Diabetes in dogs

Content by Dr Siân Burwood MRCVS

Diabetes mellitus (known just as diabetes to most) is a hormonal condition where the body doesn’t make enough insulin. Insulin is the hormone that controls blood sugar, and when not enough is produced, the glucose the body needs for normal cell function stays in the blood stream instead of going into the cells.

As blood sugar rises uncontrolled, dogs feel very hungry and thirsty but lose lots of weight. And when blood sugar is very high, it can cause an emergency condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). This is fatal if not treated.

Diabetes is a very serious condition that needs lifelong treatment. But it can be effectively managed when dedicated owners carefully control their dog’s diet and commit to giving insulin injections, alongside regular vet checks. Diabetes mellitus is not the same thing as diabetes insipidus, a different hormone condition.

• Diabetes is a serious hormone condition in dogs where they don’t produce enough insulin
• Uncontrolled blood sugar levels lead to increased thirst, weeing and appetite along with weight loss, or – in more serious presentations – collapse and death
• Diabetes can be managed with at home insulin injections and a controlled diet
• With committed caregivers, diabetic dogs can have a good quality of life for 1-2 years after diagnosis
• Diabetes needs lifelong treatment and an investment of time, emotion and money to treat successfully

Diabetes in dogs is usually caused by an auto-immune disease where the body’s own immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. It can also sometimes happen after a dog has had pancreatitis where scarring damages the insulin producing cells.

The human categories of type I and type II diabetes do not really apply in dogs. And while obesity is a problem for diabetic dogs, diabetes cannot be controlled with diet alone as it can be in some human cases.

Any dog can develop diabetes, but some dog breeds are known to be more at risk. This includes Samoyeds, Cairn Terriers and Tibetan Terriers. The exact genetic cause of this is not known and there’s no test for this.

Samoyeds image by Christian Testa

The first signs of diabetes in a dog are:

• Increased thirst and increased weeing
• Increased hunger
• Weight loss despite the hunger
• Lethargy

Any of these symptoms mean a visit to the vet is needed over the next week or so.

Signs of diabetic ketoacidosis include:

• Vomiting and diarrhoea
• Not eating
• Very low energy
• Wobbliness
• Collapse
• Breath that smells sweet like pear drops

This is an emergency and your dog needs to be seen by a vet (your own or their out-of-hours provider) immediately.

Diagnosis of diabetes can be simply made by looking at glucose levels in a dog’s blood and urine. Other blood tests will also be recommended to see how the rest of the body is coping with the diabetes.

Treatment of diabetes in dogs relies on the caregiver giving injections of insulin to their dog at home, usually twice a day, alongside a carefully controlled diet. While this may seem scary at first, your vet practice team can teach you how to do this and support you as you learn.

Finding the right dose of insulin for your individual dog takes time, and isn’t straightforward in every case. You’ll need regular vet check ups, especially during this stabilisation period. Your vet will need to keep doing blood tests to make sure the dose of insulin isn’t too high or too low.

Treatment of DKA is an emergency and can be fatal if the dog’s blood sugar and vitals cannot be stabilised. After treatment of DKA, the process of starting insulin therapy at home will need to be started.

Diabetes is a lifelong condition, and does require considerable commitment of time, emotion and finances. The prognosis is excellent when treated consistently and correctly, but is not very good at all if management is poor. The prognosis is also worse if a dog presents in DKA.

“Diabetes is not an uncommon diagnosis for vets in practice, and can be either very rewarding or very difficult to treat.

“I always offer euthanasia as an option at the time of a diabetes diagnosis, because if it’s not treated properly, it can cause serious welfare problems. There’s no denying it’s expensive and time-consuming for owners.

“Despite this, the majority of caregivers go on to provide excellent care for their dogs, and as vets and nurses we are always happy to help support you.”

Dr Siân Burwood MA VetMB MRCVS

If you’re thinking about buying a Lifetime Plus insurance policy, we’ll consider all pre-existing conditions when offering cover for your dog* – including diabetes. 

When you apply for dog insurance, you need to let us know: 

• Which medical conditions they’ve had in the last two years 
• Their health status now

Find out more about Petgevity’s dog insurance for pre-existing medical conditions.