Signs of diabetes

Normally the early signs of diabetes are increased drinking and weight loss. Sometimes your pet will also have an increased appetite. You may also notice the sudden appearance of cataracts in the eyes in dogs.

If diabetes is untreated, more serious complications can occur – the signs of these are that your dog or cat may stop eating, appear very depressed and lethargic, and start vomiting.

Diagnosis and Treatment

If you suspect that your animal may have diabetes you should book an appointment with us. It is normally fairly easy to diagnose with a routine health screen and a urine test.

Diabetes in dogs and cats is normally treated by a combination of twice daily Insulin injections, and ideally a special diet. The injections are easy to give once you are used to it! The special diet will allow the diabetes to stay under better control, and mean that a lower dose of Insulin will be required. If your dog or cat is overweight then we may need to use a weight loss diet alongside the Insulin treatment.

Initially your animal will need to come to the surgery approximately once every 2 weeks in order to measure the response to the Insulin. The dose is then gradually adjusted in order to determine the best dose. Normally within about 8 weeks the ideal dose is achieved.

Once the diabetes is stabilised, we will normally need to see you with your animal once every 3 months. A single blood test at this check will normally be sufficient for us to check that the condition is under proper control.

In the long term, diabetes can be controlled very well in both dogs and cats, meaning that they continue to live happy and active lives. In dogs it is common for cataracts to form even on treatment, and this may mean that your dog could become blind.

Complications of Diabetes

Occasionally your dog or cat may not respond well to Insulin injections. This is normally caused by concurrent disease and further tests might be required in this instance, plus specific treatment for that disease as well as the diabetes.

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a complication of diabetes that requires emergency treatment. It is rare once your animal is already on treatment, but can occur before the disease is diagnosed. The signs of diabetic ketoacidosis are weakness, lethargy, vomiting and lack of appetite. If your animal is diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis then the treatment will be more complicated and recovery more prolonged.