Dogs and Diabetes

By Wayne Harley


How could you tell if your dog might possibly have diabetes? In the wide majority of

cases, it is not very common for younger dogs to contract diabetes, but if your pet is

older than 4 years old and is exhibiting other symptoms, then the possibility for

diabetes could be a real one. Diabetes in dogs is quite a bit more common in females.

Many of a dog's symptoms are much like those of diabetes in humans.

Symptoms for Dogs with Diabetes

* Canine diabetes can begin with an out of shape, overweight dog. This is not always true

though; in some breeds it can be in the gene pool. Being obese can be a dangerous sign

though.

* Diabetes typically occurs in dogs around the ages of 7 to 9.

* With larger dogs there is more of a possibility to contract diabetes than there is with

a littler breed.

* Watch for unquenchable thirst. If this happens, do not try to limit your dog's water

intake. This is necessary because your dog will require all the water it wants to help

keep from becoming dehydrated.

* Drinking so often means he/she will need to use the bathroom more often. Your pet, the

one you've worked so hard to house train so well could start having accidents more often

on your carpet. Why? They are not used to carrying around so much liquid in their

bladder. Much like the chicken and the egg, and the debate of which came first, the need

for water or the need to urinate has been discussed both ways.

* Your dog may begin dropping weight quickly and unusually, even though she is eating

more and could begin moving slower and showing signs of being worn out, acting very

tired.

* Your dog may start losing their eyesight, having issues with vision.

Preventing diabetes in your dog:

1. If you notice your dog beginning to put on weight, or if they are already overweight,

lower the number of carbohydrates they take in. Yes, much like humans, a large number of

carbohydrates add to to weight gain, which adds to the probability of diabetes. Many

common dog foods have ingredients that include as much as 98% carbohydrates. Read the

food labels and gather as much information as you can about your dog breed to make sure

that he is receiving the correct amount of nutrients. Making the switch to a healthier

dog food can be an great step towards the right direction.

2. Get plenty of exercise! A lot of dogs get diabetes that could be completely avoided if

they had kept exercising and not gotten out of shape. This is where you and your family

can pitch in, as the dog owners. If your dog stays lazy and out of shape, he can contract

diabetes even if he is not a breed that is typically at risk.

As of this writing there is not a cure for diabetes. Work along with your vet to ensure

that your dog gets the proper treatment and the correct medication to continue to have a

normal life. Sometimes diabetes will remain all the way through your dog's life course.

To prevent diabetes in your dog, do your best to keep your dog's weight at the right

level, get him abundant exercise, and give your dog its medication on a regular basis

along with adequate water.