Diabetes – my dog has diabetes

The body converts the carbohydrates consumed in food into glucose (grape sugar), which enters the bloodstream via the intestinal wall. The hormone insulin, produced in the pancreas, acts as a messenger substance to ensure that glucose is transported from the blood into the cells, where it is used to produce energy. Another function of insulin is to store glucose in the form of glycogen in the liver and muscle cells. The liver is also able to produce glucose. With the help of this new production and the breakdown of stored glycogen, blood sugar levels can be kept constant even during prolonged fasting.

If diabetes causes reduced or complete insulin production, glucose is hardly absorbed from the blood into the cells and glucose production in the liver is no longer inhibited. The result is a significant increase in blood sugar levels.

Certain breeds are thought to be particularly susceptible to the disease. However, a genetic predisposition has only been proven in Samoyeds and Keeshonds. Adult, unspayed female dogs are up to four times more likely to develop the disease than males, as the hormones released during the heat cycle promote the disease. Dogs weighing less than 22 kg are also at higher risk of developing diabetes.

As in humans, different forms of diabetes can be distinguished depending on the cause and development:

Primary diabetes

Insulin-dependent diabetes (type I):

In the case of insulin-dependent diabetes, there is partial or complete destruction of the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leading to a drop in insulin levels in the blood. The cause of this destruction is still not fully understood. The influence of several different factors is suspected. A certain genetic predisposition and environmental influences, such as infections or poisoning, play a role. The interaction of these factors leads to the formation of antibodies against parts of the insulin-producing cells, which ultimately leads to their destruction. This form of diabetes is observed in the majority of dogs.

Insulin-independent diabetes (type II):

In this form of diabetes, sufficient insulin is produced, but it cannot work in the target organ. This is known as insulin resistance. The pancreas can compensate for this up to a certain point by producing more insulin. However, when it can no longer do so, blood sugar levels rise despite high insulin levels, as little or no glucose can be transported into the cells. This type of diabetes is also caused by several factors, with obesity having the greatest influence. You can use the petsXL health passport to clearly store and monitor your dog's weight data.

This type of diabetes is very rarely diagnosed in dogs.

Secondary diabetes

This form of diabetes is always a secondary disease of other systemic diseases. For example, secondary diabetes can develop from inflammation or tumors of the pancreas, Cushing's syndrome, or an underactive thyroid. Certain medications such as glucocorticoids or growth hormones can also trigger secondary diabetes. This form of diabetes is most common in unspayed female dogs.

Diabetes often goes undetected for a long time. The first signs of the disease that you will notice are usually an increased thirst and more frequent urination in your dog. But what does sugar have to do with it? If blood sugar levels are very high, the kidneys reach their limits and can no longer recover the glucose in the blood. Excess sugar is then excreted in the urine. Since glucose has an osmotic (water-attracting) effect, more water is also excreted, which explains the increased urge to urinate in sick dogs. The resulting water loss is compensated for by increased drinking.

Other characteristic symptoms of diabetes include increased appetite, weight loss, dull coat, rapid fatigue, vomiting, and diarrhea. Since the lack of or insufficient insulin causes a lack of energy in the brain, this leads to increased appetite and increased food intake. In order to provide glucose from other sources, the body begins to break down body tissue and the animals lose weight despite increased food intake. A feared late complication of diabetes is blindness. This is caused by glucose deposited in the eye chamber, which leads to clouding of the lens due to the subsequent increase in water retention.

If you suspect diabetes, you should consult a veterinarian immediately to initiate the appropriate diagnostics. A blood sugar test provides the veterinarian with initial information about the dog's metabolic status. The dog must be fasting for this test, and only above a certain threshold value is the test considered reliable evidence of diabetes. The presence of glucose in the urine alone is not conclusive evidence of diabetes, as glucose can also be excreted in the urine in cases of kidney disease, for example.

As diabetes is a very complex metabolic disorder with various causes or underlying diseases, additional blood, urine, and stool tests should always be carried out for further clarification. Your veterinarian will be happy to advise you on your individual case.

If diabetes is detected early, it can be treated effectively with insulin. However, as the owner of a dog with diabetes, you should always be aware that diabetes treatment involves lifelong injections. The only insulin preparation approved for dogs in Germany is a medium-acting insulin, which must be injected twice a day. For easier handling, a pen (injection aid) is available, similar to those used for humans.

In addition, regular blood sugar measurements, dose adjustments, and changes in diet must be made. A low-carbohydrate, high-fiber diet is recommended to ensure that sugar is absorbed slowly from the food into the blood. Stress caused by unfamiliar surroundings or unusually strenuous exercise should be avoided at all costs. If the diabetes is secondary, the underlying disease must of course also be treated accordingly. In sick, unspayed female dogs, spaying is recommended.

As diabetes also reduces the body's immune response, affected dogs are more susceptible to infections and should therefore be monitored closely by a veterinarian to diagnose and treat any possible complications in a timely manner. The most common complication in dogs is cystitis. Your veterinarian will explain exactly how to proceed in your individual case during a detailed consultation.

Hypoglycemia

Even dogs that are well controlled with insulin can experience hypoglycemia, which means that their blood sugar level is too low. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include weakness, restlessness, tremors, convulsions, and, in the worst case, coma. This situation is always an emergency and must be treated immediately. Give the dog quickly available carbohydrates, such as a piece of sugar or glucose, and consult a veterinarian immediately to prevent further damage.

Hyperglycemia – diabetic coma

If diabetes remains untreated for a long time, there will be a sharp rise in blood sugar levels. This high concentration of sugar in the blood causes water to leak from the brain cells. Affected animals initially show typical diabetes symptoms, but then become lethargic to comatose and are clearly dehydrated. This is always an emergency that requires veterinary treatment as soon as possible. Fluid replacement and lowering the blood sugar level are crucial.

The prognosis in such cases is always very cautious, as many animals die within the first 24 hours despite adequate treatment.

Blood acidification – diabetic ketoacidosis

This form of diabetes, also known as "complicated" diabetes, develops when diabetes remains undetected for too long, is treated with an insufficient dose of insulin, or when insulin action is impaired or even insulin resistance has developed. Due to the lack of glucose, insulin deficiency causes fats to be broken down for energy. This produces ketone bodies, which are also energy sources but cannot be utilized by the body in this form and lead to hyperacidity of the blood due to their acidic pH value. These can also be detected in the urine. Affected dogs show serious disturbances in their general well-being. The condition is characterized by weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, increased breathing, and lethargy (drowsiness) to the point of impaired consciousness and coma. The breath smells sour. This situation is life-threatening for the dog and requires immediate intensive medical treatment.

A complete cure for diabetes is not possible in dogs. However, if the disease is detected early, the dog can be given a largely normal life with lifelong insulin therapy. Regular check-ups to check the correct insulin dose and the animal's blood values, as well as a high degree of cooperation from the owner, are the most important prerequisites for successful therapy.