November is National Pet Diabetes Awareness month. Did you know that our canine and feline family members can be affected by this serious disease? Below are some interesting facts that you should be aware of when it comes to diabetes and your pets:

Risk Factors/Causes:

•  Obesity

•  Genetic predisposition 

•  Pancreatitis

• Other Endocrine Disorders 

•  Immune-mediated Diseases

Signs to watch for at home: -

• Increased thirst and urination

• Increased appetite 

•  Weight loss

• Oily, flaky coat in cats

• Lethargy/Depression

• Vomiting

Untreated diabetes mellitus can lead to serious and life-threatening complications, such as:

• Cataracts (in dogs)
• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Coma
• Recurrent urinary tract infections
• Liver disease

As with most diseases, one of the keys to effective management is early detection.  This is accomplished through bloodwork and urinalysis, and is one of the reasons yearly screening is recommended.  If your pet is diagnosed with diabetes, he or she will likely be started on insulin.  The goal of insulin therapy is to lower your pet’s blood glucose level and maintain it at a more normal range.  This can be a frustrating process involving rechecking blood glucose levels and adjusting insulin dosages, but it is important for your pet’s safety to make these initial changes gradually.  Increasing the insulin dose too quickly can drop the blood glucose to life-threateningly low levels.  It is also important to be aware that some animals may develop insulin resistance, in which case they may not respond to insulin therapy.

With a simple blood test done at our hospital we can check for signs of the important disease!

Written by Dr. Knapp