| One of the most frustrating conditions to effectively manage in small animal veterinary medicine is diabetes in dogs and cats. Common topics which can usually generate controversy include the ideal methods of monitoring the patient (i.e at home blood monitoring by clients, urine testing, serial blood sugar measurements in the hospital setting; fructosamine lab values) and which insulins are best for a diabetic pet. |  |
The role diet plays has been well documented, but despite advances in newer insulins on the market and better diets, there remains many diabetic pets that are difficult to manage and control their blood sugars. One of the biggest and often most forgotten reasons is that many diabetic dogs and cats often have secondary bacterial urinary infections. Therefore all diabetic patients should have periodic urine analyses as well as urine cultures, especially in those difficult to control patients, to make sure that these infections are not interfering with regulation.
Other hormonal factors like cycling females or intact males, as well as other hormonal diseases like Cushing’s disease can also complicate diabetic management. Finally, it is also important that clients are properly injecting the insulin with the appropriate sized syringes, as this crucial, yet often forgotten detail can lead to many poorly regulated diabetics.
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One Comment
my dog has been diagnoised with diabetes, he has had 3 days of insulin now he will not eat at all, any help would be gratefull
[Reply]
Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
April 29th, 2012 at 9:27 pm
NEed to see vet for recheck as could be problem with insulin regulation or possibly infection. Dont keep giving insulin if not eating. See vet ASAP
[Reply]