Sugar Isn't Always So Sweet: Understanding Diabetes in Our Pets

Sugar Isn’t Always So Sweet: Understanding Diabetes in Our Pets

November is National Pet Diabetes Month, the perfect time to raise awareness about a condition that affects thousands of cats and dogs each year. While a diagnosis of diabetes in your cat or dog might seem intimidating, early detection and good management can help pets with diabetes live long, happy, lives.

What is diabetes?  Diabetes mellitus occurs when the body can’t properly regulate blood sugar (glucose) levels. Glucose provides energy to the body’s cells, but insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, is necessary for the body to be able to utilize this glucose as fuel.  In a diabetic patient, the body either does not produce enough insulin or cannot recognize the insulin produced causing glucose to build up in the bloodstream instead of being used for energy.

Symptoms of diabetes include increased thirst and urination—pets constantly hanging out by the water bowl or drinking from unusual spots like the toilet bowl are hallmarks of diabetes.  Other symptoms include increased appetite despite weight loss, lethargy, cloudy eyes or vision changes (especially in dogs) which can occur secondary to diabetic cataracts, and poor coat or skin infection (especially in cats).  Some patients present with serious life-threatening issues due to a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) which could occur if a patient has had diabetes for a long time without being diagnosed or receiving proper treatment or if his or her diabetes is not well regulated. Patients with DKA may experience loss of appetite, vomiting, lethargy, and dehydration. This is an emergency and these pets need extensive veterinary care to treat DKA.

If diabetes is suspected, your veterinarian will check blood and/or urine glucose levels to diagnose the condition.  Additional testing such as a blood fructosamine level (similar to an A1C value in people) may be needed to confirm some cases of diabetes.

Treatment typically includes either administering insulin injections one to two times a day to regulate blood sugar levels in dogs or, for cats, in addition to insulin therapy, there are oral hypoglycemic drugs now available.  It is also important to maintain a healthy weight for your pet.  Dogs receiving insulin injections and cats using insulin or oral SGLT2 inhibitors combined with a consistent diet can help maintain stable blood glucose levels. Diabetic diets include high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets for cats or high-fiber diets for dogs.  Frequent monitoring is needed when a pet first starts insulin therapy or oral SGLT2 medication to ensure blood and ketone levels are staying in the proper range, but is less frequent once regulated.

With prompt diagnosis and proper treatment, most diabetic pets live fairly normal lifespans. Consistency is important which means feeding and medicating your pet at the same times each day, keeping regular vet checkups, and following recommendations to monitor your pet’s glucose or ketone levels.

While not all cases of diabetes can be prevented, weight management and regular veterinary care are powerful tools. Keeping your pet at a healthy weight reduces the risk of insulin resistance, especially in middle-aged and senior animals.  Routine wellness exams and annual bloodwork are the best ways to catch early changes before they become serious.

A diagnosis of diabetes can be overwhelming, but you’re not alone. With today’s treatment options, glucose monitoring, and veterinary guidance, most pets respond well to treatment.  Our veterinary team is here to support you every step of the way—from diagnosis to daily care and beyond.

This blog brough to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.

Written with the assistance of ChatGPT AI.

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