Diabetes in Pet Dogs and Cats

Not so far back in time, the incidence of diabetes in cats was around 1 in 400; the figure was the same for dogs; however the condition is becoming more common amongst pets. Maybe feral cats and dogs are still less affected by the disease but pets most definitely are paying the price of a comfortable lifestyle.

Obesity in pets is rising and pudgy pets are increasingly coming under risk from diabetes. Diabetes apparently works differently for cats and dogs. Obese cats are prone to the condition. With fat cats the pancreas generate more insulin than what their bodies can process, this happens because the cats develop an insulin resistance because of obesity. The excess insulin along with the excess amylin destroys the insulin-producing cells.

With dogs, it is the other way round. Obesity leads to pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas. This condition reduces the insulin production in dogs and affects their ability to process glucose for generating energy. The excess sugar finds its way into the bloodstream and urine.

Symptoms of diabetes may not be apparent till the condition is at least a few weeks old. Cats are luckier in the sense that diabetes is rare for a cat less than seven years old; young dogs can be affected by Type-1 diabetes. Sudden loss of weight or an unexpected weight gain; frequent drinking of water and urination are symptoms pointing to insulin imbalance. Dogs can develop vision problems and cats may develop weakness in the hind legs. If the skin becomes thin and the animal starts to appear fragile then it’s an indication that the animal is breaking down its own muscle and fat to gain energy for critical functions. This is an advanced symptom and the pet owner should take immediate remedial action.

There is a clear-cut relationship between diabetes and obesity; so if you wish to prevent the disease from affecting your pet you should see that its diet has more of protein and less of carbohydrate. Also, the animal should get regular exercise. A low-carbohydrate diet can send the disease into remission and the animal will then not need regular insulin injections. Diets can reverse the condition – they seem to work better for cats. In fact it is very much possible to control diabetes in cats through diets alone.

Vet medicine is improving by the day and diabetic cats can actually be administered glargine, a synthetic insulin that is given to humans. Pet parents with cats or dogs that have been diagnosed with diabetes should have a blood glucose meter at home so that the animal’s blood-glucose levels can be checked regularly to determine the need for insulin injections.