NOVEMBER IS PET DIABETES AWARENESS MONTH

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Of all the months on the calendar, we can’t think of one more appropriate to host “National Diabetes Awareness Month” than November: the month of feasting. With the steady rise in prevalence of diabetes in pet parents it’s not really shocking that more and more pets are also being diagnosed with the disease, however the diagnosis itself can still leave many unsuspecting pet owners in a new phase of life that they may feel unprepared for. At WVC we strive to help owners of newly diagnosed pets fully understand the disease, the treatment and the lifestyle changes necessary to manage their pets diabetes keeping them in optimal health for the rest of their lives.

When a doctor on staff has enough data to confidently diagnose a pet that will be insulin dependent they’ll schedule a diabetic consult where a doctor and technician will answer any and all questions that the owners may have and perform a demonstration on proper insulin storage, handling and administration culminating in the owners themselves administering a mock injection. Our aim is ensure that pet owners leave the consultation with piece of mind and confidence in their ability to care for their diabetic pet at home.

The Breakdown:

Diabetes mellitus is a condition where the body cannot convert glucose into energy due to issues producing or regulating the hormone insulin. (It’s important to remember that every pet is unique, so diabetes for one patient may look a little different than it does for another one.) When a patient has diabetes, glucose can’t be absorbed into cells to convert into energy, so it remains in the bloodstream causing the blood-glucose (BG) to become elevated; this is called “hyperglycemia“. Once the BG reaches an overly elevated level (approximately 200 mg/dL in dogs or 250-300 mg/dL in cats), glucose will spill over into the urine, known as “glucosuria“.

The Two Types of Diabetes:

As it applies to cats and dogs there are 2 types of Diabetes:

  • Insulin-dependent: These patients cannot produce their own insulin, so they require insulin therapy for life. Diabetic dogs are typically insulin-dependent, similar to type 1 diabetes in humans.
  • Insulin-resistant: These patients can produce insulin, but it does not have the desired effect. They usually require insulin at the start of therapy, but sometimes can go into remission and be managed with an appropriate diet. Most diabetic cats have insulin resistance, similar to humans with type 2 diabetes.

Signs & Symptoms:

Most newly diagnosed patients present with a combination of:

  • Increased urination
  • Increased thirst
  • Weight loss
  • Increased appetite
  • Dehydration

The most common signs of diabetes in dogs and cats are increased thirst and urination however dogs may develop sudden cataract formation while cats will begin to display “Plantigrade Posture” (walking on their hocks).

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Prevention, Treatment and Maintenance:

Thankfully diabetes can be managed and mitigated with the use of daily insulin coupled with lifestyle and dietary changes. There are a variety of prescription diets made for diabetic cats and dogs, but not all patients will require or do best on a prescription diet. Diet recommendations can be determined by your veterinarian once your pet’s disease has become regulated, however there are definitely foods/treats that you can easily omit from your pets daily diet while providing healthier substitutions. Some pet parents may choose to provide a home cooked diet for their pets which is great when done under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian or pet nutritionist.

Additional Resources:

In addition to what WVC offers our clients AAHA (The American Animal Hospital Association) has published a fantastic supplementary support guide on their website for owners of newly diagnosed pets or for pet parents that may want to keep up with the most up to date information available. Additionally they offer even more resources such as YouTube demo videos, questions to ask your veterinarian and realistic goals for management through their companion article “8 Things You Should Know About AAHA’s Guidelines…“.

You can also visit the official website for National Pet Diabetes Month and view their extensive lists of published articles and monitoring resources for owners of diabetic pets.

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Think your pet may be displaying some of the signs & symptoms of diabetes? Give WVC a call and schedule an exam with Dr. Willems or the vet of your choice and let’s discuss the road forward!

Your Friends at the New Whiting Veterinary Clinic
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