Canine Diabetes Symptoms
So, your little dog Spot has not been acting like himself and your brother told you that Spot could have diabetes. What? You didn’t even know that dogs could have diabetes – so you are here looking for answers to some questions. Hopefully we can help you with your questions.
Diabetes mellitus is a very common disease in dogs – and it seems to be most common in dogs that are obese. There are also certain breeds of dogs that seem to be more prone to diabetes mellitus. They are:
- Schnauzers
- Poodles
- Keeshounds
- Dachshunds
- Cairm Terriers
- Cocker Spaniels
- Beagles
But a diagnosis of diabetes is not anything to be afraid of as dogs can live for years after their blood sugar is regulated.
If your dog is one of the breeds that are predisposed and has any of the above symptoms, he needs to be taken to the vet or doctor who regularly sees him. The vet will be able to run blood tests and make a diagnosis fairly quickly. Then he will help you with getting your dog’s blood levels back to normal.
Diabetes in dogs is much like diabetes in humans. Cells in the pancreas secrete the hormone insulin but if for some reason the cells stop making enough insulin or if the cells become resistant to insulin, their blood sugar gets out of normal levels and the dog develops hyperglycemia. It is believed that diabetes in dogs can develop because of pancreatitis which is chronic or it could be cause simply by heredity.
Symptoms of diabetes in a dog can include:
- Excessive thirst
- Weight loss
- Excessive urination
- Increase appetite
- Dehydration
- Sudden cataract formation
But there are some dogs that may not have any symptoms and that is why your pet should have regular yearly checkups.
If diabetes remains uncontrolled or undiagnosed the dog may become ketotic. This leads to additional symptom such as:
- Weakness
- Depression
- Vomiting
- Rapid breathing
- Breath with the odor of acetone
If your dog develops any of these symptoms, you should seek medical attention immediately.
