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.
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