National Pet Diabetes Month – Tony’s Story

Tony had always been a good boy. After his mom and dad, Courtney and Jeff, got him trained as a puppy shortly after he was adopted from the shelter, he had the manners of a gentleman, could manage his energy like an athlete, and never had embarrassing toilet accidents. He was always on time for his veterinary exams and vaccinations, and would leave each check up with a clean bill of health. His family was fit and active and rarely experienced down-time and he loved being a part of the show. One winter morning when the snow piled high in what seemed minutes, Courtney decided to work from home after the kids went off to school and Jeff was already at work. As she took time to drink her extra cup of coffee and hang out with Tony, she noticed that he sure was drinking a lot of water and that his food bowl was empty right after she filled it. “He’s always taken the whole day to eat,” she thought to herself as she added another cup or two of crunchies. It was empty again within an hour. Tony was due for his kennel cough vaccine the next week, and Courtney and Jeff were surprised that he had actually lost three pounds from his last visit, especially considering how voracious his appetite had seemed of late. Then, in a month or so, Jeff walked into the dining room to discover a large yellow puddle in the middle of the floor. “I guess we all have our bad days,” he muttered, while on hands and knees cleaning up the mess. It happened again two days later. Tony went to the vet that Saturday, and, after his bloodwork showed an elevated glucose reading, the doctor recommended that he come back for the day on Monday so that they could check his urine and perform a glucose curve throughout the day. She suspected that Tony was diabetic. Courtney and Jeff were astounded. Here is what they learned:

• CANINE DIABETES IS CAUSED BY LACK OF INSULIN: The doggo body processes food just like ours; as the carbohydrates that they consume are broken down, cells extract glucose with the help of insulin and utilize it as fuel. When insulin is insufficient, or when the pancreas and its insulin-producing beta cells are damaged, cells become starved and the glucose hangs out in the bloodstream, damaging other organs with a coating of sugar.
• RISK FACTORS FOR DIABETES VARY GREATLY: Breed is seldom a determining factor, but as any dog ages, their risk increases. Females and neutered males are often more susceptible than unaltered males. Dogs with a history of pancreatitis, Cushing’s disease, or sustained steroid or hormone treatments are typically at the highest risk, with overweight and sedentary dogs right behind them.
• MOST DOGS ARE DIAGNOSED AFTER EXPERIENCING TONY’S SYMPTOMS: Diabetes creeps up on many of those with an affirmative diagnosis. Increased appetite with gradual weight change occurs as the insulin decreases in the dog’s system and their cells don’t get the fuel they require to do their jobs, so the dog eats more to try to compensate.  With an uptake in fats through increased appetite, thirst increases, as does urine output. Sometimes, the symptoms develop over a long period of time and are noticed after a totally housetrained dog begins to have accidents in the home.
• TREATMENT IS SUBJECTIVE: The goal of diabetes treatment is to maintain glucose levels and therefore prevent diabetic complications such as cataracts, hardening of the arteries, kidney disease, retina disease or nerve disease. And because bacteria thrive on a high-sugar diet, dogs with diabetes are prone to gum, urinary, skin and other infections. Vets will prescribe a plan that usually includes once or twice daily insulin injections, careful monitoring of glucose levels in both the blood and urine, a low-fat, high-fiber diet, exercise, and regular check ups with bloodwork and urinalysis.

While Jeff and Courtney were initially overwhelmed with the injections and testing, they quickly found that it was easy to work Tony’s treatment into their regular routine. Once they were able to level his glucose to a normal range, their reward came in the form of Tony regaining energy and focus and knowing that his life would be more comfortable and, ultimately, longer.

Diabetes is not curable for dogs, but it is treatable. Early detection is key to minimizing the toll it takes on vital organs and to avoid complications that can rob a dog of it’s vision, mobility, and overall health. November is National Pet Diabetes Month. If your dog has the risk factors listed above, or you notice any of Tony’s symptoms, schedule an appointment with your vet right away. Your dog will thank you!