How to Treat Diabetes in Dogs

Any dog can develop diabetes, but some breeds are genetically predisposed to getting it. Cairn Terriers and Miniature Pinschers sometimes get diabetes anytime in their life, while Poodles, Beagles, Dachshunds, and a few other breeds tend to get it later in their life. Dogs who are obese or female tend to develop diabetes more often than dogs who are at their correct weight or are male.

How Diabetes Is Diagnosed In Dogs

Veterinarians look at the dog's behavior for clues as to whether the dog could be diabetic. Diabetic dogs have large appetites, but they may lose weight even though they are eating more. They also drink more water than usual and urinate more often. Also, diabetic dogs have little energy and are often lethargic. If the dog shows these symptoms, the vet will often do diabetic testing to see if sugar or protein are present in the urine. If so, this is an indication of diabetes.

A glucose blood test provides the most accurate results

Diabetes is also diagnosed through blood tests in dogs, just as it is in humans. The normal glucose level for dogs is 70 to 150 mg/dL, and dogs with levels over 200 mg/dL are considered to be diabetic.

How To Treat Diabetes Once It's Found

Early treatment of diabetes in dogs is important because there is no cure for diabetes. If the disease is not treated, the dog will eventually die. The pet is usually put on special dog food that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates. If the dog is overweight, it will need to lose weight.

Owners Need To Take Care of Their Dog's Medical Needs

Owners must also give their dog insulin injections on a daily basis. Some types of insulin last for only four hours and must be given several times each day, while others can be administered one time daily. A special meter for testing the dog's blood sugar levels must be purchased, and it is important to check the glucose level at least one time each week. Insulin treatment can be expensive and cost about $100 or more per month.

Photo: Pixabay

Get a Free Diabetes Meal Plan

Get a free 7-Day Diabetes Meal Plan from Constance Brown-Riggs who is a Registered Dietitian-Certified Diabetes Educator and who is also a national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.

Just enter in your email below to download your free Diabetes Meal Plan.

By clicking Submit, you agree to send your info to BattleDiabetes.com who, in addition to 3rd party partners, may contact you with updates, products and information and we agree to use it according to our privacy policy and terms and conditions.

More Articles

More Articles

For decades people with type-1 and advanced type-2 diabetes relied on painful and often flawed insulin injections to regulate blood sugar...

Scientists have discovered that a single gene forms a common link between type 2 diabetes and...

Natural supplements like cinnamon extract and apple cider vinegar could hold the key to lowering blood sugar levels, according to a recent...

Natural supplements like cinnamon extract and apple cider vinegar could hold the key to lowering blood sugar levels, according to a recent...

Could a person's risk for type 2 diabetes be written in their genes?

According to a study recently published in ...

Women who frequently shift around their sleeping hours could have worse metabolic health outcomes than their peers who stick with a...

The presence of the hormone leptin may hinder prenatal development, which could explain the origin of type 2 diabetes, according to...

An analysis of fossilized Native American feces shows that our ancestors ate up to sixteen times the fiber that we do today, but our...

Managing diabetes is hugely challenging for people of any age, but a new study suggests that young people may suffer all the more....

Disruptions to the gut’s ecosystem could be a future symptom facing young children who take antibiotics, which makes them more susceptible...

Breastfeeding a newborn holds many benefits for mommy and baby; it reduces the baby's risk for colds and viruses, it helps his bones (and yours)...

Fans of the Dexcom G5 Mobile have something to smile about.

At yesterday's hearing with the U.S. Food and Drug...

If you start your day with a cup of tea and end it with a glass of red wine, your blood sugar may thank you.

At least that...

As medical experts continue to debate whether or not "healthy obesity" can even exist, one new study suggests that risk for heart disease...

For years, type 1 diabetics have been anxiously waiting for that medical marvel that can stop the constant injections: the artificial...