By vet Graham Lewis
November is Pet Diabetes Month dedicated to spreading awareness of this condition.
In my time in practice the way we can treat and monitor diabetes in pets has changed considerably, so if you have had a pet with diabetes in the past there might be new ways of managing this condition that you aren’t aware of.
Diabetes mellitus occurs when an animal is unable to regulate their blood sugar levels. It tends to occur in middle aged to older animals and is seen more frequently in female dogs and male cats, with some breeds also being predisposed. But any animal can develop this condition.
The most common clinical signs seen are increased urination and excessive thirst often combined with weight loss. To diagnose the condition a simple urine sample can point us in the direction of diabetes and a blood sample can be used to confirm the condition.
Once diagnosed, treatment options can be discussed. The most common treatment involves giving daily injections. We know this can sound quite scary to some clients but once you and your pet have got used to this it is often fine. There is a new oral medication that can be used as an alternative in some cats.
Two of the most important things to consider with diabetes is that there is no cure, treatment is needed lifelong, and also every animal needs a different dosage.
Monitoring response to treatment in the past would have meant animals spending a day in the vets getting regular blood tests to see what their blood sugar is doing. We can now use devices that measure the blood sugar throughout a period at home so reducing the stress for the animals and allowing more accurate dosing and hopefully quicker improvement for these animals.
Alongside medication routine, consistent exercise and feeding can make a huge difference to these pets so expect to start managing your day around your pet - but for most of us pet owners this already happens to some degree!
Diabetes can be expensive to treat and manage. Pet insurance can help if it is in place already so please consider this for your pet. A good lifelong policy will prove worthwhile if you end up with a diabetic pet.
If you are concerned that your pet might have diabetes or is displaying the symptoms discussed, please get in touch with your vet and arrange a check-up.