Five Common Signs of Diabetes in Dogs

Just as diabetes is common in people, it can also occur to our beloved pets. It’s a condition where the body doesn’t process insulin or can’t react correctly to the insulin it produces. Diabetes interrupts the body’s production and processing of blood sugar (glucose), the main energy source for the brain, muscles, and tissues.

As we proceed, we’ll discuss the symptoms of diabetes in dogs so we can give immediate treatments to them if they get detected with the said illness.

How Do I Know My Dog Has Diabetes?

While diabetes is not curable, it could still be managed with proper care and treatment so your pet can continue living healthily and happily. Early detection is the key to increasing their survival rate even with the said health condition. Here are five signs of diabetes in canines you should keep an eye out for.

1. Non-healing wounds

One sign that your pet has diabetes is their non-healing wounds. Like diabetic humans, dogs are at higher threat of infection caused by impaired wound recovery. However, non-healing wounds may also indicate cancer as it is among the visible signs.

If you have been reading about the common signs of cancer and spot them in your dogs, it is good to have them examined by animal professionals that specialize in oncology, like Newtown Veterinary Specialists to prevent their condition from progressing.

2. Frequent urination

If your pet dog pushes you more often just to go outdoors to pee, it may show that they are experiencing diabetes. Frequent urination is referred to as polyuria by veterinarians and is a common reason for pet owners to have their furry companions examined in animal facilities. When your canine’s blood glucose spills from the bloodstream into their urine, it pulls water, causing them to urinate more than usual.

3. Cloudy-looking eyes and vision difficulties

Diabetic dogs develop cataracts because of long-term complications. Moreover, they’re also at a higher risk of blindness since diabetic cataracts can cause visual issues. Vision loss and cataract development may occur rapidly or over extended periods.

Since the loss of sight is mostly related to diabetes, it is required to have your pet take a diabetes test before visiting a vet ophthalmologist for a surgical operation. Since some vision loss in pets can still be repaired with surgeries done by vet ophthalmologists, it’s necessary to treat your diabetic pet first for successful and safe surgical treatment.

You may do a quick search for “veterinary ophthalmologist near me” if you’re looking for animal professionals to check your pet’s eyesight.

4. Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

Older female canines and the diabetic ones experience UTIs more typically than the general population. Secondary to diabetes, dogs usually develop infections in their urinary tract. This usually occurs because of the increased sugar (in their urine), producing breeding grounds for bacteria to reside in the dog’s bladder.

Persistent bladder infections could be frustrating in female dogs. Instead of using antibiotics to treat them with the stated condition, which can also threaten their kidneys, in some cases, the treatment for UTIs may be surgery. Speak with a professional that specializes in surgery for cats & dogs, and ask if surgery would be the more suitable treatment for your pet’s condition.

5. Increased thirst

If you see your dog drinking water excessively, it could signify something serious like diabetes. If you’re unaware of this, you may believe it’s because your pet urinates more often, so they consume water more frequently. However, if you notice this in your dogs and they haven’t been active like usual, bring them to a veterinarian quickly to be checked.