Are you worried that your pup has diabetes? Do you want assurance by knowing “how do dogs act when they have diabetes?”
Set aside your worries and learn here about the things you need to know first.
Defining Diabetes
Diabetes is a common yet serious disease that needs special attention to control. This disease happens when the pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin, and if left without treatment, it may damage other organs.
For a deeper explanation, you can see this article concerning what canine diabetes is.
What factors can encourage this disease? It varies in breed, age, and weight:
- Some breeds that are more at risk for diabetes are Beagles, Dachshunds, Golden retrievers, Pomeranians, Terriers, and Samoyeds.
- Older dogs and unvaccinated pups are more prone to diabetes.
- Obese dogs have the highest probability of getting diabetes.
Genetics, raised hormone levels, chronic pancreatitis, obesity, or the immune system mistakenly attacking the insulin-producing cells might give rise to diabetes. For clarification, you can also directly go to the vet and let your dog undergo a thorough check-up to know if they have diabetes or they would be more prone to get it.
How Do Dogs Act When They Have diabetes?
As a fur parent, it can be distressing to see them suffer from any disease. Thankfully, with the help of the extensive knowledge available on the internet, you can know what indications may point to certain complications.
It is a great help for preventing life-threatening diseases from worsening and nipping them from the bud earlier.
Dog diabetes might show through various odd signs, and for easier identification, here is a list of dog with diabetes symptoms that you can take note of:
- An increased appetite may not seem odd, but this can be a symptom of diabetes. Being in a continuous state of starving shouldn’t be put aside.
- In connection to the first sign, show some concern and pay more attention if they are not gaining weight despite their increase in appetite.
- Beware of their unquenchable thirst and increased urination since this is another indication.
- Constantly looking tired and without energy despite the surge in appetite is another worrying factor. Another body movement indicator for diabetes is stiff movements.
- Many dogs with diabetes get cataracts. Observe clumsy acts, constantly rubbing their eyes, or their eyes appearing cloudy.
- Thinning hair and poor skin quality are also symptoms for this disease.
If you’re still unsure even when you already saw similar symptoms showing on your dog, you can ask for professional assistance. Going to the vet for an assessment and check-up would still be your best option.
Caring For Your Diabetic Dog
As a pet owner, the best thing you can do is stick to the vet’s schedule for your dog’s check-up. You can also help your dog by promoting and initiating a healthier lifestyle; it would be best if it’s recommended by the vet, too.
A successful dog with diabetes treatment may include one or more of the following procedures: insulin treatment, diet control, weight management, gene therapy, and timely treatment of other diseases that may cause more problems. These are some of the diseases or conditions that may cause diabetes to flare and would need a separate and immediate treatment:
- Obesity
- Pancreatitis
- Cushing’s Disease
- Urinary Tract Infection
- Other infections
Whether your dog is already diagnosed with diabetes or not, the following tips might be of help to you:
- Know and watch out for the signs of diabetes.
- Avoid fatty snacks, and start a more balanced and healthy diet.
- Help your dog get used to an exercise routine and let them live actively.
- Maintain a healthy weight. The average weight may vary among different dog breeds.
- Know and follow the vet’s schedule for periodic check-ups (and don’t miss out on them).
- Follow along with the treatment plan or goals for a diabetic dog. Before making any changes or adjustments, always ask your veterinarian first.
Conclusion
How do dogs act when they have diabetes? There are six indications given above, but it’s not limited there. The best thing you can do is confirm it with your trusted vet since it may be another disease with similar symptoms.
You should also know that even if your dog is diagnosed with diabetes, it can still live a happy and long life with proper therapy. It’ll just require more effort and time on your end, but as a fur parent, a small sacrifice is nothing, right?
During the diabetic treatment, it might get strenuous on the pup, so help cheer them up by finding them a companion. The Doobert team would be your finest bet for this! Be a volunteer and help support animals in need through simple ways.
