Animal Care Center & Pet Resort
800 Pulaski Highway
Joppa, MD 21085
Phone 410-676-2525 Fax 410-676-5151
Diabetes Mellitus
Home Care & Instructions
Obesity in pets is a possible cause of diabetes
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas and is necessary for body tissues to use blood sugar. Without insulin, sugar remains in the blood and eventually passes into the urine. This causes increased urine production and thirst. Hunger increases because the body cannot use the sugar in the blood. As the disease progresses, chemicals called ketones accumulate, resulting in vomiting and dehydration. Eventually coma and death occur in untreated animals.
Diabetes mellitus is not a curable disease, but, with proper insulin administration, the disease can be controlled.
Possible causes of Diabetes Mellitus:
- Improper weight management (overweight, obese)
- Stress
- Nutritional deficiencies
Nutrition and Diabetes:
Pets with diabetes require close dietary supervision because their body does not produce adequate amounts of insulin. In pets with diabetes, insulin levels are abnormally low and blood sugar levels can become abnormally high. Eating high starchy foods (high carbohydrates) results in high levels of blood sugar. When carbohydrates are reduced and we increase the amount of protein, blood sugar levels and even the insulin requirements can be reduced along with your pet's dietary needs being met. Cutting out carbohydrates all together is not the key, they do need them in their diet.
To help maintain constant insulin requirements, your pet must be fed the same amount of food every day. Absolutely NO TREATS.
You must feed your pet at the same time each day so that his/her digestion corresponds with the peak time of insulin. This time will be determined by monitoring the blood glucose levels.
Activity: Exercise affects the need for insulin. It is important that your pet has the same amount of exercise each day. Too much exercise can cause a low blood sugar crisis!
If your doctor recommends a specific diet you must follow all instructions in order to properly maintain your pets needs.
Crucial points in treating your pet's diabetes:
Monitoring blood glucose and urine sugar levels must be done on a regular basis until your pet's condition is stabilized. After we meet the insulin requirements and the blood sugar levels are stabilized, only the urine sugar levels should be checked on a regular basis.
You need to figure out a time that is convenient for you to give your pet's insulin every day. Fluctuating times that you give the insulin will not control the diabetes and could actually cause more harm.
Test the urine on a daily basis or as required by your veterinarian. Urine glucose strips can be purchased at your local pharmacy or even wal-mart.
Video of administering insulin to a cat
If your pet seems weak, tired, uncoordinated, or even may have had a seizure, your pet's blood sugar levels are too low. Always keep a sugar-containing syrup such as Karo handy to treat low sugar levels. Rub the syrup on the gums and inside the lips. Do not try to force a convulsing animal to swallow the syrup. Call us ASAP if your pet does not improve.
- You cannot give the insulin as directed or sugar levels in the urine increase.
- Your pet's thirst and urination increase
- Your pet has diarrhea or vomiting.
- Your pet acts weak or depressed.
- Your pet has repeated bouts of low blood sugar.
- Your pet has trouble breathing.