If your dog has diabetes. Diabetes in dogs

If we are talking about such an ailment as diabetes in a dog, it should be understood that the diagnosis is not a sentence, but involves cardinal changes in the lifestyle of the tailed patient.

Description of the disease

it metabolic disorder, in which the level of glucose / sugar in the blood rises (often to a critical limit) instead of being absorbed, giving the body the energy it needs. Carbohydrate starvation begins, often leading to noticeable exhaustion.

Diabetes is characterized by one or two conditions:

the pancreas produces insufficient insulin or does not produce it at all;
cells refuse to take up insulin, making glucose uptake impossible.

There are 4 types of diabetes mellitus:

Insulin dependent (type 1). Due to the complete / partial absence of insulin, which ceases to produce the pancreas. This type of diabetes (caused by autoimmune lesions or bad genes) have over 90% of affected dogs.
Insulin independent (2 types). Glucose in the blood is also excessive due to the body's refusal to take its own insulin (normal or reduced). Such diabetes, if it is started or treated erroneously, threatens to turn into a disease of the first type. Cells get tired of producing unclaimed hormone, wear out and stop functioning.
Transient (secondary). It is noted against the background of a primary disease, for example, pancreatitis (and not only) or after prolonged therapy with the use of glucocorticoids / progestogens. This type of diabetes is cured completely when the primary disease is eliminated.
Gestational (type 4). It is possible only in pregnant females in diestrus (after the end of estrus) or in late gestation. In the second case, jumps in progesterone and somatotropin affect the sensitivity of glucose to insulin. This violation is normalized after childbirth on its own or easily corrected to the level of the norm.

Symptoms of Diabetes in a Dog

The owner of the animal must pay attention to 4 basic clinical sign talking about the development of diabetes:

polydipsia (unquenchable thirst) - the dog practically does not leave the drinker, and saliva is sticky and viscous;
polyphagia (exorbitant appetite, turning into gluttony) - the pet is not saturated with a standard portion, absorbs it quickly and begs for an additive;
polyuria (abundant and frequent urination) - the dog often asks to go into the yard, and the volume of urine increases markedly;
weight loss up to pronounced exhaustion - the animal's ribs show through and the stomach empties.

Important! If all four signs are present, you need to go to the clinic, where your doubts will be confirmed or refuted by conducting urine / blood tests. The remaining painful manifestations can equally relate to both diabetes and other pathologies.

However, additional signals will be:

tachycardia (more than 150 bpm);
dry mucous membranes and the smell of rotting fruit from the mouth;
enlarged (protruding from under the ribs) liver;
poorly healing wounds (due to bleeding disorders);
coat and skin become dry, various dermatitis occurs;
develops (sometimes) diabetic cataracts;
diarrhea or vomiting (rare).
general lethargy.

The initial signs of the disease are easy to miss if the dog lives in the yard, occasionally falling into the field of view of his owner.

Causes of diabetes, risk group

Per last years diabetes is getting younger and the trend is seen in both humans and tetrapods. If a earlier disease diagnosed from 7 to 14 years old, now it affects dogs that are barely 4 years old. Younger animals also get sick, and females more often than males.

Some breeds are also at risk:

and poodle;
dachshund;
scotch terrier.

In international veterinary medicine, there is still no solidarity about the causes of the onset of the disease. So far, only a few factors that can trigger diabetes have been identified:

congenital predisposition;
prolonged/improper hormone therapy;
autoimmune diseases in which the full work of the pancreas is impossible;
pancreatitis (of a different nature);
infectious / somatic diseases that impede the activity of the pancreas;
improperly selected diet and, as a result, obesity;
features of gestation or estrus.

It has also been noted that the exacerbation of diabetes occurs mainly in autumn.

Diagnosis and treatment

Both major types of diabetes take chronic form, leading the doctor and the dog owner to such measures as:

elimination of severe symptoms;
prevention of complications;
achieving the longest possible remission;
reducing the impact of the disease on the body as a whole.

Diagnostics

No endocrinologist will make a diagnosis based only on external signs, and be sure to prescribe a set of diagnostic measures:

analyzes (expanded) of urine / blood;
tracking the dynamics of glucose levels;
hormonal tests;
analysis for the presence of acetone;
Ultrasound of the pancreas and (if necessary) other organs;
ECG and X-ray.

Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in dogs is possible only after passing all the tests and conducting a series of studies.

Diet and vitamins

The doctor discusses with the owners of the dog the organization of its drinking regimen, which should provide the body's need for fluid in order to avoid dehydration.

Important! You can not drastically reduce the amount of water in the drinker, as the dog who started the treatment will drink just as often and a lot. For more effective thirst quenching, add 2-3 drops to the water. fresh juice lemon.

Along with this, when restoring the water balance, the doctor often prescribes medications:

adiurecrine (in the form of a powder / ointment) - injected into the nasal cavity;
pituitrin (injections) - the scheme and dosage depend on the condition of the pet.

It is equally important to saturate the weakened body with the necessary nutrients, which are excreted in large quantities during diarrhea and vomiting. They come to help vitamin complexes, including Beaphar, Herz-Vital or Brewers. An additional therapeutic measure is the adjustment of the dog menu.

insulin therapy

The owner of a sick dog must understand that type 1 and type 2 diabetes is not curable, and insulin therapy is designed to manage the pathology, which in itself is not a little. Your task is to be able to lower the glucose level to normal, maintaining these optimal parameters for the rest of your pet's life. Sugar is reduced by introducing insulin into the body, which (depending on the duration of exposure) is divided into “short”, “long” and “medium”. The former is used in type 1 diabetes, the latter two in type 2 diabetes.

