Diabetes in dogs

What is canine diabetes?

When a dog suffers from diabetes, it means that their pancreas does not produce any or enough of the hormone called insulin.

After a dog eats, insulin is needed to use the glucose (sugar) absorbed from their food and transport it into the cells around their body to enable them to thrive and grow.

When dogs suffer from diabetes their body doesn't respond appropriately to the insulin. This means they cannot control the level of glucose in their blood, and can develop dangerously high levels known as hyperglycaemia.

Are there different types of diabetes in dogs?

Like in humans, dogs can suffer with two types of diabetes, but type 1 is most common.

• Type 1 diabetes – almost all dogs with diabetes suffer from type 1. Dogs with type 1 diabetes are unable to produce any insulin at all, meaning they will depend on insulin treatments for the rest of their lives.
• Type 2 diabetes – type 2 diabetes is extremely rare in dogs. This type of diabetes causes your dog's pancreas to produce some insulin but not enough.

What are the main signs of diabetes in dogs?

If your dog is suffering with diabetes, there are some common first signs that you may notice. They include:

• urinating more often
• drinking a lot more
• increased hunger
• weight loss
• bladder infections
• vomiting
• weakness

How is diabetes diagnosed in dogs?

If your vet suspects that your dog has diabetes, they will need to run some tests to rule out other illnesses. This often involves taking a blood and urine test to check for high levels of glucose.

If your dog is particularly unwell, your vet may also need to admit your dog overnight while they diagnose diabetes and get their condition under control.

How is diabetes in dogs treated?

Diabetes in dogs is not something that can be cured, but it is a manageable condition that is treated with a combination of medication and a controlled, balanced diet.

Medication

Most dogs with diabetes require injections twice a day, around 12 hours apart and after a meal. The type of insulin and dose needed will be decided by your vet. It can take time to find the correct dose for your dog's needs, so frequent visits to the vet may be needed at the beginning of treatment.

Your dog may also need a small blood test to check their blood glucose levels – this can be done by your vet, or sometimes they may show you how to do this at home.

Giving your dog daily injections and taking their glucose levels can feel worrying, but your vet or vet nurse will show you how to do them. The injection is usually given under the skin and should be painless for your dog.

Diet

Managing your dog's diet and weight is an important part of controlling diabetes, alongside their insulin injections.

Your vet will advise you on what and how much to feed your dog, and on the timing of meals and injections.

What are the signs that my dog’s insulin medication isn’t working?

With successful management of diabetes, your dog's appetite and thirst should go back to normal and their weight will normalise.

If your dog continues to show signs of diabetes despite treatment, or if they become unwell, stop wanting to eat or show signs of vomiting, diarrhoea or collapse, contact your vet.

It's also important to look out for signs that your dog's blood sugar levels have become dangerously low (hypoglycaemia). This can cause signs such as:

• your dog seeming wobbly or dizzy
• your dog seeming groggy
• collapse
• vomiting

If you suspect that your dog's sugar levels have dropped, rub some glucose gel, sugar solution or honey onto the inside of their gums and contact your vet immediately.

Are there any long term impacts of diabetes in dogs?

With the right medication, most diabetic dogs go on to lead happy and active lives. But there are some health conditions that dogs with diabetes are more prone to. They include:

• cataracts – dogs with diabetes often develop cataracts. While surgical correction is an option, many dogs cope well with loss of sight. If you're worried about cataracts, speak with your vet.
• urinary tract infections – this can become a common problem in dogs with diabetes, as the sugar in their urine can cause bacteria to grow. Contact your vet if you are worried about urinary infections.
• teeth conditions – it is important for diabetic dogs to have their teeth cleaned when necessary because infections in their mouth can cause their blood sugar levels to rise. Read more about caring for your dog's teeth.