What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is when your pet’s body either cannot produce enough insulin, or its body doesn’t allow it to use insulin properly.
Causes
- Genetics – Diabetes can be genetically predisposed
- Lifestyle – obesity, poor nutrition, lack of exercise can increase the chance of Diabetes
Symptoms
- Increase urination and thirst – if your pet is drinking and urinating more than usual, or even having accidents in the house, these signs can be linked to Diabetes or other disorders
- Increased appetite
- Vision Problems – pets can develop cataracts from uncontrolled Diabetes which causes blindness.
- Lack of energy and an increased need to sleep – due to high blood sugar.
- Urinary Tract Infections – due to the increase in sugar in the urine, there is a greater likelihood that bacteria will grow in your pet’s bladder.
Treatment
- The treatment of Diabetes includes regular monitoring of blood glucose, dietary adjustments, insulin given by injection, and keeping an eye on your pet.
- Frequent vet visits and the costs can add up quickly. This is why we urge you to keep you pet at a healthy body condition and feed a high quality diet.
Give our team at Coventry Animal Hospital a call if you have any concerns about your pet.