How to Manage Diabetes in a Canine
Like humans, dogs can acquire diabetes. The dog's pancreas stops producing insulin or becomes resistant to insulin, leading to an inability for the body to control blood sugar. There are two types of diabetes in canines: Type I diabetes occurs while the dog is still young; Type II is normally seen in dogs past their middle-age years. If a dog develops diabetes, it will become very lethargic, drink excessive water and have unexplained fluctuating weight. While diabetes can take a lot of time and patience to deal with, the owner of the dog can manage the disease with the help of a good veterinarian.
Instructions
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Get the dog checked out immediately if you suspect it has diabetes. The veterinarian will conduct a few diagnostic tests to determine whether or not diabetes has developed. Tests could include a complete medical history, a physical exam, a urine analysis and a blood test. Should the tests come back positive for diabetes, your vet will help you come up with a detailed plan on how to manage the disease
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Learn about insulin management first and foremost as almost all canine diabetes cases will require insulin shots. The veterinarian will help you determine what type of insulin is the best for your dog. It may be that the first few months of managing diabetes in the dog is marked by experimenting with insulin in an attempt to find a best fit. Smaller breeds of dogs may only require a single injection a day, while bigger breeds could need two or more daily shots. It is important not to simply change a dog's insulin injections without the consent of the veterinarian. If the insulin you use doesn't seem to be working, maintain an open line of communication with the vet office to come up with a new plan.
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Learn to manage your dog's blood sugar. This type of management is also very important to master. A very small portion of blood should be extracted from the dog and tested for blood sugar levels on a regular basis at home. The blood sugar levels will determine how much insulin to give to the dog. The veterinarian can show you how to do this without hurting the dog.
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Plan a healthy diet for your dog. High fiber, high protein, low fat and low carbohydrate diets are best for diabetic dogs. Be wary of dry foods as they are usually very high in carbohydrates. The diet plan will also take a little experimenting as not all diabetic dogs have the same needs. Check with your veterinarian to find a recommended food brand or diet
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Experiment with natural remedies, under veterinary supervision. While most diabetic dogs will still require medicinal intervention, some natural remedies could increase a dog's comfort level. For example, a few drops of apple cider vinegar in the dog's water could boost the effects of the medications. A little cinnamon sprinkled into a dog's food can substitute a small amount of insulin in the blood, though dog's generally don't like the smell. If you can get your dog to eat grapefruit, it can help dogs who have gained a lot of weight as a side effect of diabetes. Always check with a veterinarian before supplementing a dog's diet with natural remedies.
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Consider spaying immediately if the diabetic dog is female and not spayed. Spaying reduces the effects of estrogen on diabetes and insulin and can greatly increase the dog's comfort levels.
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Watch out for serious side effects of the disease such as obesity or urinary tract infections due to increased urination. Obesity may involve giving the dog decreased amounts of food or increasing exercise regiments. Urinary tract infections require additional medication. Look out for small amounts of blood between the dog's legs for signs of this type of infection.
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Be patient. The dog will often not feel good and needs a lot of love and care. It's not going to be easy to manage the disease, but good management leads to a happy life for the dog and a loyal best friend for the owner.
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References
- Photo Credit dog image by Ergün Ã--zsoy from Fotolia.com
