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.

Alpha Dog Theory

Much has been written about canine social structure and how it relates to dog behavior.  The concept of alpha dominance originally came from studies of wolf packs in the 1940s.  The findings of these studies trickled down to the domestic dog arena and found their way into dog training techniques.  Dominance exercises, such as the alpha roll, were recommended to prevent aggression and other behavior problems.

 People began to challenge the alpha dominance theory on a number of fronts.  Is wolf behavior really indicative of that seen in domestic dogs?  Were the alpha rolls initiated by the higher ranking wolf, or were they actually an appeasement ritual offered voluntarily by the subordinate wolf?  Was the wolf behavior really exhibiting dominance, or does the wolf pack operate on something closer to a parent/child type of relationship?

The fact is that dogs are not wolves.  Breeding of domestic dogs through time has generally increased their sociability and playfulness while decreasing fear and aggression, making them less and less like their wild cousins. Additionally, there is little evidence to suggest that dominance exercises did anything to stem the development of aggressive behavior.

More recent studies have shown that alpha behavior does not necessarily mean physically dominant behavior.  True pack leaders do not need to rely on physical aggression to maintain their positions in the hierarchy.  They have earned the respect of the lesser dogs and need only to exhibit their calm, confident behavior to keep order within the pack. 

My beagle mutt, Tootsie Roll, was one of those natural alpha dogs.  In the 18½ years that she was with our family, our little dog pack included three other dogs.  Through that entire 18½ year period, Tootsie Roll was always recognized as the pack leader (after the humans, of course).  It always amazed me that this sweet, loving dog would be the widely accepted leader of the pack.  After reading more about pack cultures, I came to identify in Tootsie Roll, actions that others have attributed to the “natural alpha dog”; her confident stance, staring down of usurpers, a rare soft growl.

There were occasional challenges to Tootsie’s position.  Most often these came from Valentine, our other beagle mutt.  Even in old age, Tootsie’s calm assertiveness would prevail over Valentine’s feeble attempts to unseat her, and the social hierarchy never changed.  We lost Tootsie Roll two years ago, but I will never cease to be amazed at the dynamics we saw exhibited in our little pack while she was with us.  To the end, she maintained her top dog status.

Peripheral Vestibular Syndrome

Several years ago, it was my pleasure to pet sit for Hannah, a very sweet 12 year old, 90 pound, mixed-breed dog.  It wouldn’t be at all surprising to see a large, 12 year old dog be a little unsteady on her feet.  After all, in people years, she was probably well into her 80’s or early 90’s.  But Hannah was even more wobbly than one might expect because she had developed peripheral vestibular syndrome. 

Peripheral vestibular syndrome appears to be caused by an inflammation in the nerves connecting the inner ear to the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance and spatial orientation.  It more commonly occurs in older dogs, and thus is sometimes referred to as geriatric vestibular syndrome, but it can occur in middle aged dogs as well.  While in appearance the disease is very frightening, the good news is that the problem is usually temporary, lasting anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

Symptoms of peripheral vestibular syndrome include the following:

·         Sudden loss of balance (the most common symptom)
·         Head tilt to one side
·         Circling
·         Vomiting
·         Eyes drifting from side to side or up and down
·         Facial muscles sagging or twitching
·         Trouble eating or drinking due to dizziness

The occurrence of this disease is very disconcerting to pets and pet parents alike because it can come on so rapidly and seemingly, just out of the blue.  Your dog can appear perfectly happy and feeling well when suddenly, for no apparent reason, will fall over and have difficulty standing up again.  This is made even more upsetting if some of the other symptoms begin to emerge.

The nature and sudden appearance of the symptoms lead some owners to fear that their dog has either had a stroke or has been poisoned.  If your dog exhibits any of these symptoms, you should consult with your veterinarian immediately.  The vet will be able to determine if your dog has peripheral vestibular syndrome, or if the symptoms are the result of something else, such as a stroke, poisoning, brain tumor, head trauma or inner ear infection. 

Unfortunately, time is the only cure for peripheral vestibular syndrome, and as mentioned previously, most dogs fully recover from the illness within a few weeks.  Some vets may prescribe antibiotics if they suspect the dog has an infection.  Motion sickness medication might also be prescribed to ease the dizziness being felt by the dog. 

What you can do is to keep in mind that this is a very troubling and confusing experience for your dog.  Soothing, calm attention and lots of TLC can go a long way toward making your pet feel better while recovering from the disease.  If nausea is keeping your dog from eating and drinking, try giving easy-to-eat food and water by hand. 

Through it all, remember that in most cases the disease will clear up by itself.  Infrequently, some dogs do not recover fully and may continue to have residual problems, such as a head tilt.  As you can always count on with a dog, they are usually able to adjust to these remaining issues and go right back to being their normal, contented selves.

"I think we are drawn to dogs because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be if we weren't certain we knew better." - George Bird Evans, "Troubles with Bird Dogs"

Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS)

Just like us, dogs go through many changes as they age.  There will be a graying around the muzzle, they may need more sleep, the step is not as quick as it used to be.  With some dogs, you may also see significant behavioral changes.  Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS) is caused by physical and chemical changes that affect brain function in older dogs.  Although not identical, pathological changes in the brains of dogs with CDS are similar to those seen in human Alzheimer patients. 

Dogs with CDS may show behavioral changes such as confusion and forgetfulness, and may be less responsive to their owners.  Advances in veterinary medicine have made it possible for our companion animals to be with us longer, which is a wonderful thing.  However, these advances have increased the population of geriatric pets, resulting in more dogs with CDS, and requiring us pet parents to become more knowledgeable about the syndrome.

