Caring for a Diabetic Pet
It might be frightening to learn that your pet has diabetes. However, with proper management of insulin medication, food, and exercise under your veterinarian's guidance, a pet's quality of life can be preserved.
Is diabetes likely to be discovered in your pet? This disorder can affect as many as one cat or dog out of every 500, or even one out of every 100. Diabetes arises when there is an excessive amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood, which is brought on by either inadequate insulin synthesis or an inability of the body to react to insulin. Between the ages of 4 and 14 for dogs and middle-aged to older cats, diabetes often first manifests in older animals. In dogs, unspayed females are twice as prone to develop diabetes as unspayed males. Male cats that have been spayed or neutered are more likely to be affected. Obesity can cause dogs to develop the illness, just like it can in humans.
DIAGNOSIS SIGNS The following symptoms in your pet might point to diabetes mellitus. Not all of the indicators will appear in every pet, but any are worth mentioning to your veterinarian so they may look into the problem further. *increased urine volume and frequent urination
*increasing water intake *over eating without gaining weight *Loss of weight *alteration in appetite *Vomiting *Canine cataracts *Cats with weak hind legs *fruity or sweet-smelling breath *Listlessness
A veterinarian will ask about your pet's clinical symptoms, do a physical examination, collect blood, and run a urinalysis in order to diagnose diabetes. If the prognosis is good, maintain your composure. Although there is no cure, diabetes is regarded as a tolerable illness, and many diabetic [pets] may have happy, healthy lives, according to the ASPCA. The life expectancy of pets with diabetes is believed to be comparable to that of healthy dogs or cats when the illness is appropriately treated.
WAYS YOUR VET CAN HELP A treatment strategy will be created by your veterinarian based on the severity of the symptoms and the overall health of your pet. He or she could suggest a brand of insulin like Vetsulin®. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has only authorized Vetsulin as an insulin medication for use in both dogs and cats. Every dog and cat reacts to therapy differently. Following the first diagnosis of diabetes, initial follow-up appointments will allow your vet to modify your pet's insulin dosage in accordance with blood glucose readings. To ensure your pet receives the finest medical treatment based on his or her specific needs, it is crucial to work closely with your
veterinarian. Additionally, it's crucial that you keep in constant contact with your vet and inform them of any changes in your pet's health.
WHAT ANIMAL PARENTS CAN DO Be prepared to contribute much to keeping the health of your diabetic pet. If you need insulin to control your blood sugar, your veterinarian will provide you instructions on how to: *tracking blood sugar levels *dispense insulin *Control your nutrition and exercise Adhering to a routine so that your pet takes insulin at the same time every day based on meal times is one of the other actions to take when diabetes is your pet's "new normal." Additionally, you should take a bit more time to study the labels on pet food and treat packages. You should always check the label of the food you want to put in your pet's bowl since foods heavy in fat and carbs should typically be avoided. Maintaining the proper nutrition, frequent exercise, insulin treatment, and veterinarian appointments are essential to managing the health of a pet with diabetes. Go to the ASPCA website for further details.