It is interesting! Insulin injection is designed to bring the glucose level to about 8-10 mmol / l, which is slightly above the upper limit of the norm. This prevents the development of hypoglycemia, when the level of sugar drops sharply, which leads to death.

Insulin syringes and special injector pens are intended for the introduction of the hormone. The capacity of the syringe depends on the concentration of ED: for example, the composition of 100 ED / ml is administered with a U100 syringe, and 40 ED / ml with a U40 syringe.

Algorithm for working with insulin:

Before injection, hold the vial / ampoule in warm palms to warm to body temperature.
Mark the area where you will inject the hormone subcutaneously (usually the chest, withers, or belly).
With three fingers, grab the dog's skin so that a fold is formed that resembles a pyramid.
Insert the needle into the base of this pyramid (usually under the thumb).

You should always have the drug in stock - in case it breaks or is out of date. After you have opened the ampoule, it is not allowed to store it for more than 1.5–2 months (even if all the conditions specified in the annotation are met).

Dosage

The optimal dose is selected gradually, controlling the condition of the animal. They start with the minimum - for a dog it is 0.5 U / kg of weight. Sometimes it takes from several days to several months before the final dose is determined for your pet.

After the drug is administered for the first time, the owner is obliged to monitor to see the dynamics of changes in sugar levels. Three methods have been developed for this:

tracking sugar in the urine - 1-2 times a day;
in urine and blood - 3 times a day;
in the blood - every 2-4 hours.

It is believed that it is the third method that gives a more objective picture.

Important! If, after an insulin injection, the concentration of glucose in the blood exceeds 15 mmol / l, the dose is increased by 20% of the original. With fluctuations in the level in the range of 10-15 mmol / l, the dosage increases by 0.1 U / kg. If the dose is chosen correctly, the sugar level will not exceed 8-10 mmol / l.

The exact dosage assumes that after an injection of insulin, sugar in the dog's urine is not detected in principle. The fact that the dose is set correctly will be reported not only by the normalized biochemical parameters of the canine blood / urine, but also general health improvement animal. You should see the disappearance of disturbing symptoms: the dog begins to gain weight, drink normally, eat and relieve itself.

Somoji syndrome

Manipulations with insulin require punctuality and scrupulousness: injections are given at the same time, adhering to the scheme written by the doctor. Remember that an excess of the hormone is much more dangerous than its deficiency. If you forget whether you took your next dose or not, don't panic. One missed injection will not lead to disaster, but a double dose will. The stroke volume of the hormone, an erroneously selected dosage or an incorrect scheme for administering insulin threaten Somogyi syndrome.

It is interesting! A second injection is also canceled if the dog flinched and you were unable to enter the contents of the syringe completely, since an increased blood glucose level is safer than a reduced (less than normal) level.

You can face the Somoji phenomenon when using unreasonably high doses of the drug, leading at the first stage to sharp drop concentration of glucose, and on the second - to the uncontrolled release of diabetogenic hormones (glucagon, cortisol and epinephrine).

As a result, the dog becomes hypoglycemic, but the owner (confident that the sugar is rising) increases the insulin dose and makes the situation even more serious. Somogyi syndrome occurs most often in those dogs whose urine / blood is checked for sugar levels once a day. Deal with the consequences of the syndrome chronic overdose Only a doctor can help with insulin.

Diabetes It develops in dogs at least as often as in humans. The disease occurs against the background of a failure in the production of insulin by the pancreas. Due to the resulting imbalance, the work of all vital systems of the body is disrupted. With absence timely treatment possible death of the animal short time. The disease is not completely curable, but can be controlled by insulin therapy and proper nutrition. As a result, it is possible to maintain the health of the pet at the proper level.

Causes and symptoms

Diabetes mellitus in dogs develops as a result of two main mechanisms:

1. The pancreas stops producing insulin in the right amount.
2. Cells lose their susceptibility to this substance.

When the sugar level in the urine reaches its maximum limit, dehydration sets in, and the dog often begins to urinate. The animal develops a constant thirst.

Along with this, it is observed increased appetite. Due to the "empty" release of glucose along with urine, nutrients are not absorbed by the body. After it uses all internal energy reserves, protein begins to be processed, and muscle mass decreases.

The above factors cause the appearance of primary symptoms:

increased appetite along with weight loss;
increased urination, and the color of the urine often changes;
constant thirst;
deterioration of the condition of the coat, its loss;
vomiting and diarrhea;
unpleasant ammonia smell from the mouth;
decreased tone, apathy;
prolonged healing of wounds;
cloudy eyes;
decreased sexual activity.

The presence of even one of these signs is a reason for contacting a veterinarian. chronic stage pathology entails a number of detrimental consequences: lameness, weakness of the hind limbs, convulsions, fainting. Enhanced Level sugar in the urine often causes cystitis.

Diabetes mellitus is genetic disease. Usually occurs in adult dogs small breeds over 6 years old. At risk are:

Labradors.
Dobermans.
Bigley.
Poodles.
Scottish Terriers.

