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Diabetes is recognized as a human metabolic disease which results in high levels of blood glucose (sugar) that the body is unable to process. However, diabetes is not limited to humans- animals develop diabetes, too.
Diabetes is seen most commonly in cats and dogs. Unlike human diabetes, animal diabetes is not classified into different types (type 1 and type 2 in humans).
Symptoms of diabetes in pets are similar to human symptoms, but as pets cannot communicate discomfort, observation of your pet's daily routine is the only way to detect animal diabetes. Pets are most commonly stricken with diabetes in middle or old age. Occasionally diabetes emerges in younger pets where a genetic factor is at play.
Thirst and Urination
The easiest diabetes symptom spotted in pets is usually extreme thirst and excessive urination. As an animal's body tries to rid the animal of excess blood sugar, it increases urine production and the need for water. The need to void and replenish water may cause a housebroken pet to have accidents.
Hunger
Hunger is the animal's response to a lack of available food energy. The body reads the lack of metabolized sugars as a lack of food intake, and tries to remedy the situation by increasing hunger.
Loss of Appetite
Lack of interest in food may be a sign of animal diabetes when acid buildups (ketoacidosis) make the animal feel full. This is a progressive complication of diabetes that needs to be checked and remedied immediately.
Weight Loss
Unexplained animal weight loss, especially with increased food consumption, is indicative of diabetes. The body cannot access the blood glucose energy the animal has taken in, so the body metabolizes fat and protein (muscle) stores instead.
Increased Infections
Poor blood circulation and body function, coupled with increased sugars result in infections in diabetic animals. Infections may be more frequent or take longer to heal.
Eyesight Troubles
Cloudy-looking eyes or an apparent inability to see well are symptoms of diabetes. The same poor body function, circulation, and damaged blood vessels are the cause.
Mood Changes
Irritability is a common symptom of diabetes in humans and can be true in animals. Take a change in mood and behavior as a sign of possible diabetes.
Weakness
An uneven gait, stumbling, or trouble walking may indicate muscles weakened in the body's attempt to feed itself.
Vomiting
Pets with progressed, complicated diabetes may vomit when ketoacidosis is present. Ketones (acids) build up when insulin does not metabolize sugar and burns stores of fat instead.
Any of the aforementioned symptoms warrant a call to the veterinarian for further inspection. Describe all symptoms as accurately as possible when you meet, taking notes if necessary.
Your veterinarian will conduct a thorough examination. Blood and urine samples will be taken and checked for high glucose levels, indicators, and ketones. Testing your pet may require a short stay for urine collection and observation.
Additionally, the veterinarian will check your pet's eyes for telltale cataracts (a common diabetes complication), liver (for swelling) and coat (unhealthy skin and coat indicate health problems).
Treating a pet with diabetes is an overwhelming, long term commitment. Working collaboratively with a trusted veterinarian makes life easier. As time goes on and experience is gained, caring for a diabetic pet becomes part of everyday living.
Diabetes treatment strives to control levels of glucose in the blood to as close to normal as possible. How treatment begins will depend on how far the disease is progressed and if the animal is ketoacidotic, or has other complications.
Owners of animals suffering from ketoacidosis must act quickly to correct the acid buildup. Fast acting insulin and intravenous fluids will be administered. Plan for your pet to remain at the veterinarian's until ketoacidosis is corrected.
With ketones flushed, treatment will proceed as it would for a pet with diabetes uncomplicated by ketoacidosis.
Treatment follows one similar to a human regimen. Supplements such as PetAlive GlucoBalance can help to combat the effects of diabetes. Diet, exercise and insulin injections will be how your pet's diabetes is maintained. The veterinarian will develop a diet protocol and feeding schedule. Adhere to the prescribed schedule as the frequency and amount an animal is fed changes blood sugars. Everything the veterinarian plans is for a reason, and should be followed or changed only with their collaboration.
Oral Insulin may be an option for some cats, but has not been shown effective in treating diabetic dogs. For dogs, and many cats, administering insulin through injection is the only option.
Smaller animals (cats and small breed dogs) usually require twice daily injections. Larger dogs normally only require injections once per day. An animal's response to insulin is individual. Initial treatment will include monitoring blood every two hours or so. A determination is then made as to what kind of insulin to use, how much, how often, and when feeding and exercise should take place. Testing and adjustment will continue over time to maintain effectiveness.
