In most cases, dogs suffering from diabetes mellitus are affected by the insulin-dependent form (IDDM, Insulin-Dependent Diabetis Mellitus ), meaning they need insulin therapy for life.
Cats, on the other hand, are mainly affected by non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (see below).
Causes and Risk Factors
Even today, the actual causes that cause this disease are still not clear, but it is certain that several factors play a triggering role in the onset of diabetes, such as:
- a certain genetic predisposition of the subject,
- pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas),
- ileitis (inflammation of the ileum),
- use of diabetogenic drugs (corticosteroids, adrenaline, glucagon)
- obesity.
Symptoms
All, or nearly all, diabetic dog owners come to the vet because they notice some things that are wrong with their pet, like the fact that:
- lose weight, even if it seems more hungry than usual (polyphagia),
- urine much (polyuria)
- drink a lot (polydipsia).
These signs (classic in the course of diabetes), will make the veterinarian suspect that he will deepen the possible diagnosis by evaluating blood sugar and glycosuria.
The clinical signs, noted by the owner, and the presence of persistent hyperglycemia with glycosuria evaluated by the veterinarian, are sufficient to diagnose a diabetes mellitus in the animal.
Treatment
Insulin
Unlike cats, dogs do not show transient or reversible forms of diabetes mellitus, because the loss of pancreatic β-cell function is irreversible; therefore in these subjects insulin therapy will be necessary for life.
In this regard, generally two subcutaneous insulin injections are performed, over time and in dose established by your veterinarian. S
i can use the registered insulin for pets: ANINSULIN®; but also that for human use such as HUMULIN or LANTUS.
Insulin therapy aims to normalize glycaemia as much as possible (take it to values between 100 and 250 mg / dl) and eliminate glycosuria.
Diet and Exercise
In addition to the administration of insulin, the therapy of the diabetic dog also consists of an adequate regulation of the diet, of a continuous physical exercise, of a constant control of the infectious and / or inflammatory phenomena that may arise.
The nutritional therapy has the purpose of bringing an appropriate caloric intake to the animal, trying to avoid an excessive increase of the glycaemia, preventing and eventually correcting the obesity.
The diets rich in fiber are suitable for this purpose:
- EUKANUBA VETERINARY DIETS Weight / Diabetic Control,
- PVD-DCO-DIABETES COLITIS® Canine Formula,
- VETERINARY DIET CANINE DIABETIC SPECIAL Low Carbohydrate,
- VETERINARY DIET CANINE DIGESTIVE LOW FAT,
- EUKANUBA VETERINARY DIETS Restricted Calories,
- PRESCRIPTION DIET ™ CANINE r / d, PRESCRIPTION DIET ™ CANINE w / d,
- PVD-OM-OBESITY MANAGEMENT®Canine Formula,
- VETERINARY DIET CANINE OBESITY MANAGEMENT, VETERINARY DIET CANINE WEIGHT CONTROL Diabetic 30.
Constant exercise (walking or games) has a hypoglycemic effect (lowers blood sugar) on the animal. Movement in the diabetic dog promotes weight loss, eliminates the insulin resistance induced by obesity and promotes the transport of glucose into the cells.
Prognosis
Finally, it is essential to identify and control any concomitant pathologies that can induce an aggravation of diabetes and interfere with the pharmacological activity of insulin, in order to optimize the treatment of the dog.
If concomitant diseases do not arise that endanger the survival of the animal, the life expectancy of dogs suffering from diabetes mellitus, treated with adequate insulin therapy, is even many years.
