Diabetes can affect our pets too
In cats and dogs, diabetes mellitus occurs due to a lack of insulin production in the pancreas.
Insulin is required as a ‘key' to allow sugar from our bloodstream to enter the cells of our body and produce energy. When there is not enough insulin, there is a large amount of sugar in the blood but the cells are starved for fuel, and have to use fat instead. You would think that increased fat burning is a desirable thing but it produces toxins which eventually cause the life-threatening condition diabetic ketoacidosis.
Several things happen in a diabetic animal to cause the symptoms of disease. The pet is often very hungry, despite the high blood sugar level, because the body is no longer able recognise that sugar. Sudden severe weight loss occurs as the body burns fat as an alternate fuel. The kidneys cannot prevent the loss of sugar in the urine - the effect of this is large amounts of water loss as the sugar draws water with it. The diabetic pet is intensely thirsty and produces large amounts of urine.
Some secondary problems are seen - cataract formation in dogs' eyes as sugar enters the lens, and urinary tract infections as the sugar in the urine is a good food source for bacteria. Nerve and muscle function deteriorate and weakness occurs.
Diabetes occurs in cats and dogs and is not always a disease of old age. Some breeds are predisposed especially oriental cat breeds. The most common patient is female, middle-aged and overweight - just as in people! Maintaining an ideal body weight and feeding an appropriate diet are important tools in prevention of diabetes.
Diagnosis of diabetes is fairly straightforward with blood and urine samples required.
Early treatment with insulin injections and diet change can mean a normal life for diabetic patients in many cases. Some cats can have remission of the disease with early intervention, but dogs always remain diabetic and require insulin injections for life. Treatment does require a good level of commitment from the pet owner in terms of time and finances, but can be very rewarding.
If you have a pet that is losing weight, is increasingly thirsty or hungry or is having accidents in the house, it is a good time for a check-up at your veterinarian. Your vet will also be able to discuss prevention of diabetes in currently healthy pets.
