Pet diabetes can seem like a very scary thing to a pet parent but take a deep breath. While it’s not curable, management of the condition can keep your pet healthy and happy for years to come. You can learn more in this quick guide from our team at Redlands Pet Clinic.
What Is Pet Diabetes?
Pet diabetes is similar to human diabetes. In short, the pet’s body either produces no insulin, produces an insignificant amount of insulin, or its body responds abnormally to the insulin it produces. This insulin is necessary for glucose to enter the cells and turn it into energy. Instead, glucose sits in the blood while the body is depleted of energy.
Signs of Pet Diabetes
The following are some of the common warning signs in pets that indicate it’s time to visit your vet:
- Eating more than usual: Diabetes means that your pet’s body isn’t using the food it eats for energy, which makes them need to eat more to try to achieve optimal glucose levels. Unfortunately, this will not happen as long as the condition is not being managed.
- Drinking and urinating more than usual: Diabetes leads to glucose in the urine, which prevents the kidneys from absorbing water. This makes your pet need to drink more fluids, but they’re not being absorbed, so they are coming right back out.
- Unexplained weight loss: Just because your pet is eating more doesn’t mean it’s hanging around. Since the body isn’t using what your pet takes in, it typically leads to weight loss.
- Cataracts: Dogs often develop cataracts due to unmanaged diabetes.
Unfortunately, unmanaged diabetes can lead to liver failure and more, so it’s essential to keep all veterinarian appointments. On the other hand, when the condition is managed, you can expect your pet to live a much longer life.
Diagnosis and Treatment
In most cases, diagnosis requires nothing more than blood and urine samples taken by your vet. If glucose is found in these samples, treatment will begin. Treatment for pet diabetes often requires daily insulin injections to help manage the blood glucose level. However, it doesn’t stop there. It will also include changes to daily habits, including dietary changes and exercise routines. You and your vet will talk through these changes and any other recommendations that can help your pet.
Get Your Pet the Care It Needs in Grand Junction, CO
If you have concerns about pet diabetes, we’re here for you and your furry friend. Schedule an appointment with our team at Redlands Pet Clinic by calling us at (970) 245-4060 or reach us through our website by using our online contact form.
