Diabetes is a complex issue in dogs, and it is becoming prevalent. In fact, about 1 percent of dogs get diabetes in their lifetime. It can be fatal in dogs, so owners should be aware of how to prevent diabetes in dogs. Diabetes mellitus is characterised by increased levels of sugar in the blood, either due to insufficient insulin production or an inability to utilise insulin. Because insulin is important for cells to utilise glucose for their needs.
There are two types of diabetes in dogs.
a) Type I Diabetes: Caused by damage to beta cells of the pancreas, resulting in a deficiency of insulin.
b) Type II Diabetes: Caused by the inability of cells to utilise insulin for their needs.
If your dog is affected by diabetes, although it’s manageable, your dog will need lifelong care and it affects its quality of life. According to estimates, the annual cost of managing diabetes in dogs ranges from $700 to $2400.
Certain dog breeds have more genetic predisposition to diabetes due to metabolism, hormonal regulations, and immune function. Breeds prone to diabetes include
- Miniature Schnauzers
- Dachshunds
- Beagles
- Poodles
- Bichon Frises
- Cocker Spaniels
- Samoyeds
- Labrador Retrievers
- German Shepherds
- Golden Retrievers
- Alaskan Malamutes
- Keeshonds
- Pugs
- Fox Terriers
Here are some ways and strategies to prevent diabetes in your dog.
1-Maintaining a Healthy Diet
A healthy diet is important to regulate blood sugar levels, decrease the risk of insulin resistance, and maintain a healthy weight.
Provide a high-fibre diet because it slows the absorption of sugar and prevents sugar spikes. Moreover, include carbohydrates with a low glycaemic index, like barley, brown rice, and sweet potatoes. Also include lean proteins that are beneficial for maintaining muscle mass and enrich the diet with omega-3 fatty acids to reduce inflammation. Thus, these factors collectively make your dog’s diet healthy and balanced.
Avoid high-fat treats and human foods (chocolate, candy) in your dog. In addition, maintain a consistent feeding schedule and provide meals 2-3 times per day to your dog instead of a large meal. Prevent overfeeding and keep your dog hydrated throughout the day to prevent diabetes in dogs.
2-Regular Exercise
Regular exercise is important for the overall health of dogs, especially in diabetes prevention. Regular exercise improves insulin sensitivity and efficient utilisation. Moreover, it regulates blood sugar levels, boosts metabolism, and maintains healthy body weight.
There are different types of exercises that benefit dogs, like walking, swimming, agility training, and playtime activities. But you should tailor these exercises for your puppy’s needs, depending on its age and breed.
As a general guideline, 30 minutes to 2 hours of exercise is beneficial for dogs, but you should focus on consistency rather than intensity.
Tip: Always provide fresh water after exercise and allow time to cool down.
3-Weight Management
Maintaining a healthy weight is a major factor to prevent diabetes in dogs. Because obese dogs are prone to type 2 diabetes, which develops due to insulin resistance. The incidence of diabetes in dogs has been increasing by 32% over the past decade, likely due to rising obesity rates. In addition, obese dogs are 4 times more likely to develop diabetes than dogs at a healthy weight.
To maintain a healthy weight in dogs, firstly, you should follow two pieces of advice given above: a balanced diet and regular exercise. Furthermore, monitor the weight of your dog and assess its body condition score.
4-Routine Veterinary Checkups
Routine veterinary checkups are vital for the overall well-being of dogs and in preventing and diagnosing diabetes early. A regular vet can identify health issues early and monitor changes in weight and appetite, which is an important factor in dogs diabetes prevention.
During a vet check-up, the veterinarian will perform a physical examination, a blood check, and urinary tests. For young and healthy dogs, a once-a-year health checkup is sufficient, but for high-risk breeds and senior dogs, twice-a-year visits will be necessary.
If you observe early signs of diabetes in your dog between visits, you should promptly see your vet.
5-Avoiding Unnecessary Medications
Certain medications, when used excessively, can increase the risk of diabetes in dogs. Therefore, it’s crucial for pet owners to be aware of such drugs.
Firstly, excessively used drugs are steroids or corticosteroids. Prolonged use of corticosteroids (like prednisone) can lead to insulin resistance, increasing the risk of diabetes. But sometimes their usage is essential under certain conditions like allergies, inflammation, or autoimmune diseases. So, in such cases, steroids should be used under strict veterinarian supervision.
Other medications are hormonals like progesterone. It is used for reproductive control in dogs, but it can cause insulin resistance. In such cases, females should be spayed to prevent hormonal fluctuations.
Self-medication in dogs leads to metabolic disturbances, so never give your dog medication without veterinary approval, even if it seems harmless.
6-Managing Other Health Conditions
Certain health conditions can increase the risk of diabetes in dogs, so proactively managing such diseases can reduce the chances of canine diabetes.
The first and most common condition is pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Chronic or repeated episodes of pancreatitis can damage the pancreas. It leads to reduced insulin production and resulting diabetes. To prevent pancreatitis in dogs, give a low-fat, balanced diet and monitor for early signs.
Another condition is Cushing disease or hyperadrenocorticism. It’s characterised by excessive cortisol production, which leads to insulin resistance.
Hypothyroidism is characterised by inactivity of thyroid glands. Hence, resulting in slow metabolism. This condition indirectly increases weight gain and consequently causes canine diabetes.
7-Recognising Early Warning Signs
Early detection of diabetes can significantly improve a dog’s quality of life and help manage the condition more effectively. Here are the early signs of diabetes in dogs.
- Polydipsia (increased thirst)
- Polyuria (increased urination)
- Polyphagia (increased hunger)
- Unexplained weight loss
- Lethargy and Weakness
- Cataracts or cloudy eyes (develop in about 75 percent of diabetic dogs)
- Recurrent Infections
- Sweet or Fruity-Smelling Breath (due to diabetic ketoacidosis)
If you notice any combination of these signs, schedule a vet appointment promptly. In addition, diabetic emergencies (like vomiting, collapse, or laboured breathing) require immediate veterinary care.
Conclusion
Diabetes is one of the important disease in dogs. So, these are the 7 key steps to prevent diabetes in dogs. To manage canine diabetes, first you should manage its diet and weight. Moreover, provide regular exercise and schedule vet visits at least once a year. Furthermore, don’t excessively use medications and management for other health conditions like pancreatitis. As a dog owner, you should be aware of early signs of diabetes in dogs for prompt treatment and effective management.