Several conditions can cause short term complications to the health of diabetic dogs including:
Low Blood Sugar – Severely low blood sugar, known as hypoglycemia, can be driven by diabetes or an insulin overdose. Your dog’s blood sugar (glucose) acts as an energy source so having a low amount can result in severely limited energy levels. Getting too much in an overdose can throw levels off so that your dog’s cells can’t absorb the glucose needed. If your dog’s blood sugar drops significantly, they may even lose consciousness. If you suspect that your dog is experiencing hypoglycemia, seek treatment for the condition quickly. Call us or bring your dog into our emergency vet care center right away. Our veterinary internist will create a treatment plan after performing laboratory tests in our on-site lab.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis – Dogs with diabetic ketoacidosis may show very elevated blood glucose concentrations. This is a serious condition and may lead to coma or death. If your dog is experiencing extended bouts of or a combination of several of the following conditions, please call us immediately or bring your dog into our emergency and specialty vet center:
Abnormally large volume of dilute urine
Increased thirst
Weight loss
Vomiting
Lethargy
Your internist will want to ensure that your dog is rehydrated and manage their glucose, ketones, and electrolyte imbalances, and address any underlying conditions, including infections and pancreatitis, to help them better treat your dog.
Symptoms of Dog Diabetes
Increased Appetite – Since the body does not have energy from glucose as a source of energy, it has to use other energy sources such as fat and protein. In addition, their cells feel like they are in a “starved” state and increase appetite.
Weight Loss – Despite having an increased or normal appetite, dogs with diabetes lose weight. Since they cannot absorb glucose, dogs with diabetes often lose weight while having either a normal or increased appetite.
Increased Urination and Thirst – As glucose cannot be absorbed or used by the dog’s body, it builds up in the blood and spills into the urine, causing increased urination and a secondary increase in thirst.
Cataracts – Many dogs with diabetes will also have or develop cataracts. Cataracts are opacities within the lens of the eye that create a cloudy appearance when looking into your dog’s eyes. 80% of dogs with diabetes will develop cataracts within 16 months of diagnosis of diabetes. Cataracts can affect vision, and in some cases lead to glaucoma. Cataracts should be monitored by your veterinarian. Although there is no way to prevent cataracts from forming, there is a highly successful surgery that can improve vision in diabetic dogs with cataracts.
How could this disorder have happened?
If a diabetic dog undergoes a stress event of some kind, the body secretes stress hormones that interfere with appropriate insulin activity. Examples of stress events that can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis include infection, inflammation, and heart disease.
What a dog may do if they are getting TOO MUCH insulin