Diabetes in dogs and cats

It’s natural for a pet owner to feel overwhelmed and scared when their furry friend is first diagnosed with diabetes.

Part of this overwhelming feeling is rooted in uncertainty, while another part comes from the daily treatment regimen needed to properly care for your dog or cat.

The good news is that a dog or cat suffering from diabetes it is not difficult to manage and monitor. Like all things in life, it requires commitment and patience.

Diabetes mellitus is a common endocrine disease of dogs and cats. Dogs and cats with diabetes cannot produce the insulin needed to convert glucose into energy.

This means that every time a diabetic dog or cat eats food, its body is unable to absorb the glucose produced and, as a result, its cells are forced to find a different source of energy.

At the same time, glucose builds up in the bloodstream and floods the kidneys, creating a cycle of nutrient loss and dehydration that affects every organ and function of the body.

As a result of this condition, proper management and maintenance depends on establishing a daily routine designed to build a stable and promising energy balance in the body.

Veterinarians play a critical role in developing an effective treatment plan help a diabetic dog or cat stay healthy while pet owners play a key role in implementing this plan.

When it comes to helping a dog or cat with diabetes continue to live a long, healthy life, teamwork comes first.

Everything is fine daily routine It’s made up of four simple things.

1. INSULIN INJECTIONS

Dogs and cats with diabetes should receive insulin replacement therapy. Insulin is administered by injection under the skin.

There are two ways dogs or cats can receive an insulin injection. The first is via a U40 insulin syringe; the second occurs through an insulin pen called VetPen®.

Failure to use the correct device (U40 insulin syringe or VetPen) may result in possible administration errors.

2. ADEQUATE NUTRITION AND REGULAR MEAL TIMES

Veterinarians recommend diets suited to meeting the needs of dogs or cats with diabetes.

Dogs typically require a higher fiber diet, while cats require a low carbohydrate diet.

If a dog or cat needs to lose weight, an appropriate weight loss diet is recommended.

While all owners love to give their furry friend treats and the occasional scrap from the table, it’s incredibly important to make sure treats are included in your vet’s recommendation and that leftovers are thrown away for good.

All meals, meal times, and rewards should remain the same to avoid fluctuations in insulin needs.

3. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

This is the beautiful part of daily things to do: physical activity and play! Dogs and cats need to be active every day, so playing and walking are a must (the same goes for all dogs and cats, not just diabetics).

These things help animals burn off excess energy and stay healthy and alert. Coincidentally, they tend to have the same effect on their owners too! Everyone wins.

4. HOME MONITORING

It is essential to follow and monitor your entire daily routine; this includes insulin injections, food and water intake, physical activity, blood sugar, glucose, and urinary ketones.

It might seem like a lot to keep track of, but there’s a free app that makes it all easier: the Pet Diabetes Monitor App In addition to routine monitoring, the app makes it easy to create reminders for insulin injections, along with daily monitoring graphs and curves that can be shown to a veterinarian during your regular checkup.

MANAGE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE

Diabetes is a lifelong condition. This is just one of the reasons why it is so important to establish a daily routine for the owner, and especially for the diabetic dog or cat.

Most diabetic pets respond rapidly to insulin, but it may take several weeks for all clinical signs to disappear.

Successful treatment plans take little time and effort to establish, and patience is essential to allow your dog or cat to regain balance after the initial diagnosis.

Dogs and cats with diabetes can live long, healthy lives with proper care and attention to their condition.

Going to the vet regularly provides a solid foundation upon which progress and changes in health can be noticed and addressed immediately.

As you might imagine, some complications can occur in a diabetic dog or cat.

The most common complication is low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. Often this is the direct consequence of not following your daily routine.

If a dog or cat receives too much insulin, skips a meal or eats at other times, or changes diet or exercise, hypoglycemia may occur.

It can also occur if your dog or cat suddenly becomes ill or develops another chronic condition.

A carefully monitored dog or cat can receive the immediate and necessary care to overcome the obstacles that life will inevitably throw in its path.

If you think your cat or dog may have it signs of diabetes Schedule a visit to the vet immediately.

If you are currently managing your dog or cat’s diabetes and have questions or think there may be subtle changes in their health, don’t hesitate to schedule a visit with your veterinarian to discuss what you’ve noticed. No one is closer to your dog or cat than you!

Just as you might notice a change in a family member, you might notice it in your dog or cat.

Your furry little friend relies on you to make sure his condition is managed correctly, so always trust your instincts!