6 Signs Your Canine Friend May Have Diabetes
Learning to recognise the signs of diabetes in your dog can increase the chances of early diagnosis. Make sure you speak to your veterinarian if you believe your dog has these symptoms.
Changes In Appetite
Dogs who have just acquired diabetes may not be able to consume enough food. You might find that your usually well-behaved dog has started begging at the dinner table or is trying to get food out of the garbage. As diabetes progresses, your dog’s appetite may decline and they may not be interested in food at all.
Changes In Vision
In dogs, cataract formation is one of the most common complications of diabetes. In early stages, improvements can be subtle, such as difficulty seeing in low-light conditions or at night. Check your dog’s eyes for cloudiness or a grayish hue to see the cataracts. Remember, the changes in your dog’s eyes can also be due to old age. A veterinarian can conduct an eye test very quickly using a method called an ophthalmoscope to identify the cause.
Excessive Water Consumption And Urination
If you find that your dog is consuming more water than they usually do, it may be early symptoms of diabetes. Usually, this is followed by an increase in urination. This is because the kidneys of a diabetic animal cannot keep up with the extra sugar in their blood, and they will be excreted through the urine.
Feeling Tiredness and Fatigue Constantly
Fatigue and severe tiredness are other common signs of excessive blood sugar in dogs. If the dog’s body does not absorb insulin correctly or does not have adequate quantities of insulin, the sugar would remain in their blood rather than enter their cells to be used for energy purposes. Frequent urination can also lead to dehydration, which is another factor leading to fatigue.
Fruit-scented Breath
Fruit-scented breath in dogs can be a sign of ketoacidosis associated with diabetes. The waste formed by the breakdown of fats in the place of glucose results in the build-up of ketones in the body. In abundance, ketones can poison the blood and urine in a process called ketoacidosis. If your dog has a strangely sweet-smelling breath or breath that smells like rotten fruit, they will need emergency treatment. Contact the veterinarian as immediately as possible.
Slow Healing Of Cuts And Wounds
High blood sugar levels can affect the nerves of the dog and their blood vessels, which can affect the circulation of the blood. As a result, even minor cuts and wounds can take weeks or months to heal. Slow wound healing also increases the risk of number of infections.
Vets will screen dogs for diabetes by performing a simple blood test. If your dog is having any of the above symptoms and, in particular, if they are having some of them in combination with each other, you should see a vet to see if diabetes may be the cause. Early diagnosis and proper monitoring (you can do this by buying a pet gluco-meter) will prevent a lot of severe diabetes complications in your dog.
