What sugar should a dog have. Diabetes mellitus in dogs: symptoms, treatment, causes, diet, food. However, those most at risk are

Today, in the practice of a veterinarian, such a disease of pets as diabetes mellitus is increasingly diagnosed. They are sick dogs, less often cats, horses, pigs and other animals with a single-chamber stomach.

In animals with a multi-chambered stomach, the occurrence of diabetes mellitus is extremely rare. According to some foreign authors, this disease is a common endocrine disorder and accounts for 3 to 10% of all cases of diseases (H.G. Nimand, P. Suter, 1998). Up to 0.5% of dogs and up to 0.25% of cats may have overt clinical signs of the disease, which include polydipsia and polyuria (80-90% of cases), decreased or increased appetite (50%) (30%), emaciation body (40-50%) or obesity (80-85%). In this case, the characteristic diagnostic indicator is the presence of hyperglycemia and glucosuria. Normally, the concentration of glucose in the blood is 4.3-7.5 mmol / l, and in the urine it does not exceed 0.83 mmol / l and is not diagnosed by conventional laboratory methods. While in diabetes mellitus, the sugar content in the urine increases significantly, and in the blood it is more than 8.2 mmol / l.

However, the data of anamnesis, clinical examination and, to a greater extent, the results of laboratory tests of blood and urine allow a veterinarian to diagnose diabetes mellitus, since almost always pet owners go to the veterinary clinic with pronounced symptoms of the disease, corresponding to the end of the latent period, or with irreversible complications that have already occurred. diseases manifested in the form of cataracts, retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy and others.

The veterinarian can identify the listed pathologies as independent diseases that are not related to each other or are a consequence of the underlying disease.
Due to the long latent period, which has various manifestations, for example, changes in the cardiovascular system, diseases of the liver, skin or musculoskeletal system, diabetes mellitus in carnivores is a difficult disease to diagnose in its early stages. The insufficiently developed system of laboratory control makes it especially difficult to identify the preclinical period of the disease.

The greatest diagnostic value today is the process of glycosylation of blood plasma proteins that are in direct contact with glucose, as well as erythrocyte proteins, into which glucose enters in proportion to its concentration in the blood (insulin-independently). This monosaccharide has the ability to non-enzymatically bind to proteins, which leads to a change in their physicochemical properties and functional activity. However, under normal conditions, under euglycemia, only a small part of the proteins undergoes glycosylation. Therefore, the determination of the amount of proteins associated with glucose carries information about the nature of glycemia in the past, representing the "blood glucose memory". And the detection of an increased content of glycosylated proteins, in turn, is a retrospective marker of hyperglycemia.

In human medicine, indicators of early diagnosis, as well as indicators of compensation for human diabetes mellitus, are the quantitative determination of fructosamine and glycated (glycosylated) hemoglobin (HbA1c). Certain successes in this issue have been achieved by some foreign veterinary researchers and specialists and have been widely introduced into the practice of veterinary laboratories. However, such studies in domestic veterinary medicine are practically absent.

Today, in patients with symptoms of diabetes mellitus, for long-term, more accurate and high-quality control of this disease, the measurement of blood HbA1c levels is of great importance. It is the product of a slow non-enzymatic chemical reaction of hemoglobin A, contained in red blood cells, with blood glucose. It shows how many hemoglobin molecules as a percentage are connected to a glucose molecule.

There are several variants of the resulting products - glycated hemoglobins: HbA1c, HbAb and HbA1c. Moreover, the latter form quantitatively predominates over the others and gives a closer correlation with the severity of diabetes mellitus. HbA1c accounts for 96-98% of the total mass of this protein in the body.
The glycosylation process is irreversible, and its rate is proportional to the level of glycemia. The effect of this reaction is not affected by daily rhythms of fluctuations in blood glucose levels, the physiological activity of the body, the nature of food, physical activity. HbA1c reflects hyperglycemia that occurred during the lifetime of erythrocytes (up to 120 days). Erythrocytes circulating in the blood have different ages, therefore, for the average characteristics of the glucose level, they are guided by the half-life of erythrocytes - 60 days. Thus, the level of HbA1c shows what the concentration of glucose was in the previous 4-8 weeks and is an indicator of the compensation of carbohydrate metabolism during this period.

According to some foreign researchers (Denise A. E.; Richard W. N. et al., 1997), the average concentration of glycated hemoglobin in healthy euglycemic dogs was 3.3 ± 0.8%. At the same time, the average concentrations of blood HLA in dogs with hyperglycemia, i.e. in animals with severe diabetes mellitus were significantly higher. In dogs with an uncontrolled course of the disease, HbA1c was 8.7±2.1%; in dogs with insufficient monitoring of this disease, the level of HbA1c was in the range of 7.3 ± 1.8%, and in animals with a compensated course of diabetes, HbA1c was in the range of 5.7 ± 1.7%.

