3 Steps to Take If Your Dog Has Diabetes

If your vet has diagnosed your dog with diabetes, you may wonder if they can live happily with this condition. Thankfully, when the condition is well-managed, diabetes doesn't have to affect your pet's quality of life. Here are three tips to help you manage this condition.

1. Visit a Vet for an Initial Check-up

Dogs can experience Type 1 diabetes, which occurs when insulin-producing cells in the pancreas are destroyed, or they can experience Type 2 diabetes, where hormones in the body prevent insulin from operating correctly. Insulin is required to transfer glucose, or sugar, from the bloodstream to the body's cells. Without proper insulin functioning, your dog can accumulate high levels of blood sugar (hyperglycemia).

You'll want to schedule some appointments with a vet to figure out the proper dosage of insulin for your pup. Your vet will take blood samples periodically for a couple of hours to get a feel for your dog's regular blood glucose levels. Besides getting your dog set up with insulin therapy, you'll want to visit a vet so that they can check for diseases that are commonly seen in diabetic dogs. For example, periodontal disease commonly affects diabetic pets, so your vet may recommend more frequent dental cleanings for your dog.

2. Know the Factors That Affect Insulin Requirements

Although your dog may stay on the same insulin dosage for some time, dosage levels can change due to a number of factors. Insulin requirements are affected by:

• Other infections/diseases
• Exercise regimens
• Weight gain or loss
• Diet/water consumption
• Medications

If any of these elements change at all, you need to consult with your vet so that your dog gets the correct insulin dosage. There are even apps you can use to record your dog's glucose curves so that you can track these types of changes.

3. Prepare Yourself for Hypoglycemic Episodes

You may already know the signs of hyperglycemia - like cloudy eyes, UTIs, frequent urination, and weight loss - since these types of symptoms may have alerted you to your dog's diabetes in the first place. However, you should also understand the signs of hypoglycemia. If too much insulin is given to a dog, they can actually develop a drop in their glucose levels, which can in turn affect their neurological functioning.

If you know the factors that affect insulin requirements, you can help your dog avoid both hyper- and hypoglycemia. However, if your dog does develop hypoglycemia, you may notice that they experience:

• Muscle twitching
• Pale or discolored gums
• Excessive urination
• A loss of appetite
• Muscle weakness
• Swelling around the neck

Your vet may have you use a solution of glucose, like corn syrup, to help your dog recover from a hypoglycemic attack. You should never pour a sugary solution directly in your dog's mouth since they could accidentally aspirate. Instead, you should dip your fingers into the solution and rub it on your dog's gums. The sugar solution will be able to absorb quickly into the bloodstream that way.

If your pet perks up, your vet may also recommend that they be given a small amount of food before being transported to the vet's office. If the hypoglycemic episode has caused a seizure or rendered your dog unconscious, that's a medical emergency and you'll want to get them to your vet right away.

You may want to make an emergency preparedness kit with your vet's contact info, some glucose tablets, and other necessary supplies so that you will have the tools you need should your dog experience this kind of emergency.



Reach out to us at Alta Vista Veterinary Clinic for more information on how to manage your dog's diabetes.