How to identify feline and canine diabetes?
Canine diabetes. Like humans, cats and dogs are also susceptible to diabetes. Characterized as an abnormality in blood sugar levels, your pet can experience the severity of this condition without early detection and treatment.
How can you identify feline and canine diabetes?
The symptoms of diabetes in cats and dogs are not different than human. Look out for these follow symptoms if you suspect diabetes in your pet.
Frequent urination.
Too much glucose in the urine inhibits the kidneys from doing their job. Instead of re-absorbing water into the bloodstream, the kidneys flush out water through urine more frequently than usual.
Increased thirst and hunger.
Because your pet urinates more frequently, the need for water is massive. Hunger increases because the body cannot use the glucose for energy. For this reason, the body signals your pet to eat more, raising blood sugar levels.
Weight loss.
You might think that gaining more weight can lead to diabetes; however, weight loss is also a sign of the condition. Despite the increased hunger , their bodies can’t optimize the calorie intake.
Weakness or fatigue.
You might notice that your pet is just lying in the corner, feeling tired. However, it can be more than that. Diabetes can cause extreme weakness. If you notice that your dog or cat is extremely unenergetic but eats or drinks more, consider taking your pet to the veterinarian.
Besides these symptoms, there are other bodily reactions that help in identifying diabetes in felines and canines. These are as follows:
- Vomiting
- Cataracts
- Skin infection
- Lack of energy
- Depressed attitude
- Cloudy eyes
Untreated diabetes can lead to severe complications. If your pet is diabetic after a vet checkup, take immediate action by supervising their treatment. Ask your veterinarian about the proper way of administering insulin. Early medical care can prevent diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition that can lead to death.
