Dog Diabetes Signs and Cures:

Diabetes affects not just humans, but dogs too. Dogs that have been diagnosed with this condition require a lot of care, as this can pose to be a life threatening condition. Diabetes mellitus can be defined as a disease that affects the endocrine system. This condition is caused by an insulin deficiency. Insulin is the hormone that is entrusted with the responsibility of regulating the manner in which sugar is absorbed as well as used by the tissues and cells in the body. The highest occurrences of this condition have been found to be among dogs that are 5 to 7 years of age, with female dogs being more susceptible to the condition. Additionally, dogs that are obese are also more vulnerable to this condition. All in all, diabetes is considered to be one of the most commonly occurring hormonal disorders among dogs.

Genetics or hereditary factors are considered to be the main cause of this problem. This simply indicates that if the dog’s parents had the condition, then in all probability the offspring may inherit it. Apart from genetic factors, viruses and many infectious diseases could also trigger this condition. In fact, many a times, this condition could be brought about by a completely different illness, which the dog may have been suffering from in the past. Certain diseases, particularly ones that affect the pancreas, could cause or bring about an abnormal production of insulin. When this occurs, the pet’s body faces a difficulty in managing blood sugar or glucose levels. The dog then develops diabetes. Cushing’s disease is a condition that has been known to trigger diabetes.

A dog that has diabetes may display one or more of the following symptoms; lethargy, increased urination, unexplained weight loss or weight gain and increased water intake. However, the condition may not always display obvious signs, thus make detecting as well as treating the condition a challenge. This is the main reason why diabetes is often referred to as the silent killer. Thus, one must ensure that their dogs are taken for regular medical checkups, as early diagnosis is crucial. While there is no cure for this condition, the right kind of treatment, administered at the right time, can go a long way in keeping it under control. While mild cases can be treated with simple change in diet and medications, the more severe cases may call for insulin injections, which can be given by the pet’s vet.