The classic signs of CDS in old dogs include:

·         Reduced activity

·         Changes in sleeping patterns

·         Reduced responsiveness to people

·         Lack of interest in surroundings

·         Confusion, disorientation

·         Pacing, wandering

·         Inability to recognize familiar people

·         Increased thirst

·         Excessive panting

·         Difficulty eating or reduced interest in food

·         Loss of bladder and bowel control

·         Difficulty navigating their environment

There are a few things that may help dogs with CDS.  Studies have shown an improvement in most dogs within one month of starting to receive L-Deprenyl (Anipryl).  CDS is often associated with the depletion of dopamine, and this drug works by helping to prolong dopamine activity and by reducing the amounts of free radicals in the brain.  Dietary changes may also help to alleviate CDS.  Therapeutic diets containing antioxidants, mitochondrial cofactors, and omega-3 fatty acids are recommended.

Environmental stimulation in conjunction with dietary change, is good for elderly canines.  You CAN teach an old dog new tricks, and you should, to keep your dog’s mind working.  We’ve all experienced or heard stories about older dogs becoming more lively with the introduction of a puppy into the household.  Use caution with that because a very old dog might not adjust well to such a dramatic change.

Finally, the best things we can give our old dogs are love and understanding.  Learning about CDS will help us to understand why our old dog has changed.  And, love will help everyone to get through a difficult period in our friend’s life.

Heart Dog

One of my pet sitting clients recently referred to one of her dogs as being her “Heart Dog”.  As she defined it, a Heart Dog is that one dog in your life with whom you have an especially close bond.  It immediately struck me because of all the dogs, cats and horses who have been members of our family, my Sosa is definitely my Heart Dog. 

Sosa came into my life ten years ago as a one year old terrier mutt who needed a home.  He showed up at the barn where I kept my horse at the time, in the company of a horse trader, who had some story about the dog being from Puerto Rico and in need of a home.  Sosa took a shining to me, and by the time I left that day, he was following my every step.  I decided to take the little guy home to see if he would fit with our then family of two beagle mutts and a cat.  He did.

My mission then became to learn what I could about how he had spent the first year of his life.  Could the horse trader’s story about Puerto Rico be true?  If you know anything about horse traders, you know not to believe everything a horse trader tells you.  But, the little dog was wearing a collar with a Puerto Rican rabies tag hanging from it.  Hmmm. 

The horse trader gave me the name and phone number of the woman from whom he had gotten the little terrier. She confirmed that Sosa had indeed come from Puerto Rico, thanks to a rescue group there called Save A Sato, http://www.saveasato.org/.  This group of dedicated volunteers is committed to easing the suffering of Puerto Rico’s homeless and abused animals.  They took in my little Sato (slang for street dog), gave him medical care, food and shelter, and flew him via American Airlines to a rescue group in our area. 

Sosa attached himself to my side that day ten years ago, and he remains my constant companion.  Other people are ok, and he likes my husband well enough, but I alone, am his person.  Sosa has stolen my heart like no other pet that came before or after him.  As I look into his graying muzzle, I sometimes worry about the day that he will leave me.  But, I just remind myself to take a page from our canine friends - be in the moment and enjoy every moment I can spend with my Heart Dog.   

Flirt Fails Sheep

Border collies are an energetic, highly intelligent breed, and our new dog, Flirt, is no exception.  We are fortunate to have a big yard and conservation land directly behind our house with miles of trails, so Flirt gets plenty of walking time.  Wanting to find something else to occupy our little border collie, we decided to look into herding. 

Two weekends ago, we loaded Flirt into the car and drove to Magic’s Legacy, a farm on the Wisconsin border, where Shannon Wolfe teaches people and their dogs about herding.  Shannon was offering a weekend of herding instinct tests so people could find out if their dogs had any affinity for this canine sport. 

Flirt was one of 15 dogs in the Sunday afternoon session, which began with a demo in which two very talented border collies (and their handlers) effortlessly maneuvered a large flock of sheep around a pasture.  Responding to one word commands and whistles, the dogs proceeded to gather the flock, move them around obstacles, and even split the flock into two groups.  It was amazing to see the connection the handlers had with their dogs.

Then the instinct tests began.  One by one, Shannon took the dogs into a pen with three sheep.  She would begin by walking the dog on leash around the pen, making him aware of the presence of these strange, fluffy critters.  After the dog began to notice the sheep, she would encourage him to follow the sheep.  If the dog’s interest was aroused, she would drop the leash and let the dog engage in a controlled chase.  As Shannon explains it, you cannot instill the herding instinct into a dog.  The dog either has an instinct or does not, and if he does, you can then help develop that natural ability. 

The first three dogs to be tested were German shepherds.  The responses varied, but all three reacted to the sheep and eventually ended up in the controlled chase.  “I bet all the dogs here will show some instinct,” I commented to Steve.  “It just seems natural that any dog would want to chase the sheep.”  Flirt was the fourth dog, and would be the first one to prove my uneducated theory to be way off base.

Once Flirt was in the pen with Shannon, all she did was scan the crowd, looking for us.  When Shannon saw this, she asked me to join her in the pen to help make Flirt feel more comfortable.  Flirt thought this was great but still showed no interest in the sheep.  Then Shannon called for a “sheep party”, in which I was required to chase the sheep around, whooping and hollering, trying to show Flirt how much fun she was missing by not chasing sheep.  I succeeded in getting Flirt excited, but the only thing she wanted to chase was me – no sheep.  Shannon finally put an end to my embarrassment and determined that we were the proud owners of a border collie with no herding instincts. 

Despite our lack of success, we really enjoyed the afternoon.  It was such fun to see how the various dogs reacted to the sheep.  And no, Flirt was not the only one to fail the instinct test that day.  But that’s OK, we’ve already got her enrolled in an agility class.  No sheep involved there.