Diabetes is something a fur parent and a dog may have in common, and this disease works the same in canines as in humans. When there are not enough insulin levels inside your dog’s system, or they do not usually respond to insulin, blood sugar will start to get high.
The good news is diabetes could not be fatal for your sweet dogs when detected early. In any case, know if your dog is at risk by learning what breed of dogs get diabetes.
Diabetes Types in Dogs
Diabetes in dogs has three types that share the same concept as diabetes in humans. They are called types I, II, and III, each with different kinds of unique causes. You can discover more about them below:
Type I
This is the most common type of diabetes your dog might get. It is described as an absolute lack of insulin because of broken cells inside the pancreas. Dogs afflicted with this type need a continuous supply of insulin their whole life to live accordingly.
Type II
This type is called “non-insulin-dependent” diabetes, which relates to Type II diabetes in humans. In this category, insulin production is very low inside the dog’s system, which means less glucose enters the cells.
With less to almost no glucose inside the cells, it will deprive the dog of energy. This diabetes is often related to obesity. A dog with diabetes of this type is frequently tired because of its lack of energy.
Type III
This last type is usually related to pregnancy, but it is also the least to be detected because it is rare. It is described by high glucose and insulin levels even after an overnight fast. There is also a high insulin response to glucose in this classification.
However, despite being rare, Type III diabetes can be fatal for dogs, especially if they are obese. There is also a mild increase in insulin in obese dogs with Type III Diabetes. It may be fatal, but they can survive this hormone-induced type, which may reappear after pregnancy.
Breeds Prone To Getting Diabetes
Diabetes is common for dogs 4-14 years of age, and unspayed female dogs are more likely to get the disease. Although dogs can still acquire diabetes by 1 in 300 chances, it is the owner’s responsibility to take care of their pets. Nonetheless, here is a list of dog breeds that often get diabetes:
- Alaskan Malamute
- Australian Terrier
- Bichon Frisé
- Cairn Terrier
- Cocker Spaniel
- Dachshund
- Doberman Pinscher
- German Shepherd
- Golden Retriever
- Keeshond
- Labrador Retriever
- Miniature Schnauzers
- Miniature Wirehaired Dachshund
- Norwegian Elkhound
- Pomerania
- Poodle
- Pug
- Samoyed
- Spitz
- Terrier
- Toy Poodle
Symptoms to Look for
Knowing what breed of dogs get diabetes is not enough; a fur parent must also know what symptoms are likely to appear. These symptoms can be seen physically, but some may be inside the dog’s body systems.
Unlike the symptoms of canine distemper that happen internally, diabetes in dogs can be spotted visually. Here is a list of symptoms that you should look for:
- Increased thirstiness or polydipsia
- Frequent urination or polyuria
- An increase in appetite or polyphagia
- Evident decrease in weight
- Low energy levels
- Dehydrated
- Cataracts
Things To Do For Your Diabetic Dog
Even though your dog’s breed is not listed above, you should know that diabetes could still affect your fur baby. In this case, there are two things you should do for your diabetic pet:
- Visit your trusted veterinarian to get your dog checked up. The vet will help you better understand what your pet is suffering from and what kind of diabetes it has. They will also administer the correct dog diabetes treatment for your pup.
- Diabetes would bring starvation and low energy to your dogs, so it is recommended for you to take care of them with all the extra effort you can muster. It would also help if you watched your dog’s diet since it would be the key to maintaining their strength. Consistency in diet would greatly help them to have better and quicker blood sugar regulation.
Conclusion
A fur parent should not stop at knowing what breed of dogs get diabetes but instead continue to learn more about the disease.
Even if a dog is not included in this list, they all still deserve the same care and love that a diabetic canine would get. After all, they are still dogs at risk of getting diabetes — a person should be responsible enough to take precautions to help their pets live a better life.
Dogs, regardless of breed or whether they have diabetes or not, are great companions for us all. If you feel like you’re ready, you can go to Doobert and adopt a pup or two today! You can also help them by becoming a volunteer and looking out for other animals in need.
