How to tell if your dog is diabetic 

How to tell if your dog is diabetic?  I just found out over the weekend that my dog Buddy is diabetic, so I thought I would share some information on this topic.

Diabetes has been an issue among the humans, although manageable, it is important for the issue to be detected early so as to take the appropriate measures. As it turns out diabetes is not unique to human beings it can affect dogs too. As in humans, diabetes can be a serious issue in dogs. Being in a position to tell your dog has diabetes is imperative as you will be in a position to manage the condition.

Some dogs are prone to diabetes than others, the ones at a greater risk of diabetes include, overweight dogs, mixed breeds, larger breeds, dogs on a high-fat diet and older or middle-aged dogs. Like in humans diabetes in dogs occur in types, there are three types of diabetes in dogs the first type which happens to be the most dangerous and common is diabetes mellitus, it occurs when the dog does not produce enough insulin to regulate glucose levels. The second type is diabetes insipidus, these types occur when the dog is unable to retain water, usually caused by kidney disease, or congenital defect. The third type is a gestational variety which occurs in female dogs during pregnancy.

Usually, the person who is in the best place to note if the dog is diabetic is the owner, this is because will be in a position to identify a change in behavior or when the dog is acting in an unusual way.

Very Thirsty

One of the sign that your dog is diabetic is when the dog may consume an unusually large volume of water and frequent urination. Although thirst can be caused by other factors like increase in temperature, if you realize you are filling your dog’s water dish more frequently and the reason is not very clear, you need to keep an eye on your dog to check for other signs or consult a veterinary. Also, urination that is more frequent may be a sign that your dog could be suffering from diabetes.

Weight loss is another sign to check to find out if your dog is diabetic. Your dog could be eating normally and yet losing weight. Uncontrolled sugar levels may impact on the digestion making it ineffective leading to weight loss. You may also notice loose stool also occurring due to interference with the digestion process.

Vomiting is another sign that your dog might be diabetic. Keep in mind that a dog could vomit for some other reasons but when your dog vomits frequently then you might have a reason to worry or get your dog checked up by a vet.

Dehydration is another frequent sign that your dog could be diabetic. Although hard to notice in dogs, you can tell when the dog has sunken eyes, a dry mouth, looks depressed and does not eat, these could be signs of dehydration. You should always ensure your dog has access to fresh water to prevent dehydration.

Lethargy It is an indication that your dog is sick if you see your dog is inactive for the most part of the day you should consult a vet.

The above signs could indicate that your dog could be diabetic but the surest way is to take the dog to a veterinary for testing to know if truly your dog is suffering from diabetes.

Dr. Karen Becker has this great video explaining Diabetes in your pets

What causes Diabetes

Here is a blog I wrote How to Give Your Dog Insulin click here

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