Mary Allen
Diabetes is a common disease that affects both humans and dogs. It can have serious consequences if it is not detected and treated in time, but with the right treatment, many can still live a good life.
Diabetes in dogs can manifest itself in different ways. is either due to the dog lacking insulin because the pancreas is damaged or has poorer function due to illness. Or the reason may be that the dog produces insulin that the body cannot use.
– Regardless of the cause, the symptoms are the same. The cells can not absorb the sugar and it rises in the bloodstream, says Mikael Svensson, a veterinarian at Läckeby Animal Hospital.
How do you find out if your dog has diabetes? The most common symptoms are that it drinks a lot and that it urinates a lot and that it has an increased appetite, but still loses weight. Fatigue and visual impairment are other symptoms.
– Often the dog becomes very, very thirsty if it has been affected by diabetes. Since the symptoms can also be due to other diseases, such as urinary tract infection and uterine inflammation, which also require treatment, it is important to see a veterinarian if you notice a large change in the dog, says Mikael Svensson.
Better treatment methods
The treatment methods have improved, while more people have their dogs insured and can afford to treat the dog. As a result, more and more dogs are living with diabetes.
– Having a dog with diabetes costs both time and money. The dog must receive his insulin injection once or twice a day. In addition, regular return visits to the vet are needed. Having the dog insured should be a matter of course.
The alternative to treatment is to let the dog fall asleep. Whether the dog can be treated depends on how bad it is when it comes to the vet, and whether it has other diseases that can make insulin treatment more difficult. Diabetes can quickly become acutely life-threatening.
Mikael Svensson says that diabetes is more common in certain breeds; greyhound, samoyed, and cairn terrier. But all races can be affected. Because some breeds are more affected than others, there seems to be some heredity.
In bitches, it is often seen that diabetes breaks out in connection with the fact that they are running or pregnant. This type of diabetes is hormone-dependent.
– If diabetes occurs in connection with the race and you are quick to neuter the bitch, the disease can sometimes go back so that the dog can do without insulin after a period of treatment, says Mikael Svensson.
Important with regularity
The most important thing for a diabetic dog is regular feeding and medication, as well as exercise. Then the blood sugar fluctuations decrease. The treatment is individual, usually, the dog needs to be injected with insulin twice a day. The dog owner can give the injections himself and the dog usually gets used to it quickly.