sugars stored in liver and muscle tissue. The increased amount of unneeded glucose and acid in the blood can lead to life-threatening problems.

A sure sign of diabetes in a cat or dog is frequent urination. This happens when the glucose rises to high levels in the blood and then spills out into the urine and causes more urinating from the animals than normal. Frequent urination can also lead to severe dehydration, which can lead to death if left untreated.

Other signs of diabetes in dogs or cats are:
Drinking a lot more water than normal

Body Muscle Loss

Weakness

Lethargy
Vomiting

Difficulty Breathing

Depression

Dull Coat

A simple urinalysis and CBC performed by your local veterinarian can determine whether or not your pet has diabetes. If the test does say diabetes, the animal will be kept at the hospital and insulin injections will begin and for the first few days, the animal will be watched to see how he/she reacts to the insulin and to watch for peaks in the insulin which is usually four to eight hours after each dose and if any adjustments to the dosage need to be corrected. After the animal stays at the hospital for a week, they will be sent home with the insulin and a special food formulated for diabetics in animals which is called Prescription Diet W/D. Your pet's veterinarian will go over the procedure on hoe to give the insulin shots, what to look for and how much of the special food to feed.

The needle that is used to give an animal an insulin shot is different from that which a person uses. The needle used for people with diabetes is paper thin and only about an inch long and is a 1cc Tuberculin syringe with the needle attached at the end. The needle and syringe to use for animals with diabetes is also a 1cc Tuberculin syringe but the needle is thicker and an inch longer. The reason for the needle being slightly bigger is because an animal's skin is thicker than a person's skin and if you used the paper thin needle on animals, the needle would just bend and never penetrate down into the skin.

Once the insulin dosage has become regulated in an animal, they can all live normal and happy lives but you do need to keep an eye of them frequently to watch for an overdose of insulin. Hypoglycemic shock can occur if an animal has diabetes and has never been treated for it and if blood sugar levels drop too low, this can cause seizures and eventually death. You may notice your pet is acting as if he/she is drunk and they cannot walk well. This is when you need to act fast and get their blood glucose level back up. What you can do is mix a little Karo Syrup with water and dip your finger into this and rub the sugar water on to their gums. If you have an unused syringe, fill the syringe up with the solution and squeeze only small amounts into their mouth at a time. If you do not have Karo Syrup, then you can use regular granulated sugar and make sugar water. Your pet should start responding and coming out of the insulin shock when you do this and now is the time to go to the veterinarian quickly. If you see no response from your pet within a few seconds of administering the sugar water, take your pet immediately to the vet.

Sources:

I worked as a veterinary technician for 10 years & learned a lot of valuable information.

DISCLAIMER:

I am not a licensed vet but I did learn many useful tips and information during my years working for one. The above information is intended for educational purposes only and shall not take the place of seeking professional advice from a licensed veterinarian.