Diabetes is a common disorder in dogs and cats. With proper management, your diabetic pet can live happily for many years.
Animals with diabetes have a problem with glucose metabolism.
All dogs and some cats with diabetes have Type 1 Diabetes. This means they do not produce enough insulin. Insulin is a little biological key that allows glucose absorbed from eating food to move from the blood stream into the bodies cells to be used as energy. Without insulin, the level of glucose in the blood stream builds up and makes your pet unwell.
Animals with high blood glucose are lethargic, drink a lot of water, urinate a lot and lose weight. Untreated diabetes will cause a problem called ketoacidosis where animals become very sick and need intensive care.
Most cats with diabetes have Type 2 Diabetes. These cats are still producing insulin, but have become insulin resistant. The signs are the same but management can be more difficult. Once Type 2 diabetic cats become stabilized on regular insulin injection the insulin resistance may somewhat resolve and less insulin is needed.
Diabetic cats need to be monitored for hypoglycaemia (blood glucose that is too low). These cats can have lethargy, twitching, become unconscious or have seizures. With any suspicion of hypoglycaemia insulin should be stopped and your cat should be fed small meals and often.
Diabetic dogs will nearly always develop significant cataracts in their eyes leading to blindness over time. Your veterinarian can counsel you on the best management of this unfortunate side effect.
Your pet will be diagnosed by using blood and urine tests. Once treatment is started it can take the next few months with repeated testing and adjusting insulin injection levels. Your veterinarian will need to monitor things carefully. Other underlying problems such as Cushing’s Disease or urinary tract infections can make stabilization very difficult.
Simple monitoring is important. As your pet responds to insulin treatment they will get back to a more healthy weight and drink a more normal amount of water.
Diabetic animals at Pittwater Animal Hospital are monitored with Glucose Curves, Urine Testing and Medication Reviews.
Diabetic animals are often checked at regular intervals when first diagnosed. Most animals will come in for a day procedure called a Glucose Curve within the first week of diagnosis. Repeat glucose curves are needed in the first few months to find your animals optimum insulin dose and feeding regime.
Once the diabetes stabilizes, the glucose curves are done less often but your pet will need regular medication reviews. These are very valuable examinations combined with blood tests and urine tests. Diabetic animals are prone to developing other problems and a medication review is a vital tool to pick up these problems early before they destabilise your pet’s health.
Contact us for more information.
Advice for caring for an unwell or elderly pet.
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