A Look At Three Types Of Diabetes In Canines

June 30th, 2009

Dogs can develop different types of diabetes. These types include gestational, insipidus, and mellitus. The most common form is diabetes mellitus. Let’s take a look at these three forms of dog diabetes.

Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus in canines is one of the first types of diabetes. It occurs when your dog’s body doesn’t use insulin effectively or just doesn’t produce enough of it. The level of glucose in the body is regulated by insulin. Symptoms of canine diabetes mellitus include increased urination and thirst, dehydration, and loss of appetite.

Your dog would need to receive injections of insulin on a daily basis to control this condition. Your dog will also need to be fed a special diet. It’s best that your dog eats foods high in fiber and protein. Foods with lots of fats and carbohydrates are not good. Dogs with this condition also need daily exercise.

Gestational

The next form of canine diabetes is the gestational variety which only occurs during pregnancy. This form of diabetes occurs for the same reasons as the mellitus variety. Dogs with this form of canine diabetes display the same symptoms as dogs with diabetes mellitus. Gestational diabetes can be treated with a proper diet, exercise, and insulin injections. The condition usually goes away after she has given birth to her litter.

Diabetes Insipidus

Canine diabetes insipidus is a condition characterized by your dog’s inability to retain water. This rare disease comes in two forms, namely central and nephrogenic. The central form occurs when the pituitary gland doesn’t produce enough of the anti-diuretic hormone called vasopressine. This can be caused by a congenital defect. However, hypothalamus or pituitary gland problems can also cause this form. It can be treated with desmopressin in the form of nose drops, eye drops, or injections.

The nephrogenic form of diabetes insipidus occurs when the kidneys are insensitive to vasopressine secreted by the pituitary gland. Your dog can develop this form if he’s taking certain medications, has kidney problems, or has a congenital defect. Your dog would likely be prescribed diuretics and anti-inflammatory drugs to deal with this.

Your precious pet can be susceptible to many different health conditions. You can read up on many different potential health problems at dog-illnesses.com. Click over right now.

Get crucial tips in the sphere of house train dog – this is your personal knowledge base.