Canine & Feline Diabetes

One of the benefits of pet sitting is that it gives us the opportunity to learn so many new things about pet care, nutrition, training, health issues, etc.  Among our client base, we now have a few dogs and cats who require insulin injections to treat their diabetes.  Pike, a 13 year old mixed breed, is one of those special needs clients.

During digestion, carbohydrates are converted into sugars, including glucose.  Glucose is then absorbed from the intestines into the blood stream and, in turn, provides energy to the body cells.  However, most cells require that insulin be present for the glucose to enter them.   Diabetes mellitus, or “sugar diabetes” is caused by a lack of available insulin to make that happen.  This can be due to either insufficient production of insulin by the pancreas or the failure of the body cells to respond to insulin. 

If cells cannot absorb glucose, then blood glucose concentrations become elevated (hyperglycemia).  Additionally, high levels of glucose in the urine (glycosuria) cause the diabetic pet to excrete large volumes of urine, causing dehydration and the subsequent urge to drink a lot of water.  Because an important body fuel is being lost, pets may want to eat more food but lose weight.

Typical signs of diabetes include:

·        *   Frequent urination

·         *  Drinking lots of water

·        *   Increased appetite accompanied by weight loss

A pet showing any of these signs should be taken to a veterinarian for assessment.

Diabetes typically occurs in middle aged to older dogs and is seen more often in certain breeds.  Feline diabetes also occurs more often in older cats, but there doesn’t seem to be a breed disposition.  Male cats are most commonly affected.

The long-term complications of diabetes are the result of prolonged high blood glucose levels.  Cataracts are the most common complication of canine diabetes, as can be seen in the picture of Pike.  They occur with less frequency in cats.  Hind leg weakness can also be seen in diabetic cats which results from nerve damage from high blood glucose levels and subsequent muscle weakening.

Canine and feline diabetes can be successfully managed with insulin therapy, diet and exercise.  Diabetes cannot be cured in dogs, and insulin therapy in usually required their entire lives.  Diabetic cats also generally require lifelong insulin treatment, however, some cats go into remission after a few weeks or months of treatment.  In those situations, once the blood glucose levels have been brought down by treatment, functional cells in the pancreas are able to produce enough insulin to keep up with needs.  It should be noted that remission does not mean that the cat is cured, and attention must continue to be paid to diet, lifestyle and the reoccurrence of the symptoms.  Monitoring blood sugar levels should continue as needs may change with fluctuations in weight or activity levels, or the development of other health issues.

Diet is extremely important with a pet who is on insulin therapy.  Ideally, the pet should be fed exactly the same diet every day and snacks should be avoided, with the exception of the occasional diabetic treat.  An ideal diabetes diet is high in fiber and low in fat.  Food options should be discussed with a veterinarian.  Homemade diets are also an option and should involve extensive research and veterinarian input.  Insulin therapy is most successful when pets maintain an ideal body weight.

The goal with insulin therapy is for the glucose peak resulting from digestion and the introduction of insulin to coincide as much as possible.  This prevents big variations in blood glucose concentrations.

The bad news is that your pet has diabetes.  The good news is that with dedicated treatment and attention to diet and exercise, your pet can lead a full and happy life.