It’s hard to hear the news that your pet has diabetes.
The harsh truth is that dogs and cats develop diabetes just as people do.
You’ll have a few burning questions in your mind. What caused this debilitating illness in your pet? How do you know that your pet has it, and more importantly, how do you control it?
Causes of Diabetes In Pets
Diabetes is frustrating, but will not inconvenience your dog or cat if you manage it. The first step to doing this is to understand its causes.
Obesity is a top trigger of diabetes. A pet which is overweight tends to have problems processing insulin.
Pets may also develop this illness if they are couch potatoes. If your pet does not walk or jog regularly, it’s likely to have problems processing Insulin later in life.
Also, studies show that diabetes in pets has links with autoimmune diseases. Pets with Lupus, Dry Eye, and Addison’s disease are likely to have it.
Signs that your pet Could Have Diabetes
How would you know that your cat or dog has diabetes? It would display the following signs.
1. Increased urination
First of all, your pet will start urinating more than usual because its blood sugar levels are high. They become so significant that the sugar deposits show themselves in your pets’ urine.
2. Weight Loss
Your pet will become thinner not because it eats less, but because the cells in its body don’t use the energy from the nutrients efficiently. It experiences weight loss though it takes in more calories.
3. Lack of energy.
The lack of nutrition will also make it tired. The fatigue happens because the body requires blood sugar.
4. Vision Problems
Pets with diabetes frequently develop vision problems as well. Improper processing of sugar heightens the chance of cataracts.
5. Weakness in the rear limbs
Also, your pet’s back legs may become weak. It may develop what’s known as the ‘plantigrade stance.’ Your pet will drop on its hind legs and walk on its back ankles.
6′ Urinary tract infections
UTIs are another common feature of this condition. They’re likely to happen as sugar in the blood builds up.
7. Kidney Failure
Finally, your pet may develop renal failure. Its kidneys can’t process sugar, so any excess will spill over into the kidneys and damage them.
Tips to manage a pet with diabetes
Diabetes is a tricky condition which requires careful and consistent management. Here are some strategies to make the task easier.
First of all, monitor your pet’s condition regularly. Doing this will help you note dangerous spikes and drops in blood sugar.
Make sure that your pet gets its regular insulin medication. There are insulin products specially made for pets. Get your vet’s advice on what these are.
Also, make sure that you feed your pet a proper diet. It should eat foods that minimize blood sugar fluctuations.
Another thing you can do to help your pet cope with this malady is to make sure that it exercises. Dogs are natural runners, while cats are star climbers. Doing either will help these animals stay in tip-top shape.
Finally, make sure that your pet gets its routine checks. This condition affects pets differently over time, so visiting your vet when it is time for a checkup will help your pet get used to prodding and poking.
If your pet has diabetes, take heart. A little common sense management will help it stay in good health.