The exact causes of the disease have not been established, but there are a number of provoking factors. These include:

pancreatitis;
pathology of the pancreas;
obesity;
pregnancy or the initial period after estrus;
heredity;
hormone treatment;
endocrine disorders.

The symptoms of diabetes are visible almost immediately. First of all, the animal is required to take blood and urine for analysis. This will help eliminate others. possible violations that contributed to the development of the disease. After establishing an accurate diagnosis, the doctor prescribes treatment.

Treatment

Since the disease tends to flow into a chronic form, treatment is aimed at reducing the negative impact on the entire body and smoothing out the symptoms. With an initially competent approach, the dog manages to get rid of torment and significantly extend her life. Self-medication is unacceptable, since the course is prescribed depending on the stage of the disease, the results of the tests and individual features animal.

First of all, you should adjust the drinking regimen. At the beginning of treatment, the animal is also often asked to drink, which must not be denied, so as not to provoke dehydration. Add a few drops to drinking water lemon juice which allows you to quench your thirst for a longer period. It is possible to restore the water balance with medication, with the help of Pituitrin (intramuscularly), Adiurekrin (introduced into the sinuses).

The next step is to normalize the amount of nutrients in the body. For this, vitamin supplements are prescribed - Beafar, Herz Vital, Brevers. Be sure to review the daily diet of the animal.

Blood sugar levels are lowered with insulin injections. To date, medicine does not know other ways to deal with diabetes, so the dog will have to give injections for the rest of its life.

insulin therapy

The treatment process is divided into two stages:

1. Stabilization of blood sugar levels.
2. Therapeutic support.

The doctor instructs the owner on how to properly and at what time to give insulin injections. They are usually placed in the morning and evening.

Insulin is short-term and long-term. The first has a short validity period and is intended for emergency cases (single use). The second type is prescribed to the animal on an ongoing basis. The specific dose is set by the doctor.

Insulin preparations have different origin. It is obtained from man, bulls and pigs. Insulin derived from the blood of pigs is the most optimal for dogs. Bovine insulin is rejected immune system animal.

A diabetic dog needs to have his blood sugar tested regularly and taken to the veterinarian. This will prevent the development of associated complications. The stock of insulin should be in the house at all times, taking into account the fact that the shelf life of the drug is no more than 1.5-2 months.

Insulin therapy may cause side effects associated with sharp decline glucose:

lethargy, apathy;
lack of desire for long walks on fresh air;
cramps in the limbs;
trembling when walking;
refusal to eat.

At a more severe stage, fainting may occur, up to a coma.AT similar situation you need to give the animal something sweet. Then the veterinarian is called to the house, since it is impossible to transport the animal in this form. In the clinic, the dog is administered glucose, and then the dosages of insulin are adjusted.

Nutrition for diabetes

The diet for diabetes is aimed at stabilizing blood glucose levels. At the same time, the pet needs to restore normal weight: the larger its mass, the worse insulin is processed. The diet consists of products with a minimum sugar content and a maximum protein content. These include:

meat;
fish;
herculean porridge.

Strictly contraindicated:

fried, fatty and smoked foods;
White rice;
raisins and grapes;
canned food;
flour baking;
sweets;
corn and millet porridge;
onion and garlic.

Standard dry food is not suitable for diabetic dogs. Special diabetic mixtures are sold, in which the concentration of carbohydrates and fats is lowered, but there is a lot of fiber.

Since the pet has a metabolic disorder, it is necessary to feed it while insulin is acting. Food is given out at the same time in small portions.

Conclusion

Diabetes mellitus is a serious diagnosis, but with proper treatment and nutrition manages to extend the life of the animal for several more years. The glycemic index in a pet can be monitored at home, for which test strips or glucometers are used. Thus, it is possible to constantly monitor the rate of sugar in the blood and, at the slightest deviation, adjust the dosage of insulin.

It is almost impossible to replace insulin with anything, but some activities can reduce the need for it to a minimum. So, sterilization helps bitches if diabetes appears only after estrus or pregnancy. However, the predisposition remains, and the disease can reactivate. It is important to prevent intense weight gain, walk outside longer and make your pet move more.

therapist, endocrinologist,
neurologist, DVM, BSc

Diabetes dogs, cats and humans have a lot in common. However, the mechanism that leads to the development of diabetes and its manifestations often differ significantly depending on the type of animal. And consequently, approaches to treatment are also not the same in everything. Therefore, we cannot blindly transfer everything we know about human diabetes to dogs.

So, for example, it is wrong to separate canine diabetes into type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as is common in humans. In addition, many drugs that work well for people do not work well or do not work at all in animals. There are other differences as well. So, we will only talk about dogs.

What happens normally

All cells in our body need glucose (“sugar”) as their main source of energy. Glucose enters the body through the intestines from food or from internal stores (liver glycogen, muscles, etc.). From the intestines or from internal stores to the places of consumption, glucose is carried by the blood. However, for most cells, it is not enough for the blood to bring them glucose - it is also necessary that a hormone called insulin transmit the appropriate signal to the cell, and the cell can perceive this signal. This hormone in the body is formed in the so-called islets of Langerhanz in the pancreas.

