Diabetes in dogs – how to care for a diabetic dog
Diabetes in dogs is very similar in some respects to diabetes in humans. There are two types of canine diabetes – Type 1 in which the pancreas fails to produce enough of the hormone known as “insulin†and type 2 where the body’s cells cannot properly take up the insulin.
In dogs, the purpose of insulin is to enable the cells to absorb glucose which is then used to produce energy. In thediabetic dog, glucose remains in the bloodstream and is eventually expelled in the urine.
Diabetes in dogs, if left untreated, can have some serious health effects on your dog. Cells deprived of glucose cannot properly reproduce, leaving the animal without energy to grow and thrive. The kidneys carry the load of disposing of excess glucose which can lead to kidney failure. Your dog’s eyes are also affected due to the effect of high blood glucose on the small blood vessels which serve the retina. This can lead to failing vision and eventual blindness.
What are the symptoms of diabetes in dogs?
Canine diabetes symptoms are easy to spot. The first and most obvious is an increasing thirst, brought on by the body’s need to rid itself of glucose. This is also accompanied by frequent urination. Your dog may also lose weight, although this can also be a symptom of other canine diseases. Failing eyesight and unpleasant breath are other canine diabetes symptoms to watch for.
Some dog owners worry that they might have somehow caused their dog to develop canine diabetes. This is extremely unlikely as diabetes in dogs can have many causes, a common one being genetic predisposition. Older dogs are also more at risk. Excess weight can also lead to a diabetic dog, so reducing your dog’s body fat will definitely help.
Losing weight can reverse canine diabetes
Treating diabetes in dogs can be as simple as reducing your dog’s weight. This always helps although a cure will only happen in mild cases of the disease, or if your dog is diagnosed promptly. More severe cases will require medication and even insulin injections. Once the disease has reached this stage is needs constant monitoring and can be time consuming and difficult to manage for dog owners. There are complications such as hypoglycaemia (too much insulin) which can be life threatening.
Preventing diabetes in dogs is a lot easier than trying to cure it and there are simple things that an owner can do. The most important one is to watch your dog’s diet. The best food for a diabetic dog consists of raw foods that are low in carbohydrates and especially sugar. Several small meals are better than one large meal which may cause an insulin spike.
Effective herbal remedies such as GlucoEnsurecan maintain normal glucose levels in the blood and support pancreatic health. GlucoEnsure can be used as a preventative for canine diabetes and a general health tonic or may be used to support the health and energy of dogs who have already developed diabetes.
“Our vet is very happy with us after making diet changes and using GlucoEnsure – our dog has received a clean bill of health! She has just turned 10 years old and is back to her former self again– that is thanks to Pet Alive! I like that you stress the health aspects and not just taking pills. Thank you for your help. We will definitely return when we need to.â€â€”Steve B
Here is a link to a trusted site with more information on diabetes in dogs.
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