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Orchard Vet's Blog
Diabetes Awareness Month
14/11/2024
Diabetes mellitus relates to an inability to properly regulate glucose (a sugar and a basic energy source) in the body. There are two main types of diabetes. Type I, more common in dogs, occurs when the body cannot produce enough of the hormone insulin to regulate glucose levels adequately. In Type II, or insulin-resistant diabetes, enough insulin is produced but cells don’t respond to it. Type II diabetes is more common in cats, although they may also have Type I.Diabetes symptoms and the complications of the disease are also similar to humans. The following symptoms could indicate that your animal has diabetes
- Weight loss, often despite an increased appetite
- Excessive thirst and urination
- Breakdown of body fat and development of ketoacidosis
- Lower appetite
- Pungent breath with a chemical smell
- Complications associated with diabetes
Diabetes in cats and dogs is more common than you might think! Diabetes is one of the most common endocrine conditions found in cats. Anywhere between 1 in 100 to 1 in 500 cats and dogs develops diabetes, and those numbers are expected to increase.
While diabetes is typically diagnosed in older cats and neutered male cats are most commonly affected, diabetes has been diagnosed in cats of all ages, both sexes (intact and neutered), and all breeds. In dogs, certain breeds are more likely to develop the condition with diabetes occurring in dogs aged between 4 to 14 years old. Unneutered female dogs are twice as likely as male dogs to suffer from diabetes.
So why is the hormone insulin important?
Insulin affects how your pet’s body uses food. When your pet eats, food is broken down into very small components its body can use. One component, carbohydrate, is converted into several types of simple sugars, including glucose. Glucose is absorbed from the intestines into the blood, where it travels to cells throughout the body. Inside cells, insulin helps turn glucose into fuel. If there’s too little insulin available, glucose can’t enter cells and can build up to a high concentration in the bloodstream. As a result, a diabetic pet may want to eat constantly but will appear malnourished because its cells can’t absorb glucose.
This might not sound like a big deal, but If left untreated diabetes can lead to cause hyperglycemia, organ failure, blindness, coma and, in some cases, death.
Did you know pets can live a happy and healthy life even if they’re diagnosed with diabetes?
Sadly, diabetes can affect our dogs and cats, but it is manageable with good care, with most able to lead happy active lives. If your pet is diagnosed with diabetes, your vet will advise on medication and an appropriate diet. High-fibre diets may be recommended to help with the management of body weight and blood sugar. Low carbohydrate diets may also be of benefit in some diabetic cats.
Insulin is generally regarded as the benchmark treatment for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Owners of diabetic pets should discuss how best to prepare the insulin, and how much insulin is needed for pets, with our vets.
Obesity is a risk factor for diabetes in cats and dogs. It’s important to feed your pet a balanced diet, exercise them regularly and be careful with treats and snacks! Too many treats can risk weight gain. We aren’t saying you shouldn’t treat your pets, but just be mindful of the amount and type of treat you’re feeding them – it should always be less than 10% of your pets’ overall food intake.
We offer free weight clinics here at Orchard Vets, so give us a call if you’re concerned about your pets’ weight.
Our nurses are also available to chat with you about your pet’s diet and can help to recommend the most appropriate diet for your pet.
We hope you’ve learned a bit about diabetes! Remember, with consistent, effective treatment, lifestyle adjustments, and adequate monitoring, a diabetic pet should have the same expected life span as a non-diabetic cat or dog of the same age so, although it may sound scary, there’s plenty we can do to help!
You can call us any time for advice, whether it's diabetes-related or not!
Oldbury 0121 544 0404
Harborne 0121 428 1777
Wednesbury 0121 556 689