So, after eating, glucose from the intestine enters the bloodstream and its level in the blood rises. The pancreas senses this increase and releases insulin into the bloodstream. The cells of the body perceive the insulin signal and transfer glucose from the blood to the cytoplasm (inside the cells). The level of glucose in the blood falls, the cells feel "satiated", the pancreas stops releasing insulin into the blood.

What happens in diabetes

In diabetes, one or both of the following occur:

the pancreas loses its ability to produce enough insulin
body cells lose the ability to perceive the insulin signal

In both cases, the cells “do not understand” that there is already enough glucose in the blood, and do not transfer it inside. As a result, blood glucose levels remain high while the cells are starving. Hence, one of the symptoms of diabetes is high blood glucose.

Normally, the kidneys do not pass glucose from the blood into the urine. However, when blood glucose rises above a certain limit, the kidneys can't keep up and the glucose begins to be excreted in the urine. Thus, another symptom of diabetes mellitus appears - high glucose in the urine.

When there is a lot of glucose in the urine, it “pulls” water out of the blood after it. As a result, the volume of urine increases, and the animal begins to urinate a lot. Water is removed from the body, the body becomes dehydrated, the animal feels thirsty and begins to drink more. Hence the other two symptoms of diabetes: polyuria and polydipsia ( plentiful drink and urination).

Since cells cannot inject glucose into the body, this situation is essentially starvation for the body. It turns on compensation mechanisms: the animal feels hungry and starts eating more than usual (although this is not beneficial, since glucose remains in the blood and then leaves with urine), and internal energy reserves are mobilized. When the glycogen stores in the liver and muscles are no longer enough, the body begins to use the reserves of protein and fat. Reduced due to protein breakdown muscle mass. So there is another symptom of diabetes - increased appetite along with weight loss.

With the massive breakdown of fats, a lot of ketone bodies are formed in the body. Ketone bodies can also be found in urine. One of the ketone bodies is acetone, so in animals with severe diabetes, the smell of acetone can be noticed in the breath. In addition, the acidity of the blood increases (pH decreases). Such a situation is called diabetic ketoacidosis and is critical. Without intensive treatment, it can lead to death in a matter of days, or even hours.

High blood sugar adversely affects many systems: there is diabetic cataract(the lens of the eye becomes cloudy), due to damage nerve fibers appears hind limb weakness and plantigrade gait(rare in dogs). The presence of sugar in the urine creates excellent conditions for the growth of bacteria, so cystitis are also frequent complication diabetes mellitus.

Who has diabetes

It most often appears in dogs between the ages of 7 and 9 years. Among dogs, unsterilized females are more likely to get sick.

What is the reason

In dogs, the main cause is hereditary predisposition.

Without delving into the mechanism of development of diabetes mellitus, we can say that in most cases it is impossible to establish the exact cause of its occurrence. However, there are factors that predispose to diabetes and can collectively lead to it.
These factors are:

overweight
treatment with hormonal drugs
pancreatitis
the period of the first 1-2 months after estrus or pregnancy
other hormonal disorders.

How to make a diagnosis

To make a definitive diagnosis of diabetes, it is not enough to find any one of the above signs, since for each of them there can be many other causes besides diabetes. For example, polyuria and polydipsia can be caused by chronic kidney failure, blood glucose can rise simply from stress, cataracts can simply be "senile", and increased appetite along with weight loss can be caused by worms. For this reason, if you or your doctor suspect that an animal has diabetes mellitus, it is often necessary to conduct a whole range of examinations, which are necessary both in order to make an accurate diagnosis and in order to detect associated problems and complications. These examinations may include: blood tests (general, biochemical, acid-base balance, serial glucose measurements, hormone tests), urinalysis, assessment of fluid intake and urine output, X-ray, ultrasound, ECG.

So, we know that our animal has diabetes mellitus, that is, the cells of the body do not inject glucose from the blood inside. In most cases, in order to overcome the lack of their own insulin or low sensitivity to it, it is necessary to introduce insulin from outside.

It is impossible to predict in advance exactly how much insulin will be required for each individual animal. However, based on the weight of the animal and previous experience, you can start with a certain dose, and then adjust the amount and frequency of insulin administration in accordance with the reaction of the body. For the most accurate and fast dosage selection best remedy is to plot a glucose curve. To do this, blood glucose is measured every 1-2 hours after insulin administration for 8-24 hours. Thus, it is possible to find out how long after the administration insulin begins to act, for what period the peak of its action falls, how long and how strongly it acts.

The next step is choosing optimal time animal feeding. Depending on the type of insulin used (short, intermediate, or long-acting), depending on the type of food and on the individual characteristics of the animal, it may be recommended to feed simultaneously with the introduction of insulin, some time after the introduction, fractional and frequent feeding of small portions, or providing constant access to food.

Further supervision is carried out by the owner at regular control by the attending physician. The condition of the animal may change, insulin sensitivity may increase or decrease, and comorbidities may also appear. For this reason, it is necessary to periodically come for follow-up examinations, conduct laboratory tests and sometimes repeat the construction of the glucose curve.

It is essential that the physician or assistant explain and show the wearer in detail how to store, collect and administer insulin.

It is important to remember that the effect of too high blood glucose is reflected in the body gradually, while a drop in glucose below normal levels (hypoglycemia) can be fatal very quickly. Therefore, when using insulin, the task is not to bring glucose to normal level and keep it a little higher upper bound norms. That way we'll be sure we don't get hypoglycemia.

