Diabetic Dogs: Look Out For Changes In Your Dog’s Behavior

If you have noticed some changes in your dog’s behavior and his eating and drinking patterns are different from normal it may be time to have him checked out by a veterinarian.

Some changes in eating can be attributed to diabetes and diabetic dogs need to be treated for their disease or further health complications will arise from the disease. Common symptoms are eating the same amount of food but losing weight. This happens because there is either not enough insulin produced by the dog’s body to move glucose to cells that need it or else the dog has become insulin resistant and the body can’t produce enough insulin to keep the dog healthy.

Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas and its job is to move glucose from the bloodstream into cells and tissues that need it for energy.

If that isn’t happening the dog will lose weight despite eating the same or more food because the body isn’t utilizing the food for energy, but is using fat stores to get its energy supply.

A second symptom of a diabetic dog is that they will urinate much more frequently and thus also be thirsty and drink more water than normal. This symptom happens because there are high blood sugar levels all the time and the kidneys are leaking glucose into the urine.

When this happens it takes water with it and thus the dog is constantly thirsty and also needing to go out more. This problem may assert itself by a good housebroken dog having accidents because they just need to drink and go more than usual.

Fortunately diabetes in dogs can be managed by insulin injections and diet modification.

Most dogs need insulin every day even with diet changes, but diet can help lessen the amount of insulin needed. If your dog is acting strangely pay attention and have him checked out before it’s too late.