Diabetes mellitus, the clinical name for "sugar diabetes," is a condition that affects the concentration of glucose, or sugar, in a dog's blood. Diabetes in dogs is most often the result of a dog's body making too little insulin (Type I Diabetes). Much less commonly, dogs may develop Type II Diabetes in which their bodies don't process insulin properly.
Insulin affects how your dog's body uses food to provide energy to cells within the body’s tissues. When your dog eats, food is broken down into very small components. One such component, carbohydrate, is converted into several types of simple sugars, including glucose, that provide energy to the body. Glucose is absorbed from the intestines into the blood where it travels to cells throughout the body. Inside cells, insulin helps turn glucose into energy. If there's too little insulin available, glucose can't enter cells and instead will build up to a high concentration in the bloodstream. As a result of the body’s cells and tissues being starved from this energy source, a diabetic dog will lose weight and seem perpetually hungry.
Diabetes Risk Factors for Dogs
If you think your dog may be at risk, please call our hospital to make an appointment for your dog to be examined and evaluated for diabetes mellitus.
Signs of Canine Diabetes
Knowing the signs of diabetes is the first step in protecting your dog's health. If any of these statements describes your pet, speak with your veterinarian about the possibility of diabetes:
Diagnosis and Detection
When evaluating your dog for diabetes, your veterinarian may ask about these signs and will check your dog's general health to rule out the possibility of other conditions or infections. Diabetes mellitus is only one of many conditions that can cause changes in behavior as well as the above signs. Examination by a veterinarian at least once or twice a year will aid in the early detection and diagnosis of health conditions like diabetes mellitus. At minimum, your veterinarian will test your dog's urine for the presence of glucose and ketones, as well as measure your dog's blood glucose concentration. A diagnosis of diabetes only becomes definite when glucose is inappropriately found in the urine and at a persistently high concentration in the blood.
After the Diagnosis
It can initially be overwhelming when your dog is diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. Diabetes is a condition that you can manage successfully and your VCA veterinarian is here to guide you. Once the diagnosis has been made, ask your veterinarian to schedule a consultation during which you can discuss your questions or concerns. During this appointment, you may want to address the following topics:
We’re here to help! Visit VCApetdiabetes.com to watch a video on how to give an insulin injection, monitor blood glucose with our eDiary, find expert advice and get support from our interactive community to help manage your dog’s diabetes.
For more information on the types of dog diabetes, please read:
For additional information on testing, monitoring and administering insulin shots, please read:
To learn more about diabetes in dogs and cats, check our Pet Health Library.