Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a general endocrine system disorder in dogs as well as humans. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition in which the body is lacking of the hormone insulin, which impairs its ability to metabolize sugar. Left untreated or not properly managed, DM can lead to loss of sight, liver or kidney failure and death. Generally it happen to middle age dogs and the breeds which have increased risk include Australian Terrier, Bichon Frise, Cairn Terrier, Fox Terrier, Poodle and Samoyed. The most obvious symptoms in dogs are enlarged thirst and urination and it lose weight in spite of a good hunger, become sluggish, have a poor body condition, or experience sudden blindness. There are two types of diabetes mellitus. Type I is the most common by far, occurring in 99% of the cases of DM in dogs. The body does not naturally produce enough insulin and can demolish cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. In Type II diabetes, the body produces insulin but the body does not have the capability to utilize it. So ask your veterinarian to conduct a thorough physical examination of your dog if he is showing signs of excessive thirst and urination, or other behavior changes. Lab tests, including blood tests and urinalysis. Treatment for type I diabetes almost always requires insulin injections once or twice a day, on a regular schedule. The vet will train the pet owner how to give the injections. If it is Type II diabetes may respond to an oral therapy. Your vet may also teach you how to test your dog’s glucose level daily with a home monitoring device or urine strips. Careful monitoring can help you know when the level is too low, too high, or just right. In addition to the daily insulin injections and monitoring, help your dog maintain a proper weight, give him a high-fiber diet with feedings at regular intervals, and make sure he gets adequate exercise. So try to keep your dog as healthy as possible.