For the same reason, it's not as bad to "underdose" insulin as it is to overdose it. Therefore, if you injected insulin, but were not sure that you were in the right place (for example, you felt that the wool became wet at the injection site), or you don’t know if someone at home injected insulin before you, never do not re-inject insulin. It is better to skip an injection once than to inject twice by mistake.

Since it is not uncommon to encounter some difficulties in obtaining insulin in pharmacies, it is recommended that you always have one spare unopened package of insulin at home. An opened package of insulin is usually recommended to be thrown away after 1.5-2 months, even if it is not completely used up.

Feeding

Usually, immediately after a meal, glucose rises very much in the blood, and the body of a diabetic animal cannot cope with such a load. Therefore, the point of feeding with diabetes is to ensure that glucose from the feed enters the bloodstream as slowly as possible. This is usually achieved by selecting special sources of dietary fiber in the right proportion. In addition, the food should contain a limited amount of calories and a sufficient amount of protein. The best solution is to feed with special medicated feeds. If, for any reason, this is not possible, you should discuss other options with your doctor. As we mentioned above, the frequency and time of feeding are selected individually.

As for the amount of food consumed per day, it is very important to feed the animal in such quantity that it remains thin. Being overweight reduces the sensitivity of cells to insulin, which means it exacerbates diabetes.

When to sound the alarm

If the animal has weakness, unsteady gait, trembling, loss of consciousness, convulsions, it is necessary to offer the animal to eat (if it is conscious), and if it refuses food, spread honey, sugar syrup or glucose solution on the oral mucosa (tongue, gums) and contact your doctor immediately.

If the level of glucose in the blood or urine rises above what it used to be, you should contact your doctor within 1-2 days.

If the blood glucose level drops below 3 mmol / liter, it is necessary to offer the animal to eat (if it is conscious), and if it refuses to feed, spread honey, sugar syrup or glucose solution on the oral mucosa (tongue, gums) and immediately contact doctor.

If the urine glucose level drops to zero and/or ketones appear in the urine, the blood glucose level should be checked.

diabetic ketoacidosis

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a critical condition that usually appears after an animal long time suffers from diabetes. However, in some cases, diabetes can lead to ketoacidosis in a matter of days. As mentioned above, in this state, the body mobilizes a large amount of fat as an energy source. The liver forms ketone bodies from these fats, one of which is acetone. This leads to acidification of the blood and can lead to death in a short time.

Symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis are: acetone breath, lethargy, refusal to eat, vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing, low temperature, coma.

If one or more of these symptoms appear, you should contact your doctor immediately.

Treatment of animals in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis is primarily the use of insulin and intensive care. Insulin in such cases is used not so much to lower blood glucose levels, but to stop the production of ketone bodies in the liver. For this purpose, short-acting types of insulin are used, the drug is administered very often (every 1-2 hours) and under strict control of blood glucose levels. Droppers are needed in order to restore the water, acid-base and electrolyte balance in the body, in order to quickly remove ketone bodies from the body, and also in order to prevent blood glucose from falling below normal due to the introduction of insulin in large quantities. doses.

Problem cases

If it is not possible to stabilize the patient for a long time, the reason may be as follows:

incorrect set and / or administration of insulin
inactive insulin (expiration date or storage conditions not observed)
accelerated insulin metabolism ( rapid elimination from the body)
Somoji effect (too high a dose of insulin can lead first to a sharp drop, and then to a strong and prolonged rise in glucose levels)
concomitant use of other drugs (especially hormones)
changes in the internal hormonal level (sexual cycle in bitches, hyper- and hypo-adrenocorticism, acromegaly, etc.)
concomitant infections (in particular, cystitis, periodontal disease, dermatitis) and other diseases
obesity (see above)
true insulin resistance
excess fat in the blood
antibodies against insulin.

What can be done besides insulin

In most cases, no agent can replace insulin in the treatment of canine diabetes. However, there are a number of measures that can, if not negate, then at least significantly reduce the need for animals in insulin. For females, such an event is, first of all, sterilization (removal of the uterus and ovaries). If diabetes manifests itself during the first two months after estrus or pregnancy, then sometimes spaying or simply ending this period completely relieves the animal of the symptoms of diabetes. However, the predisposition to diabetes remains, and at any time it can again appear.

Other important point concerning overweight animals is a decrease in body weight to normal. It is also important to increase the physical activity of animals (walk longer and play with dogs).

You should switch to feeding with special medicated feeds (Hill "s w / d, Royal Canin Diabetic or others).

The use of oral hypoglycemic agents

Glipizide(as well as glyburide and glibenclamide) - enhances the production of insulin by the pancreas. In the treatment of diabetes in dogs, this drug is ineffective. Metformin - increases the sensitivity of tissues to insulin, and also reduces the release of glucose from the internal reserves of the body and the synthesis of glucose in the body.

Metformin, perhaps could help animals that still have some ability to produce insulin, but side effects(lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting) limit its use. At this stage, you need additional research to draw conclusions about the appropriateness of its application.

Vanadium is an element present everywhere. It probably has insulin-like properties, and is also virtually devoid of side effects, but, nevertheless, is ineffective on its own. Vanadium was investigated in the form of dipicolinate. This form is not available for purchase. Vanadium sulfate is sold as a vitamin supplement, but its effectiveness is unknown.

