Diabetes mellitus is a chronic endocrine disorder that is quite common in
dogs and cats. It is characterized by high blood sugar (hyperglycemia)
which results when the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to
meet the animal's requirements.

Insulin is a hormone which is needed to transport glucose (blood sugar) as
well as certain amino acids and minerals through the blood to the cells.
When a lack of insulin occurs, glucose cannot move into the cells and the
glucose level in the blood rises to abnormally high levels.

Chronic high glucose in the blood and urine can cause severe complications
including infections, cataracts, diabetic ketoacidosis, nervous system
disorders, pancreatitis, and kidney disease. If left untreated, diabetic
animals will suffer from complications and an early death.

Causes:
Diabetes is caused by several things including: genetic predisposition,
infection, drugs, pancreatic disease, obesity, estrus (heat cycles) in
intact females, and concurrent illness.

Who is affected:
Although males do develop diabetes, female dogs are twice as likely to be
affected by the disease. A genetic disposition towards diabetes is
suspected in breeds including the Keeshond, pulik, cairn terrier, and
miniature pinscher. In addition, dachshunds, miniature schnauzers,
poodles, and beagles also are frequently diagnosed with the disease.
However, any dog can develop diabetes mellitus.

For cats, males are more often affected. Certain breeds may be more at
risk than others, but evidence of this is still unclear.

The average age range for the development of diabetes mellitus is four to
14 years, with the majority of cases occurring at six to nine years of age.

Symptoms:
Common symptoms include excessive thirst, increased volumes of urine, and
urinary accidents. Affected pets often have weight loss despite an
increased appetite. Other symptoms may include loss of vision, tiredness,
weakness, and poor coat condition.

Care:
There is no cure for diabetes mellitus, but, as with humans, it can be
controlled with insulin injections, diet, and exercise management. With
such therapy, your pet can lead a happy, comfortable life. Some people
with diabetes can use oral hypoglycemic drugs, but these medications
typically are not helpful in pets.

You should not breed a diabetic female. It is extremely difficult to
control diabetes during pregnancy, and may cause a life-threatening
situation.

Intact female patients should be spayed as soon as their diabetes is
stable to prevent disruption of diabetic control due to fluctuating
hormones.

Once your pet has been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, its specific
insulin requirements need to be determined. As each pet's insulin needs
are unique and often vary from day to day, your pet may need to be
hospitalized to determine its specific needs. This is accomplished by the
veterinarian giving the pet an insulin injection and testing the blood
sugar levels at regular intervals throughout the day. These results are
used to determine your pet's initial insulin requirements. Because your
pet's insulin needs may change once it returns home, periodic
reevaluation over the next two weeks is recommended until satisfactory
control is achieved. Once control is achieved, further evaluations should
be completed every 2-4 months.

Initially, it may be difficult for some owners to give daily insulin
injections, but the majority of owners find it is not that difficult. The
insulin is injected just under the skin with a very fine needle and is not
painful. It is important, however, that injections be given at the same
time each day.

Prognosis:
The prognosis is dependent on a number of factors. How well the pet does
will depend upon the owner's willingness to treat the disease, the
animal's ability to respond to the insulin, the age at the onset of
disease, the presence of other disorders, and the development of
complications of diabetes.

With dedicated care from the owner, recheck appointments with the
veterinarian, and a teamwork approach between the owner and the doctor,
most diabetic pets live healthy lives for many years.