Information and Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs

FritzNutrition plays a key role in treating your diabetic dog. In pets, as in people, diabetes is a deficiency of the pancreatic hormone called insulin.  Insulin works by transporting sugar out of the blood and into cells where it is used as energy.  When your dog fails to produce enough insulin, sugar, in the form of glucose, accumulates in the blood.  When it reaches a certain level, it passes into urine.  Since the chemical properties of sugar attract water, a diabetic dog will drink water and urinate excessively. This is often the first sign of diabetes visible to a pet owner.

Other symptoms include listlessness, vomiting and poor hair coat.  Increased or decreased appetite  along with weight loss are also common to diabetes.  Your veterinarian can determine whether diabetes is the underlying reason for your pet’s symptoms. 

Providing a healthy diet is the first step in improving your pet’s natural defenses and providing a strong foundation for good health.  No amount of drugs can correct the underlying problem of poor nutrition. Providing good nutrition, ongoing veterinary care and love are the gifts that you can give to make these special years for you and your dog.

Our interest in dog health care was the primary reason the Old Dog Cookie Company was started. It was our love and concern for our own pet that motivated us to make our cookies available to you. We encourage you to look at the following suggested websites. They contain valuable information on diabetes along with a great deal of information of general pet care.

Canine Diabetes - WebMD

How to give insulin

Canine Diabetes - American Kennel Club

Diabetes and Cataracts

BanditBelow are more services and information regarding canine diabetes, cataracts and living with a blind dog.

We have LOTS of customers in which their dog was diagnosed with diabetes and then later cataracts. We encourage pet owners to be aware of the signs of cataracts in your dog and have included some information below. 

If your dog develops cataracts, surgery might be an option. The following eye clinics have provided our product and information to their canine clients that have diabetic dogs:

Pet Eye Clinic - St. Louis Park, MN

Animal Eye Care – Bellingham, WA

Veterinary Ophthalmology Service – Arroyo Grande, CA

We also have a few stories from clients on living with a dog that has had surgery along with a dog that is blind. If surgery is not an option, which for many it might not be, many of our customers tell us that with time, patience and a daily routine both owners and dogs adjust just fine!!

Disclaimer

Old Dog Cookie Co. Provides a community for all canine owners but specifically those with diabetic or arthritic dogs.--we are not licensed professionals. Before making any important decisions for treating your diabetic dog, please consult a veterinarian.