Chromium- in the form of picolinate enhances the effect of insulin in healthy dogs. However, this effect was not seen in diabetic dogs.

Acarbose- inhibits digestive enzymes responsible for the breakdown of starches (the main sources of glucose in the intestines). As a result, glucose enters the intestines more gradually and a more even level of glucose is maintained in the blood. The drug is expensive, has side effects(diarrhea, weight loss), so in dogs it is only used if insulin alone is not enough to control hyperglycemia.

Troglitazone-increases tissue sensitivity to insulin

Diabetes - clinical syndrome, caused by absolute or relative insufficiency of insulin, characterized by chronic hyperglycemia with the development of decompensation of all types of metabolism, primarily carbohydrate and proceeding both in acute and in chronic form.

Causes of diabetes. Diabetes mellitus in dogs is caused by underproduction insulin beta cells of the pancreatic islets of the pancreas, or in case of a failure in the body, when the produced hormone insulin goes unnoticed by target cells. As a result, the level of glucose in the blood of the dog rises sharply. In the body of a dog, there is a violation of the activity of almost all organs and tissues.

Reasons leading to similar condition in an animal, scientists distinguish several groups of factors:

Genetic (at risk are the following breeds of dogs - Beagle, Doberman, Poodle, Labrador Retriever, Scotch Terrier, Pomeranian, Spaniels, Dachshunds, and others dwarf breeds dogs).
autoimmune disorders in which normal work pancreas is impossible.
Viral infection (canine adenovirus, infectious hepatitis in dogs).
Pancreatitis ().
The action of various cytotoxic substances.
Long-term hormone therapy.
Infringements in the feeding of the dog, leading to obesity.
Features of bearing fruit or estrus.

Types of Diabetes in Dogs

Veterinarians distinguish between four types of diabetes in dogs:

The first type is insulin dependent. With this type, insulin is completely or partially absent from the blood in dogs due to the fact that the pancreas stops producing it. This type in dogs is caused by autoimmune lesions or is associated with heredity. Over 90% of diabetic dogs have it.
The second type is non-insulin dependent. With this type of glucose in the dog's blood is in excess, but the dog's body is not able to perceive the insulin produced by the pancreas. If timely measures are not taken to treat this type of diabetes, as well as with improper treatment, this type of diabetes in a dog can go into the first type.
Transient (secondary) type. It occurs in dogs against the background of a primary disease, especially often in dogs with diabetes mellitus, with long-term treatment dogs with glucocorticoids, progestogens.
Gestational type. This type of diabetes mellitus occurs in pregnant bitches, after the end of estrus, or during late gestation of puppies. With late gestation in bitches, there are jumps in progesterone and somatrin in the blood, as a result of which there is a violation of glucose sensitivity to insulin produced by the pancreas. This type disappears after the birth of the bitch.

Clinical picture. The clinical picture of diabetes mellitus in dogs is very diverse. Diabetes mellitus in dogs is characterized by the appearance of:

Increased thirst (polydipsia) - the dog drinks water very often, saliva becomes viscous and sticky.
Frequent copious urination. Dog owners note that the dog urinates frequently, the volume of urine increases.
The dog's appetite increases dramatically, the dog constantly asks for food. At individual dogs Appetite becomes on the contrary weakened.
The dog starts to lose weight.
There is a general weakness, dryness of the mucous membranes, the smell of rotting fruit appears from the mouth (). Decreased sexual activity.
Skin itching ().
The skin becomes dry, less elastic, furunculosis, dermatitis appears (). Appearing wounds do not heal well.
Perhaps an increase in the liver, expansion of the boundaries of the heart to the left. During auscultation of the heart, we note tachycardia, deafness of tones, systolic murmur.
Diarrhea () or vomiting ().

Additionally, with diabetes in dogs, the pathology of the urinary system develops - cystitis (), pyelitis (), pyelonephritis. Sometimes there is a pathology of the organs of vision, which is manifested by iritis, iridocyclitis, cataracts and myopia ().

At laboratory research blood in dogs with diabetes mellitus, veterinary specialists find signs of anemia (), hyperglycemia, hypoalbuminemia, hypergammaglobulinemia, hypercholesterolemia, sometimes an increase in urea, creatinine.

In the study of urine - high density, glucosuria, often acetone, sometimes microhematuria, proteinuria, cylindruria.

Diagnosis for diabetes mellitus in a dog is based on clinical picture(polyuria, polydipsia, bulimia, hyperglycemia and glucosuria with simultaneous exhaustion). The content of glucose in the blood of diabetic dogs reaches more than 100-150 mg per 100 g, in the urine - 5-10% or more.

Treatment. Given that diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease in dogs, treatment should aim to reduce as much as possible. negative impact diabetes mellitus on the entire body of the dog, eliminate existing brightly severe symptoms, exclude possible complications and gradually lead to the maximum possible remission. The treatment prescribed by the veterinary specialist of the clinic will, to a certain extent, save your dog from the suffering that occurs with diabetes mellitus and prolong his life.

Treatment of diabetes mellitus begins with the appointment of a sick dog diet therapy. In the event that the animal is overweight, he will be prescribed a strict diet (for weight loss). After completing this diet, the dog's weight will need to be regularly monitored by the owner to avoid relapse.

