Ketoacidosis, a potentially life-threatening acute condition that can be accompanied by rapid breathing, dehydration, lethargy, vomiting, or sweet-smelling breath can be triggered by factors such as stress, surgery, fasting, infection, or an underlying health condition combined with low insulin level.Effects of diabetes on the dog’s health can include: Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to devastating effects on the dog’s body, which is why early detection and proper treatment are crucial. In more advanced cases of diabetes, symptoms can become more pronounced and can include: The dog can be very hungry all the time because the body’s cells aren’t getting all the glucose they need, even though the dog is eating a normal amount.Īdvanced signs. This is because the dog isn’t efficiently converting nutrients from its food. The dog can lose weight despite eating normal portions. Increased urination (and increased thirst) happens because the body is trying to get rid of excess sugar by sending it out through urine, along with water that bonds to the sugar. The dog may ask to go outside frequently and may start having “accidents” in the house. The dog may drink frequently and empty the water bowl more often. The owner will sometimes notice certain symptoms that can be early signs of diabetes: What Are the Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs?Įarly signs. This often includes damage to the kidneys, eyes, heart, blood vessels, or nerves. Unfortunately, this abnormal blood chemistry acts like a sort of poison and eventually causes multi-organ damage. Without insulin to help convert the glucose in the bloodstream into fuel, high levels of glucose build up in the blood.
High sugar level in the bloodstream damages many organs.In response, the body starts breaking down its own fats and proteins to use as alternative fuel. Cells are starved for vital “fuel.” Muscle cells and certain organ cells are deprived of the glucose “fuel” they need for energy.So the “bad” effects that diabetes causes in the dog’s body are twofold: Excessive sugar builds up in the dog’s bloodstream, and yet the body’s cells that need that sugar can’t access it. Whatever the type of diabetes, the negative effects on the body are the same. Damage Caused by Diabetes: A Double Whammy This type of diabetes can especially occur in older, obese dogs.įemale dogs can also develop temporary insulin resistance while in heat or pregnant. The cells aren’t responding to the insulin’s “message,” so glucose isn’t being pulled out of the blood and into the cells. Insulin-resistance diabetes: This is when the pancreas is producing some insulin, but the dog’s body isn’t utilizing the insulin as it should.This is the most common type of diabetes in dogs. Dogs with this type of diabetes need daily shots to replace the missing insulin. This happens when the pancreas is damaged or otherwise not functioning properly. Insulin-deficiency diabetes: This is when the dog’s body isn’t producing enough insulin.With diabetes, the glucose-insulin connection isn’t working as it should. Insulin acts as a “gatekeeper” that tells cells to grab glucose and other nutrients out of the bloodstream and use them as fuel. Meanwhile, an important organ next to the stomach called the pancreas releases the hormone insulin into the body. The glucose is absorbed from the intestines into the blood, which then transports the glucose throughout the body. When food is digested, the body breaks down some of the nutrients into glucose, a type of sugar that is a vital source of energy for certain body cells and organs. Glucose: essential fuel for the body’s cells.The conversion of food nutrients into energy to power the body’s cells involves an ongoing interplay of two things:
To understand what diabetes is, it helps to understand some of this process. Metabolism refers to how the body converts food to energy. Although diabetes can’t be cured, it can be managed very successfully.ĭiabetes mellitus, or “sugar diabetes,” is the type of diabetes seen most often in dogs. Diabetes is a chronic disease that can affect dogs and cats and other animals (including apes, pigs, and horses) as well as humans.
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