2013年9月20日星期五

Dog Symptoms of Diabetes Disease

Dog Symptoms of Diabetes Disease


According to Dr. Leah Cohn of the Pet Place website, diabetes mellitus is one of the most common hormonal diseases among dogs. Diabetes occurs when a lack of the hormone insulin impairs the body from being able to properly metabolize sugar. Diabetes can affect any size or age or breed of dog, but commonly occurs in females between 7 and 9 years old. If you notice any of the signs of diabetes in your dog, take it to a veterinarian as soon as possible.


Thirst and Urination



    Dr. Holly Nash of Doctors Foster and Smith states that a common sign of diabetes in dogs is an increase in thirst and urination. Diabetic dogs will spend a lot more time than usual at the water bowl and will ask to go outside to urinate more than what is common for the dog. This symptom is also indicative of other diseases, including kidney and liver failure, urinary infections and other hormone disturbances (such as Cushings disease, the production of too much adrenal hormone). Through a blood test, your veterinarian should be able to determine the cause of the excessive thirst and urination.



Change in Appetite



    A diabetic dog’s appetite will often increase and even though it is eating more than normally, it may lose weight, states Cohn. The dogs body will start to break down its fat for energy because it cant obtain that energy from the food. As a result of the weight loss, the dog can also appear to have a poor body condition.



Multiple Diseases



    Often, dogs will develop other diseases in conjunction with the diabetes. Veterinarians will diagnose the diabetes on the basis of other problems present. For instance, if a dog has chronic urinary tract infections, the veterinarian may become suspicious of diabetes as an underlying factor. In addition, Nash states that hypothyroidism, cancer and acute pancreatitis can also appear in conjunction with diabetes. Their presence, however, can make treatment of diabetes more difficult.



Sudden Blindness



    Dogs with diabetes can become suddenly blind, states Cohn. Blindness caused by cataracts is often an indicator of diabetes. Cataracts will make an eye look cloudy and cause vision loss.



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