Coping With Dog Diabetes

Thirsty GuyDog Diabetes Maintenance Tips

If your dog has been diagnosed with diabetes you will need a regular routine in order to maintain his or her health. Treating diabetes in dogs (and cats)  involves monitoring the blood sugar and insulin levels, administering injections as well as the diet and regular exercise.

You will need to do this on a daily basis at home. For the diet you will need to learn and understand the basics of healthy home care to manage a diabetic dog effectively.

Once the symptoms of diabetes in dogs have led to a confirmed diagnosis, the goal of treatment for diabetes is to control the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Efficient control can help your pet in leading a comfortable life On the other hand uncontrolled hyperglycemia (abnormally high blood sugar) can shorten life span due to complications like kidney disease, retinopathy and arteriosclerosis.

Insulin Injections

Insulin must be administered at the time suggested by the veterinarian. Administration of the correct recommended dose is also important. Try to keep the dose as close as prescribed by understanding the markings on the syringe that you are using. Note that the markings on syringes may vary according to size of the syringe.

Injections administered should be subcutaneous (under the skin) and learning how to inject needs a little practice. Your  veterinarian will show you how and  once you have done it in front of him or her a couple of times it is pretty easy.

Monitoring Blood Sugar

Old FellaA drop of blood is required to test for high sugar levels. Monitor how your dog responds to exogenous insulin by using a glucose monitoring kit. The blood is smeared onto special glucose test strips so that you can quickly see the results. Different colors represent normal to danger zone of sugar level. In case of doubt, consult your veterinarian.

It is advisable to keep a record of the test strip results and the amount of insulin injected. A study of this record will help you in understanding the relation between dosage and level of sugar in the urine and also give a definite picture to veterinarian on your next visit. There is a marvelous blood glucose monitoring system from Bayer that connects to your computer so you can easily view the test results, your dog’s history and also any trends.

Managing The Diet

Diet plays an extremely important role in controlling blood sugar. Glucose is the primary source of energy in the body and it cannot be totally avoided. Many foods contain substances that are rich in sugar content even if they are not sweet to taste. Feed your dog with a diet that has high fiber content. A diet low in carbohydrates and fats is also recommended. The meal time schedule is related to the time of the insulin injections. Make sure you have discussed this with your vet.

Regular Exercise Is Good

You need a regular exercise regime, note the word regular, to help in maintaining blood sugar levels. Such a practice may even lead to a reduction of insulin dosage over time. Make sure that you carry some source of sugar like corn syrup or honey in case of an insulin reaction especially when you are taking your dog out for a walk or exercise. As soon as you see any symptoms of hypoglycemia (abnormally low blood sugar) immediately rub some on the gums and take him to the veterinarian immediately.

Diabetes in dogs is a manageable disease and there is no reason why your dog  cannot survive and lead a normal, healthy and active life even after being diagnosed with dog diabetes.

Based on an article from NativeRemedies.com

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Diabetes and Dogs

Diabetic DogAn Overview of Diabetes and Dogs

It is not meant to sound alarmist but diabetes in dogs is quite a common disease. Please don’t panic just yet though because it is not the worst thing in the world, not  by a long way.

Diabetes in dogs is perfectly manageable if you take the proper actions. Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels and medication, diet and exercise are the areas you will need to concentrate on to control the diabetes or diabetes mellitus to give it its proper name.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition where blood sugar levels rise due to the inability of pancreas to produce enough insulin to manage glucose (a primary sugar) in the food that the dog ingests. In another situation, cells become resistant to the action of insulin, which also results in a high blood sugar level. If not managed within reasonable time, it leads to abnormally high blood sugar levels, a condition known as hyperglycemia.

High blood sugar results when the dog’s body is unable to process and convert glucose to energy for maintaining healthy growth. The excess glucose in the blood has to go somewhere if it is not used by the body’s systems and it leaks over to the urine. This leads to excessive urination (polyuria). As fluids in the body reduce, the dog feels the need to drink more (polydipsia) to compensate the loss due to excessive urination.

Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs

  • Excessive thirst
  • Excessive urination
  • Poor skin and hair coat
  • Frequent bladder infections
  • Loss of appetite and weight loss

Diabetes is a serious disease and will lead to a premature death if left untreated by your veterinarian. If  you see these symptoms of diabetes in dogs or even suspect diabetes, the high blood sugar levels produce clinical symptoms that can help in early detection. If left unattended further symptoms may be observed such as vomiting, diabetic neuropathy, especially weakness in rear legs and dehydration.

Diabetes can progress and cause some life threatening disorders like diabetic acidosis, a condition of abnormally high acidity accompanied by an accumulation of ketone bodies. Some of the other complications arising out of unregulated blood sugar levels include liver and kidney dysfunction and blindness.

Scotty

What Causes Diabetes in Dogs?

The cause of diabetes still remains a mystery despite large amounts of research that has been initiated in this area. Chronic inflammation of the pancreas and genetic predisposition are often suspected to be the cause in most of the cases. Breeds like Poodles, Schnauzers, Keeshounds, Cairn Terriers, Dachshunds, Cocker Spaniels and Beagles are more predisposed to developing diabetes.

Once your dog has been diagnosed for diabetes, close monitoring of diet and regular checking of blood sugar levels is necessary. Minor increase in blood sugar can be managed by controlling and regulating diet. Abnormally high levels require insulin injections. Injection of insulin needs to be correlated with the amount, quality and timing of food intake.

Caring For Diabetes and Dogs

If you are taking care of your dog at home, make sure you get proper instructions about how and when to inject insulin on your own. Since excess insulin can lead to hypoglycemia or extremely low blood sugar levels, this is another area that you must understand well. For more information about diabetes and dogs read “Coping With Dog Diabetes” – Dog Diabetes Maintenance Tips

Adopting a healthy diet and a regular exercise routine will also have great benefits for your dog and lead to a longer, happier life. You can get more free tips on keeping your pet healthy when you click here.


Original article by PetAlive.com

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