Diabetes

Yes my friends, dogs and cats can be diabetic. Being overweight is one of the predispositions. That is why vets and their staff try to talk with you when your pet is overweight. you can find out if they are diabetic one of two ways.  The first is through routine office visits where they start running blood work on our older patients, the other is because they are very sick and the owner is scared.  They can go into diabetic shock, become ketoacidotic all the fun things that humans can run in to. If your pet is diagnosed as diabetic you will be shown how to give insulin shots and to watch for signs of too low or too high glucose. Both of those conditions can be another vet visit.
 The expense of having a diabetic animal is not as bad as the demand on  your time. They will need to have a very set schedule for feeding and insulin injections. I personally know of one diabetic dog that has lived a very full life and still kicking.  She is a pug, they have been treating her diabetes now for 4 years. Cataracts have developed in both eyes, but she knows her house and her yard and gets around very well.
 It can take up to a month to get them regulated on insulin, that is to find the correct dose for them and the major food manufactures have developed diets specifically for diabetic animals that can actually reduce the amount of insulin they need. It really helps if you find yourself the caretaker of a diabetic animal to train acouple people in your household just in case you are unable to be home at appointed time. I would also make sure they are trained in recognising the characteristics of too little or too much insulin.
 Watching their diet and making sure they are getting the correct dose of insulin is the main thing to do. Staying in contact with your veterinarian and let them know of any changes in their behavior or appetite can help to prevent serious problems.
The signs of diabetes in animals is very similar to people. They will drink alot of water and urinate frequently, sometimes large amounts. The doctor will need to run blood work and a urinalysis to make the diagnosis.
 They can live a very full life and still brings lots of love and kisses when they are diabetic. Take the  time to learn as much as you can about the disease and their diets. Knowledge is power.