Diabetic Dogs

You think your senior dog is safe from diabetes because he is not overweight? Think twice and assess your dog more closely. Even some healthy looking dogs are diabetic. Any dog is at risk. They say that the difficult part is for the care giver. He is faced to different decisions that will greatly affect his pet’s life. Will he do anything to save his dog’s life? Will he make good decisions for his seriously ill buddy?

Wyoming veterinarian Mary Flitner is an expert in large animal surgery. She received her D.V.M degree at Colorado State University. She states that diabetes is common to dogs and cats more than we realize. Overweight and under exercised dogs are more likely to develop this.

Flitner states that Canine diabetes usually develops as the dog gets older. His metabolic processes slow down and he tends to cease his usual everyday activities. Due to lack of physical body actions, his body will partially stop using body insulin. The body has natural insulin that works to combat the glucose that is not used by the body. This glucose comes from sugar that we eat and from fats that we consume.

Improper diet also contributes greatly to diabetic development. A diet rich in fiber and low in fat and sugar is the most appropriate for diabetic dogs. Some caregivers whose dogs are not yet diagnosed would give them food left-over. Flitner says that they put their pet at a greater risk. Commercial pet foods are not good for dogs either because it contains excessive sugar and fillers to make it taste better.

You will know if your dog has diabetes if he shows these signs:

Too much water intake. This is the dog’s way to flush out all the glucose in his kidneys and blood because insulin can’t do the job.

Increase in appetite.

Incontinence.

Lethargy or sluggishness.

Changes in eyes like cataracts.

Lack of coordination.

Vomiting.

If these symptoms are present in your dog, you should consult a veterinarian for diagnosis at once and discuss the possible treatments available for your dog. Some pet owners who find out their dog’s diabetes would think that it would be difficult for them to handle the problem. Some would even suggest euthanasia for their pet.

Pet owners who stood a good position for their dog’s health have them return to their normal life. They once again live their active life like nothing serious happened to them some months ago.