Canine Diabetes & Feeding
Humans and dogs can develop some similar diseases. Just like humans, dogs can develop diabetes. In managing canine diabetes, an owner who takes care in choosing the right food and the right schedule when feeding his dog can make the process much easier.
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Canine Diabetes
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Canine diabetes occurs when a dog's pancreas does not produce sufficient amounts of insulin for the dog's body to properly use and regulate sugars, proteins and fats. Diabetes is most common in younger, female dogs. There is a genetic component to it, so diabetes can occur in dogs that are related. A dog that is overfed and overweight is more likely to develop diabetes, according to Washington State University.
Symptoms
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A dog with diabetes will have elevated sugar levels in its blood. This results in sugar spilling into the urine. The dog will need to pass more urine and then drink lots of water to avoid dehydration. Dogs with diabetes are often hungry, wanting food in addition to normal feedings. A diabetic dog might lose weight even though it eats more because its body isn't properly processing the nutrients it takes in.
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Diagnosis
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A veterinarian can diagnose canine diabetes. She can take a blood sample from the dog and check its blood sugar levels. A blood screening of organs like the pancreas, liver and kidneys will allow her to check them for damage. The veterinarian will also ask about the dog's feeding habits and the amount of water it drinks. She might also screen its urine to look for secondary urinary and kidney infections.
Treatment
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Diabetes can be managed in dogs through injections of insulin. The insulin will manage the dog's blood sugar levels. So long as they are normal, a dog should return to eating, drinking and urinating at regular levels. Most dogs require shots at regular 12-hour intervals. For ease of management, some owners pair administering the injection with feeding the dog, according to "The Complete Healthy Dog Handbook."
Considerations
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Once a dog has been diagnosed with diabetes, how it is fed becomes an important part of managing the disease. If the dog is overweight, a veterinarian could suggest feeding it a diet designed to help it lose weight. A diabetic dog should not be fed table scraps or human food as treats. Instead, owners should focus on feeding the dog measured amounts of healthy dog food.
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References
- Photo Credit dog photo image by sonya etchison from Fotolia.com
