Diabetes in dogs

Diabetes in dogs is associated with impaired insulin, and this hormone produces the pancreas. Because of the imbalance, the whole body suffers. In case of late detection of the disease there may be serious consequences, including deaths. Timely diagnosis and follow-up treatment will prolong the pet's life for many years.

Predisposition to pathology

Diabetes mellitus is a genetic disease of many dog ​​breeds. At risk are:

• The beagle
• Doberman .
• Labrador Retriever .
• Poodle.
• Pomeranian spitz.
• Scottish terrier.
• And other breeds.

Doctors have determined that such a disease is most often recorded in mature individuals for 6 years. Diabetes can also overtake dogs with overweight, pancreatic diseases, and pancreatitis .

Hereditary factor plays an important role in the occurrence of diabetes, because in most cases, changes in the work of the immune system at the chromosomal level. There is a malfunction in the body, during which the immune system infects healthy cells of the pancreas. The result of this is the inability of the body to produce insulin, designed to lower the level of glucose in the blood.

If there is an excess of sugar in the body, it is deposited in the kidneys, after a certain time appears in the urine. At the same time, the dog will often run to the toilet, and the usual rations of food will not be enough, because the nutrients from the body will be removed in a short time.

Usually diabetes is already noticeable at this stage. If you do not go to the vet in time, the pet will face serious consequences.

Symptoms of diabetes in dogs

The first clinical manifestations of pathology are capable of proceeding in disguise, but over time, the following symptoms will appear:

• The pet often asks to go outside for emptying, while the urine changes its shade, it becomes light yellow.
• The dog wants to drink all the time, when viewed from the mucous membrane of the mouth dry.
• Wool and undercoat become dull, begin to fall out, lose their former appearance - this is due to a lack of nutrients.
• The dog eats more than usual, but at the same time its weight stays in place or begins to fall heavily.
• The dog’s weight may be reduced by vomiting or diarrhea .
• The animal prefers to spend more time in the prone position, refuses to take long walks.
• From the mouth it smells unpleasant, the smell resembles rot.
• If a dog cuts a paw or any other wound appears on its body, the healing process takes 2 times longer.
• Sexual activity is reduced.
• On examination, it is possible to detect a clouding of the lens in the eyes.

One of these signs is a reason to contact a veterinarian. If you suspect diabetes, two tests are taken - urine and blood. If they show excess glucose, then the veterinarian will diagnose diabetes.

In advanced cases, the dog is disturbed by convulsions in the limbs, fainting, unsteady gait. This condition is deadly for the dog, he needs to provide emergency medical care. The animal's tongue needs to be smeared with a product containing sugar - it can be honey or condensed milk. Transporting a dog in this position is prohibited; a veterinarian should be called to the house.

After the diagnosis has already been made, the doctor will examine other organs and systems of the pet that may have suffered from the disease. For example, diabetes mellitus greatly impairs vision, leads to blindness, it also affects the sexual function of dogs. In identifying other diseases that have arisen against the background of diabetes, the doctor will treat them.

Treatment of diabetes in dogs

This disease occurs in a chronic form, so the main task of the veterinarian is to reduce the negative impact of the disease on the entire body, eliminate the pronounced symptoms, prevent complications, and lead to the maximum possible remission.

Properly prescribed treatment will save the dog from suffering, prolong its life. It is impossible to prescribe drugs to a pet on its own, treatment regimens are prescribed depending on the stage of diabetes mellitus, medical history, and individual characteristics of the dog. Incorrectly chosen drugs will not be useful, they can harm already impaired health.

First of all, the vet will discuss with the owners the issue of drinking regime. During treatment, the dog may ask for some time to drink as often as before, and you shouldn’t refuse it. With a lack of fluid in the body may be dehydrated. The dog should always have access to drinking water, to which you can add a few drops of lemon juice - this will help quench your thirst for a longer period.

The veterinarian may decide to restore the water balance of the animal by medical means. In this case, the following drugs are most often prescribed:

• Pituirin injections, their number and duration of use is based on the condition of the dog.
• Adiurekrin is an ointment or powder, the medicine is injected into the nasal cavity.

The next important point - the restoration of nutrients in the body. If the animal suffered not only increased thirst, but also vomiting, diarrhea, then the condition may be critical. To normalize the body, vitamin complexes are prescribed - Breversa, Herz Vital, Beafar and others. If necessary, an adjustment can be made to the habitual nutrition of the dog.

Reduced sugar is produced by insulin injections. Modern medicine is able to deal with diabetes only in this way, the owner must understand that it will be necessary to put injections regularly until the end of the dog's life.

Dog Insulin Therapy

Insulin treatment is divided into two stages - stabilization of blood sugar and supportive therapy. The veterinarian will tell the owner in detail how to give the pet injections. Most often, injections are given twice a day - in the morning and evening.

Insulin varies in duration of action:

• Short term
• Long.

Drugs that have a short-term effect are suitable for single injections in emergency cases, they are not used for regular use. Such insulin instantly reduces the level of sugar, but is rapidly eliminated from the body.

Long-acting drugs are prescribed by the doctor until the end of the pet's life. 2 shots per day is enough to provide the body with a hormone. The exact dosage of the solution is determined based on the individual characteristics of the dog.

Insulin is obtained in different ways, most often it is taken from:

• Human
• Pigs
• Bulls.

Insulin from pigs is optimal for dogs; it is as similar in composition to dog hormone as possible. It can be used on a regular basis for many years, the immune system does not react negatively to pork insulin.

Dogs are not treated permanently with insulin taken from bulls. After some time, the body begins to produce antibodies to this hormone.

Any dog ​​suffering from diabetes should regularly be tested for sugar and undergo a medical examination to identify possible complications of the disease.

Side effects of insulin treatment

Most often recorded a critical decrease in glucose in the body. This condition is no less dangerous than elevated sugar. The first symptoms are often ignored by the hosts. Common signs of low glucose include:

• Lethargy.
• Apathy.
• Reluctance long walk.

When the disease gets worse, pronounced symptoms appear:

• Cramps in the limbs.
• Fainting
• Shivering when walking.
• Refusal of food .
• Coma.

In this case, the dog is provided with emergency help by the owner, you need to feed your pet with food that is high in sugar. Be sure to call the vet. If you find symptoms of mild, you can go to the doctor yourself. In the clinic, the dog will inject glucose intramuscularly. The treatment will be to adjust the doses of insulin.

Further life of the dog

Diabetes mellitus - a serious diagnosis, a progressive disease leads to the death of the animal. With proper treatment and nutrition, the dog will be able to live for many more years.

It is best to give preference to feed, in whose composition is fiber. In their composition, proteins, fats and carbohydrates are balanced, just for dogs suffering from this ailment. In some cases, when the analysis shows the minimum excess of glucose in urine and blood, the veterinarian decides to use only specialized food that can reduce the sugar content.

You can track the indicators in an animal by yourself, for this purpose, test strips and blood glucose meters are used at home. Their use will prevent negative consequences, in case of deviation from the norm, you should contact your veterinarian for advice. You may need to adjust the insulin dose to a higher or lower side.

Another task of the owner is to monitor the weight of the pet: if the animal starts to gain pounds, then you need to take action. Obesity will aggravate the course of the disease. With proper control, the life of a dog with diabetes mellitus will continue as before.