Diabetes in dogs: Telltale signs you should see a vet

The signs aren’t always easy to pick up at first.

And if your dog is older, it can be easy to chalk up to some of the small signs of diabetes to just part of “the old girl” is getting up there in years.

But, here’s the good news: For dogs, diabetes is a chronic, manageable condition. In fact, many canines can live full, happy lives for years after their initial diagnosis.

Causes

The National Institute of Health lists obesity and breed as two of the main risk factors for diabetes. Older dogs and unspayed females also have a higher chance of getting diabetes.

The most common breeds diagnosed with diabetes are:

• Samoyed
• Miniature Poodle
• Toy Poodle
• Pug
• Terriers (Tibetan, Cairn, Yorkshire and Fox)
• Bichon Frisé
• Dachshund
• Siberian Husky

Signs of diabetes

Four of the early signs of diabetes in dogs are:

• Excessive thirst. The dog may drink frequently and empty the water bowl more often.
• Increased urination. The dog may ask to go outside frequently and may start having “accidents” in the house. This happens because the body is trying to get rid of excess sugar by sending it out through urine.
• Weight loss. The dog can lose weight despite eating normal portions. This is because the dog isn’t efficiently converting nutrients from its food.
• Increased appetite. The dog can be very hungry all the time because the body’s cells aren’t getting all the glucose they need.

If you see any of these signs, get your dog to the vet immediately. Please be on the lookout should your dog’s eyes get cloudy or opaque. Many dogs with diabetes get cataracts.

Diagnosis

Your vet will run tests to check for hyperglycemia and glucose in the urine. They may also check for urinary tract infection. But once diagnosed, treatment is fairly straightforward, if time-consuming, at the beginning.

Treatment

Treatment for a diabetic dog usually lasts for the duration of the dog’s life. Generally, treatment comprises of daily insulin injections and several other factors. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, these include:

• A high-fiber diet is often recommended.
• Daily exercise is strongly recommended. Your veterinarian can prescribe an appropriate exercise program for your pet. They should consider factors such as weight, health and age.
• Owners should consider spaying female dogs diagnosed with diabetes.

And while it can be scary for us, veterinarians say that the prognosis for a happy, healthy dog are good.

Pet MD points out that, “Dogs with diabetes can live a happy life without any symptoms of their disease …. If you are able to give your dog insulin, diabetes may not affect life expectancy.”

Diabetes and pet insurance

Diabetes treatment can be expensive, especially during the first several weeks. Even after your dog’s levels have been stabilized, there’s still the ongoing costs of insulin, syringes and occasional follow-up testing.

That’s why it’s important to get pet insurance when your dog is younger, and less likely to be at risk for diabetes.