Arthritis
Atopy (Inhalant Allergy)
Bufo Toad Poisoning
Cat Home Safety Tips
Collar Hazards
Common Things to Watch for
Dental Disease in Pets
Diabetes
Dog Safety Tips
Feline Heartworm Disease
Mallassezia (yeast) Dermatitis
Reasons to Neuter
Noise Phobia in Dogs
Weight Problems in Pets
Otitis (Ear Infections)
Parvo Virus
Pruritis (Itchiness)
Rabies
Seizures and Epilepsy
Senior Pets
Reasons to Spay
Toxoplasmosis, Cats and Women
Mellitus (DM). It is a complex disorder that can result from either an
insulin deficiency or impaired insulin activity in the body. DM is a very
serious disease and left untreated it can be life threatening.
In the normal animal insulin is produced by special cells in the pancreas
called "beta-islet" cells. It is released into the bloodstream and used by
almost every tissue in the body to allow glucose (blood sugar) to enter
individual cells and be used either as energy or storage.
When there is a lack of insulin, the glucose level builds up in the
bloodstream because it cannot enter cells. Once the blood sugar level
reaches a certain point the kidneys can no longer reabsorb it and glucose is
excreted into the urine. Elevated levels of glucose in the urine cause the
body to excrete a large amount of water along with it. This is what causes
diabetic animals to urinate so much.
Because of this excessive loss of fluid the animal starts drinking large
amounts of water to compensate. Excessive thirst and urination are
typically the first signs that an owner notices once their animal develops
diabetes.
With the body’s normal energy pathways blocked, the body starts to burn
muscle tissue and fat stores for energy. This can cause rapid weight loss in
a diabetic animal, another sign that an owner may notice.
Metabolism of the body fat stores for energy leads to an increased
production of "fatty acids" which are eventually converted to "ketones". If
the level of fatty acids and ketones rises too high, the animal may develop
a serious and potentially fatal complication of DM called "ketoacidosis".
DM usually strikes older animals with the average age of the pet around 8
years. A few breeds of dogs have a higher risk of developing the disease.
These include Keeshonds, Miniature Pinchers, Cairn Terriers and Poodles.
Female dogs seem to be more prone to the disease than males. And while
there is no breed predilection for cats, male cats are more likely to develop
diabetes than females.
Another major risk factor for developing diabetes is obesity. Studies show
that obese animals are at much greater risk of developing diabetes than a
normal weight animal. Keeping your pet at its ideal weight significantly
lowers its risk of developing diabetes and many other serious diseases.
Diagnosis of diabetes is by accomplished by blood and urine testing. If an
elevated level of glucose is present in a fasting blood sample and a urine
sample the animal is most likely diabetic. A full chemistry panel should
be performed to look for other diseases that may be causing the diabetes
such as adrenal gland diseases, and pancreatitis.
Diabetes in dogs is usually caused by destruction of the beta-islet cells in
the pancreas causing a deficiency of insulin. This type of diabetes is
referred to as Type 1 diabetes and must be treated with insulin injections
once or twice a day.
Diabetes in cats can sometimes be a mixed type where there is a decreased
amount of insulin released from the pancreas and the activity of the insulin
is blocked in the tissues. This is called Type 2 diabetes. Some cats can be
treated with oral medications that normalize their glucose level. Others
need to be given insulin injections daily. Interestingly, DM is some cats
may be transient and the medications stopped after a few months.
Diet therapy is an important part of managing diabetic animals. A food
high in fiber such as Hills W/D helps to delay food absorption from the GI
tract, thereby preventing a surge in the blood glucose level after a meal.
Soft moist (pouch) foods should be avoided at all costs since they contain a
lot of simple carbohydrates and cause a severe elevation in glucose levels
after a meal.
Hill's has developed a new diet called M/D for obese, diabetic cats. It is a
low carbohydrate and many cats seem to respond quite well to it and lose
weight. This diet should be tried in cats not losing weight on the
traditional high fiber, low calorie foods.
Although diabetes is a serious disease, many animals can live near normal
lives if given the proper care. Early detection and treatment of the disease
helps to prevent serious complications from developing. Owners that
notice their animal having increased thirst and urination and weight loss
despite a good appetite should bring their animal to their veterinarian as
soon as possible for an exam.