When compiling a diet, it is assumed that the diet should contain a minimum of carbohydrate foods, but a maximum of fiber and proteins. Sick animals are prescribed lean boiled meat (poultry, beef, horse meat), fish and meat broths. Meat and fish products should make up at least 60% of the daily feed volume. Dog owners can introduce fresh beef, poultry and lean pork, offal (ruminant tripe is especially good), lean sea fish, eggs, skim cheese. The required amount of vitamins () should be present in the diet of sick dogs. Sweets are excluded from the diet, White bread, confectionery, oatmeal, bones and fatty meat.

For dogs with diabetes, the industry produces special feed. These feeds are complete and balanced in terms of nutrients, the amount of carbohydrates in them does not exceed 4%, they contain increased amount proteins. Usually these are holistic products and super premium classes. These foods include:

Royal Canin Diabetic DS37;
Royal Canin Diabetic Special Low Carbohydrate;
Royal Canin Weight Control Canine (dry);
Hills Prescription Diet Canine W/D Low Fat/Diabet (dry);
Hills Prescription Diet Canine W/D Low Fat/Diabet (wet);
Farmina Vet Life Canine Diabetic (dry);
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets DM Diabetes Management (dry);

During the consultation, the veterinary specialists of the clinic will discuss the issue of drinking regimen with the owners. In the treatment of diabetes mellitus, the dog may at first ask to drink as often as before, and the owners should not refuse the dog. The dog should always have free access to water, to which it is good to add a couple of drops of lemon juice (it helps to quench thirst). Additionally veterinarian the issue of restoring water balance in a sick dog can be solved using the following medications:

Pituitrin injections, the dose depends on the condition of the dog.
Aliureclin - in the form of an ointment or powder, which is injected into the nasal cavity.

Drug therapy for diabetes mellitus includes various pancreatic preparations and synthetic hypoglycemic drugs (antidiabetic drugs): Adebit tablets, take ½-1 tablet in the morning and evening (when monitoring blood sugar and urine); bukarban - inside ½-1 tablet 1-3 times a day after feeding; glurenorm, glucophage, insulin 1-5 units/kg of animal weight subcutaneously; maninil inside ½ - 1 tablet 1 time per day in the morning after feeding; orinil, diabeton, predian ½ -1 tablet 1 time per day; chlorpropamide, glucobay.

To normalize lipid metabolism in the dog's body - lipostabil forte 1-2 capsules 2 times a day, lipocaine.

In case of violation acid-base conditions, with acidosis various etiologies apply dimefosafon - orally 3-4 times a day at the rate of 1 ml / 5 kg of animal body weight.

To improve the function of the pancreas, pancreatin is used orally, ½ - 1 tablet per reception, panzinorm forte, orally, 1 tablet during feeding 3 times a day.

Owners of an affected dog should be clear that the presence of type 1 and 2 diabetes is not curable and the use of insulin allows, as in humans, to manage this disease.

Dosage. You can choose the right dose of insulin gradually, controlling the general condition of the dog. The selection of the dose begins with the minimum - this is 0.5 U / kg of body weight. Sometimes, to find the optimal dose, you have to spend from several days to several months.

Side effects of insulin treatment

Most often, when using insulin, there is a critical decrease in blood glucose levels. To the signs low level blood glucose include:

The dog becomes lethargic, apathetic, does not want to walk for a long time. With a strong decrease in blood glucose levels in a sick dog, the following symptoms appear:

Refusal to feed, fainting up to coma, trembling when walking, cramps in the limbs. When such symptoms appear, it is necessary to provide emergency assistance. At home - drink water with high content sugar or honey, give food high in sugar. After that, go to veterinary clinic or call a veterinary specialist at home, who will intravenously inject a glucose solution into a sick dog. At the same time, the veterinarian will advise you to adjust the dose of insulin.

Prevention. Prevention of diabetes mellitus should be based on the prevention of causes that can lead to its occurrence. Dogs with diabetes are given a diet of complete feed, predominantly vegetable. Monitor your dog's weight daily physical exercise(long walks and outdoor games). Spay bitches in a timely manner. It is necessary to carry out systematic genetic selection among dogs. Animals predisposed to diabetes mellitus are culled.

For the purpose of prevention infectious diseases gastrointestinal tract vaccinate against infectious diseases of dogs common in the region of residence ().

Many diseases are not divided into "canine" and "human", affecting both with equal success. Hormonal disruptions, disruptions in work endocrine system are inherent in animals, as well as in humans. Diabetes mellitus is a formidable pathology that, if left untreated, leads to serious health problems, and even to the death of a pet.

What is diabetes mellitus?

Diabetes mellitus develops as a result of a lack of insulin, without which the absorption of glucose by the cells of the body is impossible. Sugar is essential for life. Decaying, glucose is absorbed by the intestines and enters the blood supply system, from where it is carried to each cell. But the absorption of sugar cannot be without a special signal from the brain. The conductor of this signal is insulin, its production occurs in the pancreas.

Thus, the provocateur of the development of pathology can be one of two reasons:

Insulin deficiency due to pancreatic insufficiency. Its amount is so small that the cells do not recognize and do not accept this essential substance.
Atrophy of cellular nerve endings. The signal for glucose processing simply does not reach the “place”.

