How to check your dog for diabetes
Diabetes is a hormone disorder that makes it hard for a dog to digest sugar properly. A diabetic dog does not produce enough insulin or it can't properly use the insulin its pancreas does produce. When this happens, sugar can't move from the bloodstream into the dog's cells. This is a serious problem because sugar is a life-sustaining source of quick energy that helps keep your dog healthy. Diabetes is a serious, potentially fatal, illness. If you know what to look for, though, you can catch diabetes early and treat it.
Instructions
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Instructions
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Check your dog's water bowl. Diabetes makes dogs thirsty, so you might notice that you're filling the water bowl more often. Or perhaps your four-legged friend has taken up the habit of drinking from puddles on walks. This increased thirst is a symptom of diabetes.
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2
Look for extra leg lifting or squatting. This is another way of saying that dogs with diabetes urinate a lot. If you have noticed that your dog needs to go out to urinate more than in the past, or is having accidents in the house, diabetes could be the culprit.
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3
Notice your dog's appetite. Dogs with diabetes have an increased appetite. They might gobble their food up more quickly than in the past. They might act dissatisfied after eating or beg for treats a lot. If they are, diabetes could be making them feel hungrier than usual.
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Watch your dog's weight. If your dog is overweight, the probability that she has, or will develop, diabetes goes up. If your dog was overweight or normal weight and has lost weight, that is also a symptom of diabetes.
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Take note of your dog's age. Dogs 7 years old and older are more likely to get diabetes than younger dogs. If your dog is pushing canine middle age and has other symptoms, the odds go up that he is diabetic.
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Call your vet to make an appointment. If your dog has symptoms of diabetes, he needs medical attention. At the appointment, your vet will give your dog a checkup and do some lab work. One lab test will check to see if there is sugar in your pet's urine. Another will check to see if there is more sugar in your pet's blood than there should be. Based on the checkup and test results, your vet will make a diagnosis. If your dog is diabetic, your vet will talk with you about what to do.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't let your dog get overweight. Normal-weight dogs rarely get diabetes.
Walk and play with your dog. Dogs that are physically active get diabetes less often than sedentary dogs.
Don't ignore your dog's symptoms. Diabetes is a serious illness. The earlier you catch it, the better the prognosis.
If your dog is diabetic, follow your vet's recommendations. With the right diet, exercise and medication, you can usually control your dog's diabetes.
