Signs Your Pet May Have Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus, often simply called "diabetes," is a chronic condition characterized by persistently high blood sugar levels. It is caused by either the body's inability to make enough insulin or an inability to effectively use insulin (this is called insulin resistance).

Just like humans, dogs and cats of any age can get diabetes. A 2015 survey found that the prevalence of feline and canine diabetes increased nearly 80% in dogs and 18% in cats over 10 years. 

The pancreas makes a hormone called insulin, which helps to move glucose (blood sugar) from the blood into muscle, fat, and liver cells to be stored and used as a source of energy. Similar to humans, dogs with diabetes don’t have enough insulin or can’t use the insulin they have. This prevents their bodies from moving glucose into the body’s cells, resulting in too much sugar in the blood.

Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs

Some of the common symptoms of diabetes in dogs include excessive thirst, frequent urination, increased appetite, weight loss, and low energy. Read on to learn more about the symptoms of diabetes in dogs:

Peeing More Frequently

Polyuria or increased urination is a sign of diabetes. It occurs when high blood sugar levels cause glucose to spill from the blood into the urine. When this happens, the sugar pulls more water with it, causing the dog to urinate more. If you notice your dog has accidents inside the home or wants to get out more to pee, you should take him to the vet for an evaluation. 

Drinking More Water

Polydipsia or excessive thirst is a sign of diabetes. It is linked to higher-than-usual urination caused by excessive sugar. Sometimes, pet parents think their dog is peeing more because she’s drinking more, but it is the other way around. They drink more than usual because they are dehydrated from the increased urination.

Eating More

Polyphagia or increased appetite can occur in a diabetic dog because the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps to regulate blood sugar. When the pancreas doesn’t produce insulin in dogs with diabetes, the dog’s body perceives it as starvation or not having sufficient glucose. This makes the dog hungry all the time.

Losing Weight

A normal appetite coupled with an unexpected drop in weight can be a sign of dog diabetes. This occurs because, without insulin, the body can’t get enough glucose into the cells for energy. As a result, it starts to break down muscle and fat, leading to weight loss. 

Keep in mind that other conditions like cancer, liver disease, kidney disease, and gastrointestinal disease can cause weight loss in dogs. Dog owners should get their pet checked out by a vet if they notice she’s dropping weight despite eating normally.

Low Energy

Dogs who develop diabetes can be tired and less energetic. This happens because the cells in the body cannot take up glucose due to their body not producing insulin. High glucose levels can also cause electrolyte imbalances, causing nerve problems. If you notice your dog tires more quickly after going for a walk or playing, be sure to get them checked out for dog diabetes.

Stiffness or Weakness

Muscle weakness can be a sign of diabetes in dogs. It can present as stumbling, stiffness, walking or standing weirdly, having difficulty lying down, or dropping hocks (rear legs closer to the ground than usual). This happens because not enough glucose is going into the muscles. 

Cloudy Eyes

Cataracts (cloudy eyes) are a common long-term complication of diabetes in dogs. Most dogs with diabetes (up to 80%) ultimately develop cataracts. This occurs because high blood sugar (diabetes) pulls water into the eye’s lens, causing damage. As a result, diabetic dogs are at risk of blindness. 

Dogs adapt well to poor vision due to their keen sense of smell and hearing, so these changes can remain undetected for a long time. But cataracts can be treated. Be sure to get your dog examined if you notice they’re bumping into things or showing other signs of poor vision.

Lackluster Coat 

Canine diabetes can lead to a loss of the healthy luster in your dog’s coat. A dog developing diabetes may also exhibit thinning, drying, and scaling of the skin. This occurs due to dehydration from the loss of water in the urine. These changes can be improved if you treat diabetes with insulin treatment.

Vomiting

Vomiting can be a sign of a complication of diabetes in dogs called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Other symptoms of DKA include panting, lethargy, weakness, and poor appetite. This is a potentially life-threatening condition, and you should take your dog to an emergency vet. He might need hospitalization.

DKA occurs when blood glucose levels are very high, and there is not enough insulin to pull glucose into the body’s cells. As a result, the body starts producing ketones for energy, making the blood acidic. This can give your dog sweet-smelling breath or breath with a distinctive odor like nail polish remover. However, this sign is not always present. 

What Could Be Mistaken For Diabetes In Dogs?

The symptoms of dog diabetes are not specific. They can be indicative of other diseases. For instance, kidney disease is linked to increased thirst and urination. Diabetes insipidus can cause excessive thirst and large volumes of urine. An overactive thyroid can cause increased hunger. That’s why it is important to take your dog to his veterinarian for a complete evaluation. Your vet can do blood tests to rule out or diagnose dog diabetes or other conditions affecting your pet’s health.

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Diagnosis  

How Does A Vet Test For Diabetes In Dogs?

A vet can test for diabetes in dogs with blood tests, such as a serum glucose, to look for high blood sugar, and urine tests, such as urinalysis, to look for glucose in urine. They may also order other tests to diagnose or rule out conditions that can cause similar symptoms.

