How to Know if your dog has diabetes?

Symptoms of diabetes in dogs

Diabetes mellitus in dogs is a dangerous disease that can affect your dog at any point in life. Those sweet treats which may seem innocuous at first can have a very bad effect on your furry pal’s health. Diabetes deteriorates the wellness of the dog and affects his entire body. The key to avoiding this disease is taking preventive measures and early detection. If you are vigilant with your dog’s diet and physical activities, he is at a lesser risk of getting diabetes. However, there are still some dogs that get diabetes due to other factors such as genetics. Thus, as their pet parent, you need to be cautious and keep a check on your dog’s health. Below we have explained the top 7 diabetes symptoms that are observed in dogs.

Please note that these symptoms can occur due to other health issues as well such as kidney or liver disease. So, upon noticing any of the mentioned diabetes symptoms in your dog, take him to the veterinarian as soon as you can.

#Increased Urination

One of the most common signs of diabetes in dogs is an increase in urination. In the veterinarian’s terms, increased urination is called polyuria. Diabetes and urine are linked together because it affects the dog’s kidney. And the kidney is not able to filter glucose quickly enough for it to remain in the blood. Therefore, it leaks and comes out in the form of urine. This then causes the dog to urinate more often.

#Drinking Excessive Water

An increase in thirst is connected with an increase in urination. The more your dog urinates, the more he is going to get thirsty and drink water. They feel like they are getting dehydrated thus they start drinking more and more water.

#Increased Appetite

Diabetes is responsible for the imbalance of insulin, a hormone that regulates the blood sugar levels in the body. When there is a lack of insulin, the body is not able to recognize the glucose thus it makes the dog think he is starving. Due to the imbalance, the dog starts to eat more. You can easily pick out the symptoms whenever you find your dog eating more than his usual appetite.

#Losing Weight

Remember, weight loss in dogs can occur due to many other reasons – liver disease, kidney disease, intestinal disease, etc. When it comes to diabetes, the problem occurs when your dog loses weight even with his normal appetite. Sudden weight loss in a dog is a point of concern, whether it’s related to diabetes or not.

In diabetes, glucose is not able to reach the brain and other organs of the body due to insulin imbalance. So, the body starts utilizing the muscle and fat for proteins, which then leads to weight loss.

#Vomiting

Vomiting is a rare symptom of diabetes in dogs that comes into notice during an emergency. When the disease goes untreated, the dog might suffer from diabetic ketoacidosis which causes vomiting and decreased appetite. However, at this point, it becomes highly crucial to take your dog to the emergency clinic so the vet can provide treatments.

#Depressed Behavior

As diabetes affects the overall health of a dog, it is likely to affect his brain as well. The dog’s nervous system is highly sensitive thus it easily gets affected by hormonal imbalances in the body. So, your dog might not seem to be as excited and cheerful as he usually is because of this disease.

#Easily Tired

When the blood lacks insulin, it doesn’t get sufficient glucose, thus it makes the dog more tired. You will see your dog getting tired even after a small stroll around the block or playing. This happens due to sodium and potassium deficiency which happens due to electrolyte imbalance.

If left untreated, diabetes can have dangerous effects on the dog’s body. The symptoms need to be addressed as quickly as possible to avoid any emergencies. This disease is not curable; it can only be treated. However, if you provide the right treatment and lifestyle to your dog, you can add more happy years to his life.