Introduction
Canine diabetes mellitus is a chronic disorder of the endocrine system that occurs when your dog’s pancreas is unable to produce an adequate supply of insulin. If your dog is showing clinical signs indicative of diabetes mellitus your veterinarian will run a series of tests to confirm the diagnosis. Several other diseases can cause the same symptoms as canine diabetes, so further tests are always necessary to rule out other conditions.
Testing of Diabetes in Dogs
First your veterinarian will conduct a thorough physical examination of your dog to check his general health. She will ask you to confirm changes in your dog’s behavior and body such as increased urination, thirst and appetite, weight loss, and lethargy, among other symptoms.
Your veterinarian will then perform some standard tests. First, she might take a urine sample, which will be tested for the presence of glucose in the urine, or a urinary tract infection. The next step is a blood sample to determine your dog’s glucose level. Your dog will need to fast for 12-24 hours before a blood test to ensure accurate results. A single blood test is sometimes not sufficient to make a diagnosis, so your veterinarian may perform a few blood tests.
If the glucose level is consistently on the high end, one of two conditions may be present:
- Your dog’s pancreas is not secreting adequate amounts of insulin (Type I diabetes)
- Your dog’s body is resisting the insulin that it is producing (Type II diabetes)
Prognosis depends on a number of factors, but typically the condition is very treatable if the owner is committed to their role in treatment.