Handling Diabetes in Pets

With proper maintenance, diabetic dogs and cats live long healthy lives.

Diabetes is on the rise for people and pets alike. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that nearly 8% of the U.S. population lives with the disease. In cats and dogs, the number is lower but it’s definitely increasing. Expert estimates say that one in every 300 to 400 dogs and cats seen at a veterinary clinic will be diagnosed with diabetes. This is probably because pets are living longer and getting heavier.

In dogs, diabetes mellitus is caused by an autoimmune disease that attacks the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. Without enough insulin produced to control the blood glucose (sugar) levels, they rise. Chronic relapsing pancreatitis is a frequent cause of diabetes mellitus. Some dogs are genetically predisposed to the disease. Others get it as a result of hyperadrenocorticism (a common endocrine disorder) or long-term use of some drugs such as glucocorticoids or progestogen, both of which interfere with insulin. Obese dogs are more prone to diabetes because being overweight is often associated with insulin resistance. Diabetes affects female dogs—especially those that aren’t spayed—more than males. To decrease the chances of diabetes development, feed your dog a high-quality, low-fat diet and encourage regular exercise. Also be sure to spay non-breeding female dogs.

In cats, older, obese males are more likely to suffer from diabetes. But all obese cats are at risk because of the insulin resistance that accompanies obesity. A disease called amyloidosis causes diabetes in cats. Technically speaking, amyloid is a protein that accumulates within the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas and, over time, interferes with insulin secretion and eventually destroys the insulin-producing cells. As the blood glucose levels in cats rise, clinical signs of diabetes occur as sugar is lost in the urine. Keeping adult cats active and eating healthy helps them avoid the disease.

HOW WILL MY VETERINARIAN DIAGNOSE DIABETES?
If you notice any of the clinical signs of the disease, contact your veterinarian right away. The diagnosis of diabetes is usually fairly straightforward. Your veterinarian will collect blood and urine samples to look for a high blood sugar level along with the presence of glucose in the urine.

Cats that are ill or stressed might exhibit a high blood sugar level even though they don’t have diabetes. For this reason, some cats require an additional blood test to measure a protein called fructosamine. Fructosamine indicates the average blood sugar level over the past three to four weeks. It is not affected by short-term stress or illness, giving a more accurate reading of the cat’s blood sugar level. If needed, veterinarians can use radiographs, ultrasound, and urine cultures to obtain a more accurate diagnosis.

MY PET HAS DIABETES. NOW WHAT DO I DO?
Diabetes doesn’t mean that you and your pet are in for a lifetime of sickness and drudgery. The treatment of a diabetic pet generally focuses on two areas: using insulin injections and adjusting the pet’s diet. (Rarely, oral medications may also be given to help control the blood sugar, though these are much more effective in people than in dogs and cats.) As stated earlier, obese pets may face insulin resistance, which can result in the need for administering higher than normal amounts of insulin to control the blood glucose. Just as in people, proper diets for pets help insulin work more efficiently and promote weight loss. If your pet has been diagnosed with diabetes, your veterinarian will recommend a treatment plan that includes a special diet. Be sure to stick to the diet your veterinarian recommends. Changing food without consulting your veterinarian could negatively affect blood glucose control.

You can help manage your cat or dog’s diabetes by taking blood samples at home using a handheld glucose meter.

In dogs, high-fiber diets are key to diabetes control. A diet high in fiber fights obesity and works in conjunction with insulin to lower the blood sugar level. Generally, diabetic dogs should eat two meals a day of equal calories just before they are given insulin injections. Avoid semi-moist foods because these contain a great deal of simple sugars that are easily absorbed from the intestine, raising the blood glucose levels.

In cats, high-protein/low-carbohydrate diets are ideal. Cats are normally intolerant of high-carbohydrate diets and have a much higher protein requirement than dogs. Most diabetic cats should eat canned foods, as they improve the action of insulin and are better suited than dry foods to help manage high blood sugar levels. Cats also should receive insulin injections immediately following a meal.

HOW CAN I TAKE THE STING OUT OF INSULIN SHOTS?
Insulin is the mainstay of treatment for diabetic patients. To obtain adequate control of the diabetes and reverse or control clinical signs, dogs tend to need intermediate-acting insulins that pet owners administer twice daily. Newly diagnosed cats require basal insulin— which is more slowly absorbed after injection and results in a more steady state of insulin throughout the day—combined with a high-protein and low-carbohydrate diet. With this treatment plan, cats experience a high rate of diabetic remission that may do away with the need for insulin injections.

The technique for giving insulin injections is easy to learn and injections aren’t painful for pets.

While many pet owners are initially reluctant to give their dog or cat injections, the technique is easy to learn and the shots are not painful for your pet. Your veterinarian will provide you with detailed information on how to store, measure, and administer insulin, as well as thoroughly explain how to monitor your pet’s diabetes both at home and at the veterinary clinic. Before too long, you’ll feel comfortable and confident in your ability to successfully participate in your diabetic cat or dog’s health care.

A lot of veterinarians encourage pet owners to help manage their cat or dog’s diabetes by taking blood samples at home using portable, handheld glucose meters. Doing so allows veterinarians to obtain accurate measurements of the dog or cat’s blood sugar levels in the home environment while the pet is more relaxed. Information obtained in the home helps reduce the stress on a pet associated with multiple trips to the veterinarian and also helps reduce cost for you, the pet owner.

While diabetes is a chronic disease, it is a disease you can successfully manage in your pet over the long term. Working closely with your veterinarian, you will be able to provide your diabetic dog or cat—and yourself—with a good quality of life for many years to come.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR PET HAS DIABETES?

There are some classic clinical signs that every pet owner should watch for. If you notice any of the symptoms below in either your dog or your cat, contact your veterinarian to schedule an appointment to have your pet examined.

• Excessive drinking
• Excessive urination
• Weight loss
• Vision loss, more often in dogs, from the development of cataracts associated with diabetes
• Rarely, in cats, a non-painful weakness in rear legs from a neurologic disorder associated with diabetes