How Can I Check My Dog For Diabetes At Home?

You can’t diagnose diabetes in dogs at home. However, if your vet has diagnosed your dog with diabetes, you can check blood glucose readings at home. You can do this using a glucose monitor and glucose test strips. 

Risk Factors

Age

Diabetes can occur at any age in dogs, but it mostly affects middle-aged and older dogs. Unspayed female dogs have two times the risk of diabetes compared to male dogs.

Weight

While diabetes is more likely to occur in overweight dogs and older dogs, it can affect dogs of all ages and both male dogs and female dogs. So, if you notice any changes in your dog’s health, such as a change in your dog’s urine habits, be sure to check with your veterinarian or veterinary technician. 

Breed

All dog breeds can get diabetes; however, certain smaller dogs, such as Yorkshire Terriers, West Highland White Terriers, Border Terriers, Fox Terriers, Bichon Frise, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, are at a higher risk. 

Treatment and Management  

Diabetes is a progressive and chronic disease. It can have serious long-term health consequences in a dog’s body without treatment. You can limit the damage from your dog’s diabetes by learning the signs of diabetes and starting interventions early on. 

Diet and Exercise  

There is no cure for diabetes, and it is a serious disease. But your veterinarian can help you with the proper management of the condition. Being overweight is a risk factor for diabetes mellitus in dogs. Lifestyle changes, including a healthy diet, regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight, are key. 

Insulin Therapy

If lifestyle changes alone don’t work, you might also have to give your dog insulin injections twice a day to keep blood sugar levels in check. Most diabetic dogs tolerate insulin well and do well once a routine is established.

The veterinarian will recommend the initial insulin dose based on your dog’s weight and blood glucose levels. They will make adjustments until you find the optimal dose that keeps your pet’s blood sugar in check. Insulin injections are usually given every 12 hours with meals. Your vet will show you how to give your dog insulin shots.

How Do You Treat a 13-Year-Old Dog With Diabetes?

The treatment for diabetes in dogs is the same regardless of age. It consists of lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, weight management, and insulin to control blood glucose levels. 

What Happens to a Dog With Untreated Diabetes Mellitus?

Treating diabetes is essential to give your dog a healthy life. Diabetes in dogs that is uncontrolled or left untreated can cause several health problems such as cataracts, blindness, fatty liver, urinary tract infections, seizures, and kidney failure. Health issues like diabetic ketoacidosis can be potentially life-threatening complications in dogs who develop diabetes.

Life Expectancy and Quality of Life  

The average life expectancy of a dog with diabetes is about 2 years after a diabetes diagnosis. Senior dogs may have a shorter lifespan due to health complications from worsening diabetes. Keep in mind that various factors can influence your dog’s overall prognosis and life expectancy. Properly managing their diabetes can help extend their lifespan.

Early diagnosis of diabetes in dogs and cats is important to ensure your pets continue to live long and happy lives. While there is no cure for this condition, diabetes is a manageable disease. Treatment can ensure your pet lives a more or less normal life without serious health complications. 

A veterinarian may make a diabetes diagnosis at an annual wellness visit. But knowing the signs and symptoms of cat and dog diabetes can help pet parents recognize the problem early and bring it to their vet’s attention for proper treatment. 

Diabetes in Cats 

Like humans and dogs, cats can also develop type II diabetes. Obese dogs and cats are at high risk of developing diabetes. Indeed, diabetes is nearly three times more common in cats than in dogs. 

The signs of feline diabetes are more or less the same as canine diabetes. The key diabetes symptoms to look out for in cats are increased urination, excessive thirst, increased appetite, and unexpected weight loss. 

If you notice one or more of these symptoms, it’s important to schedule a vet visit and discuss your concerns. The vet might order blood and urine tests to make a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. 

If your cat is diagnosed with diabetes, the vet might recommend dietary changes, increased physical activity, glucose monitoring at home, regular checkups, or even daily insulin injections to keep your cat’s blood glucose levels in a healthy range.

What Is The Life Expectancy of a Diabetic Cat?

Cats who are treated for diabetes can live long lives after the diagnosis. The life expectancy varies, with some studies reporting a lifespan of 3 years. Keep in mind that diabetes is common in older cats, so this timespan may approach the cat’s normal lifespan. 

Key Differences in Feline and Canine Diabetes

• Symptoms of diabetes, such as excessive thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, and lethargy, are more easily noticeable in cats than in dogs.

• Gait changes such as a flat-footed gait or down in the hocks are more common in cats than dogs with diabetes.

• Unlike dogs, diabetic cats rarely develop cataracts (clouding of the lens in the eye).

• In dogs, females are more likely to develop diabetes. In cats, the opposite is true, and male cats are predisposed to diabetes.

• Like some dog breeds at high risk of diabetes, Burmese cats are at an increased risk.