Top Ten Dog Health Guides

Diabetes in Dogs: An Overview

Diabetes is a condition in dogs that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin. It is diagnosed most often in middle aged to older dogs, but in some cases younger dogs can develop diabetes. Diabetes is not a curable disease, but can be managed with lifelong medications, regular check-ups, and supplemental dietary changes.

Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs

One of the main symptoms of canine diabetes is increased thirst and urination. If you notice your dog making frequent trips to his water bowl as well as an increase in the volume and/or frequency of urination this should raise a red flag. Diabetic dogs may also experience noticeable weight loss yet concurrently an increase in appetite. Their skin and coat might also suffer. Hair sometimes becomes thin and/or falls out.

Diagnosing Diabetes in Dogs

The symptoms of diabetes in dogs are usually pretty standard: increased thirst, increased urination, and rapid weight loss. In order to confirm that a dog has diabetes though, a veterinarian must perform a blood and a urinalysis test. These two tests together will rule out any other cause of the symptoms, and they will help the veterinarian to decide how best to begin treatment.

Testing for Canine Diabetes

Your veterinarian will run a series of tests to confirm that your dog has diabetes. First your veterinarian will conduct a thorough physical examination of your dog to check his general health. Your veterinarian will then perform some standard tests. First, she might take a urine sample. The next step is a blood sample.

Treating Diabetes in Dogs

Once a veterinarian confirms that your dog has diabetes, he or she will immediately establish a treatment plan for the animal. In many cases the course of treatment involves drug therapy as well as diet changes.

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