The result of such failures is cellular starvation, a healthy body quickly deals with glucose and puts a heavy burden on the kidneys. They start to bring out excess sugar through urine. Dehydration becomes the second link in the pathological chain - sugar is combined with water and removed from the body, which reduces blood volumes.

Symptoms worsen with the progression of the disease:

In the urine and blood, sugar levels are elevated (detected by clinical studies).
The dog is thirsty all the time, he drinks a lot and urinates often.
Losing weight. Without enough glucose, cells die from “starvation”.
Unhealthy attitude towards food. With a general loss of body weight, the pet eats a lot. This does not increase weight, the proteins in the muscles are broken down against the background of sugar starvation of the cells. To survive, the body "devours" itself.
formation of ketoacidosis. This is the most difficult stage, when the body ceases to have time to get rid of toxic decay elements and provokes the formation of acetone. Oxidized blood burns the vessels and when exhaling, an acetone aroma is felt.
Temperature change. In a sick animal, the ears and limbs are cold, the mucous membranes are cyanotic. If you lift your eyelid. You can see the vascular network of broken capillaries.

At-risk groups:

Diabetes, according to the statistics of practical veterinary medicine, can affect dogs of any breed, including mestizos and translations. Doctors identify several risk groups by age, breed and other factors:

Genetic predisposition in Cairn Terrier, Keeshond, etc.
Bitches get sick more often than males by 2 times.
The critical age is 5-15 years, but with heredity it can develop earlier.
An unneutered, non-parous, false-pregnant bitch is in the most serious risk group.

Causes of Diabetes in Dogs

Most often, it is impossible to identify the factors that provoked diabetes. But there are conditions in which the risk of developing the disease increases significantly:

autoimmune disorders.
Genetics.
Weight above normal.
Taking hormones.
Hormonal disruptions.
Pancreatitis.
The state of pregnancy.
4-8 weeks after .

All life support systems suffer from an increase in sugar, but especially the eyes (development of diabetic cataracts), hind limbs (weakening, lack of coordination), and the urogenital area (cystitis) suffer.

Symptoms of diabetes in dogs

The following signs should alert the owner:

Sluggish state, unwillingness to play, walk, desire to lie down.
High appetite (feeling of constant hunger).
Thirst.
Increased urination (change in color of urine to very light).
A sharp jump (fall) in weight.
Deterioration of the condition of the skin and hair.
Clouding of the lens (symptoms of cataracts).
Numbness (when walking, the pet may begin to limp for no reason).
Smell of acetone on exhalation.
Decreased sexual activity.
Prolonged healing of minor wounds.

Not all of the listed states need to be in without fail in a diabetic dog. In addition, some signs are also found in other pathologies, so it is important to diagnose and confirm / refute suspicions.

Diagnosis and treatment of diabetes

To make a diagnosis, a diagnostic series is assigned:

Blood donation for inflammation.
Blood biochemistry for glucose and hidden pathologies.
Urine test for glucose.
Ultrasound of the abdominal organs.
Acetone and hormonal tests.
Radiography.

Tactics drug therapy produced according to the condition of the animal. In a critical situation, a four-legged patient is placed on a stationary observation in order to control the level of sugar, infuse daily and determine the correct dose of insulin.

If the condition is satisfactory, the dog is put under control and treatment is prescribed in the form of insulin injections and special diet. Diabetes is a chronic disease, when it is diagnosed, the owner bears full responsibility for the condition of the pet.

Until the end of life four-legged friend you will need to follow the instructions of the veterinarian:

Inject insulin daily.
Strictly observe the selection of products and feeding time.
Control the degree of physical activity.
Keep a diary of observations (number of food and water, time of intake, weight, insulin dosage).
Treat identified comorbidities strictly as prescribed by the doctor.

What to feed a diabetic dog?

It is necessary to feed a pet with diabetes so that insulin enters the bloodstream from food slowly but regularly. To do this, select a diet enriched dietary fiber, protein, but with a low calorie content. Ideally, there is a special food for sick animals. A balanced composition allows you to maintain the daily rate of glucose at the level, and the dosage of the feed is selected by the doctor. The dog should not gain weight (remain in a state of normal thinness), so as not to provoke a sharp development of the disease.

The meal schedule is entirely dependent on the insulin medication and has several options:

Eating depending on the nature of the drug excretion (fast, slow, medium).
Fractional meals - frequent, but small portions.
Free access to food at any time.
Insulin injection immediately before/after meals.

Any sweets, yeast products, high-carbohydrate vegetables (potatoes, carrots, beets), dairy products with a high percentage of fat content, fatty meat and fish products and broths are excluded.

With a natural food diet, you can:

Lean meats, poultry. Fish, offal.
Broths.
Cabbage, zucchini.
Low percentage dairy products.
Small portions of cereals (buckwheat, barley).

Prevention of Diabetes in Dogs

The well-known truth: “It is easier to prevent a disease than to treat it later” in this case is more relevant than ever. Of course, no one will give a 100% guarantee against the disease, but the risks of its occurrence can be significantly reduced by some actions:

Sterilize the bitch in a timely manner.
Provide a balanced diet.
Maintain physical activity with sufficient walks, outdoor games.
Control weight gain.
Treat any health problems promptly.

How long a pet diagnosed with diabetes will live depends on proper nutrition and selected therapy. Most important rule- gradual and constant intake of glucose into the blood, and only a person can provide this.