Your veterinarian will train you in insulin injection and testing procedures; following are some basics of administering insulin to pets.
- Insulin will reduce in activity if mishandled. Follow vet and manufacturer instructions for storage and handling.
- Roll insulin in your hands to mix. Do not shake, as this can cause instability/inactivity.
- Fill syringes by measuring at the top of the black rubber stopper (closest part to plunger).
- To begin, draw air into the syringe by drawing the plunger back to the measured dose marking, then release.
- Insert the needle into the insulin bottle as far as possible but make sure the tip is in the fluid.
- Draw back the plunger to the right dose and allow insulin to fill the syringe. If unsure, draw more than necessary and push plunger to return the unneeded insulin. End with the plunger top at the correct dosage.
- If air bubbles remain in the syringe, draw a little more insulin than needed. Remove the syringe from the bottle and tap the syringe gently with the needle end up. Push the plunger to the desired dose. Air should exit first from the syringe, leaving an insulin-filled syringe.
- Inject by pinching a large fold of skin on the back of the animal's neck or back. Insert the needle into the fold of skin lengthwise. Pull back on the syringe. If air enters, the back of the fold was pierced and the needle is not inserted. If blood enters, a vessel has been hit. If nothing happens, the injection is properly placed. Push the plunger to inject the insulin.
- Choose a different spot for insulin injections each time. Injections may seem impossible at first, but once the animal is accustomed, the needles are so small they are virtually painless, and treatments will be fast and easy.
- Discard of used syringes properly.
Testing is needed to monitor the effectiveness of insulin. Levels fluctuate with changes in food and activity, weight loss, and other factors, so test monitoring is important, as well as keeping veterinary appointments so adjustments can be made when needed.
During early treatment, testing can be done using urine strips. The most difficult part of the process is urine collection. Try the following tips.
Dogs - Follow your dog during the first urination of the day and place a pan beneath the stream to collect needed urine. Only about one tablespoon is necessary.
Cats - Collection from cat litter is not accurate because of chemical treatments applied to litter. Fill the litter box with shredded paper instead. Cats remain comfortable going in their box but shredded papers absorb little, leaving you enough urine to test. If you first place a block of wood under one box end, urine will drain down and collect at the bottom. Empty and wash the box before the next collection to ensure accurate readings.
Blood collections should be done as directed by your veterinarian. Blood samples can be taken from the lip or above the tail. Ask your veterinarian for other test site recommendations and to demonstrate procedures. Sampling a pet for testing can be difficult, and generally entails pricking the skin surface to draw small points of blood; if you are not able to get blood after three sticks, wait and try again later.
A glucometer will be needed to test your animal's blood. Consider the following when shopping for a blood glucose meter for your pet: meter cost (cheaper is not always best, and may require replacement, negating savings), cost of strip refills, amount of blood needed (the less the better), how blood is collected on the strip, ease of meter use. A meter that draws blood into the test strip is usually better for use with pets. "Targets" requiring blood to be dripped onto a small point on the test strip are very difficult to use with fidgeting animals. It is generally held that test strips designed for animals are the best choice. Consult your veterinarian.
In addition to monitoring urine and blood glucose levels, watch your pet for signs of hypoglycemia. This is when blood sugar is too low, a result of insulin over-acting on low food supplies or increased animal activity. This may be because the animals ate less than expected, or vomited their food, however, insulin continues to work as if treating expected sugar levels from your pet's regular diet.
Testing helps check hypoglycemia, but look for these signs as well. Your pet is weak, more tired than normal. Your animal first appears very hungry, then becomes lethargic, perhaps stumbling.
Fast action is required to combat hypoglycemia. First offer food, or if your pet will not or cannot eat, get sugar into them fast by rubbing corn syrup on their tongue and inside of the cheek.
A working partnership with your chosen veterinarian is necessary for effective pet diabetes maintenance. Animals should be examined every two to four months to keep diabetes controlled, so it is essential to choose a vet you are comfortable visiting frequently and one whose opinions you respect. If you are not comfortable with your current veterinary choice now may be the time to find a new vet.
Pets that are well cared for, with regular maintenance and control of their diabetes, can live full lives of average length. A diagnosis of diabetes in your pet does not mean a death sentence. Learning to live with a pet with diabetes means getting educated and committing to your animal's long term care.
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