Diabetes Mellitus occurs when your pet has either insufficient levels of insulin or has an adverse reaction to insulin. There are several symptoms or changes that may occur in your dog or cat. However, these changes could also be symptoms of several other diseases.
- Excessive thirst
- Excessive urination
- Excessive appetite
- Loss of weight despite a good appetite
- Ketones in the urine
- Cloudy eyes and/or loss of vision
The way in which your pet is diagnosed with diabetes is by a few simple tests including blood work and urinalysis. If glucose levels are found to be elevated in both the urine and the blood then the diagnosis is confirmed. At this point in time, the Veterinarian may also determine if your dog or cat has any other infections or diseases because if so they can make the treatment more difficult.
As before mentioned, since diabetes is caused by an insufficient amount of insulin, your pet will be treated with insulin. Your pet will be treated with insulin injections, such as Vetsulin. It is very important that you give the insulin at the same time every day. An additional area in which diabetes is managed is through diet. It is recommended to feed a low-carbohydrate, high-fiber diet such as Purina DCO (for dogs), or Purina DM (for cats). Also, overweight pets should be put on a diet and regularly exorcized.
The veterinarian will start your pet out at a recommended dose of insulin according to your pet's weight. The dose will be adjusted weekly until your pet is regulated. This can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to 1-2 months. Once your pet is regulated we like to check the blood work every 6 months.
There are several complication and/or side effects that can be experienced with diabetic animals. The most common complication is Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) which can be caused by:
- Giving too much insulin
- Missing or delaying food
- A change in diet or amount fed
- Change (increase) in exercise
- Infection or illness
- Change in the bodies need for insulin
- Diseases of the adrenal, pituitary or thyroid gland, or progression of liver or kidney disease
- Interaction with other drugs
Signs of hypoglycemia
- Weakness
- Depression
- Behavioral changes
- Muscle twitching
- Anxiety
- Seizures
If your pet shows any of these signs what you should do is rub approximately one tablespoon of corn syrup or karo syrup on your pet's gums.
You should contact your Veterinarian if your pet shows any of the following side effects:
- Excessive water consumption for more than 3 days.
- Excessive urination (including need to urinate at night for a dog that usually sleeps through the night or inappropriate urination in the house).
- Reduced or complete loss of appetite
- Weakness, seizures, or severe mental depression.
- Behavioral change, muscle twitching or anxiety
- Constipation, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Signs of bladder infection (small frequent urination, straining, blood in the urine)
- Swelling of the head or neck
HOW TO ADMINISTER INSULIN:
- Wash your hands
- Remove the insulin bottle from the refrigerator and roll it gently between your hands (Never shake the bottle). Clean the rubber top before drawing out insulin.
- Insert the syringe into the bottle
- Turn the bottle upside down. Making sure the tip of the needle is in the insulin, withdraw the correct dose into the syringe.
- Before removing the needle from the bottle, check the syringe for any air bubbles. If bubbles are present, hold the syringe straight up and tap its side until the bubbles float to the top. Push them out with the plunger and withdraw the correct dose.
GIVING THE INJECTION:
- Injections should be given just under the skin (subcutaneously) 2-5cm.
- Draw the skin upward and make a small hollow with youth index finger (like a tent) push the syringe gently into the skin and inject the insulin.
- Release the syringe and discard it into a safe container (such as an empty soda bottle).
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