It was also found that the concentration of HbA1c in the blood changes slowly. Therefore, the higher the level of glycated hemoglobin, the greater the risk of developing complications in the body with diabetes.

However, the value of the study of glycated hemoglobin in diabetes mellitus lies in the fact that HbA1C, as an indirect and retrospective indicator of glycemia, allows you to assess the state of carbohydrate metabolism not at the time of the examination, but for a 2-4 month period before it, being such thus, an integral indicator of the state of carbohydrate metabolism for a sufficiently long period of time.

However, another characteristic diagnostic indicator of carbohydrate metabolism in diabetes mellitus is the quantitative determination of fructosamine. The formation of this compound occurs by glycation between glucose and plasma proteins. This physiological reaction is irreversible, also occurs without the participation of enzymes and depends on the concentration of glucose and the time of contact between glucose and protein. The main plasma protein is albumin. Therefore, in the body, fructosamine is predominantly represented by glycated albumin. The half-life of fructosamine approaches that of the protein, that is, it takes place within 7-10 days. By the presence of fructosamine, the average blood glucose in an animal is estimated, the duration of which varies from 10 to 15 days from the moment of manifestation of hyperglycemia.

Glycation is a slowly occurring reaction that does not change its performance in the event of a sudden and temporary manifestation of hyperglycemia (for example, stress in an animal). Conversely, transient recurrent hyperglycemia is stored in protein memory. Therefore, a quantitative analysis of fructosamine allows diagnosing diabetes mellitus, which is a fairly reliable prognostic assessment.

The definition of fructosamine is based on a decrease in its activity. This research method is standardized and is performed in plasma or blood serum.
According to studies, the assessment of the amount of fructosamine in a diabetic dog varies during treatment. The quantitative indicator ranges from 250-651 mmol/l, subject to adjustment for glycemia with an average of 470 mmol/l. In a dog that is not treated with insulin, the score on this test ranges from 337-763 mmol/l, with a mean of 544 mmol/l. The norm for the quantitative content of whey fructosamine, which is followed in France, is as follows:
healthy dog - 250-380 mmol / l;
a dog with diabetes mellitus > 380 mmol/l;
balanced diabetic dog<470 ммоль/л;
a dog suffering from diabetes mellitus with insufficient disease correction> 500 mmol / l.

The diagnostic value of the determination of fructosamine is similar to HbA1c, but adjusted for time. Unlike glycated hemoglobin, the level of fructosamine reflects the degree of permanent or transient increase in blood glucose not in 3-4 months, but in 1-2 weeks prior to the study.

Mainly, the determination of serum fructosamine is used for diagnosing diabetes mellitus and mainly for monitoring therapy in diabetic animals.

Therefore, the main objective of our work is to study and develop methods for the early diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in carnivores, to determine the level of HbA1c and fructosamine in healthy and sick dogs, and to conduct a comparative analysis of research results. This will reveal the most reliable diagnostic indicator of diabetes mellitus and recommend a more optimal method for examining animals with this disease.

Appears in the blood during the acute period of various inflammatory and destructive processes, with neoplasms.

The norm is 76 - 114 µmol / l.

The level of createnin shows the functional state of the kidneys. An increase in the level of creatinine in the blood is observed in renal diseases. A persistent increase in creatinine indicates a malfunction of the renal filter. A doubling of blood creatinine corresponds to a 50% decrease in kidney filtration.

The norm is 0.5 - 1.9 µmol.

Reflects the functional state of the liver. Elevated levels of ALT are observed in infectious hepatitis, toxic hepatitis, and exacerbation of chronic hepatitis.

The norm is 0.5 - 1.9 µmol.

Directly depends on the functional state of the heart. An increase in AST activity with a slight increase in ALT activity indicates heart disease. An increase in AST activity occurs earlier than typical signs of a heart attack appear on an electrocardiograph.

The norm is 2 to 13 µmol / l.

An increase in the level of bilirubin in the blood is observed with hemolytic, parenchymal and obstructive jaundice.

The norm is 4 - 7 mmol / l.

An increase in blood sugar indicates diabetes mellitus, acute pancreatitis, pancreatic cirrhosis, toxic, traumatic, mechanical irritation of the central nervous system, increased thyroid hormone activity, or strong emotional and mental arousal.

The norm is within 24 - 124 international U / l.

An increase in enzyme activity occurs in a number of diseases of the skeletal system (rickets, carcinoma, sarcoma), and liver diseases.

A decrease in enzyme activity is observed in hypothyroidism, hypovitaminosis C, and senile osteoporosis.

Norm units.

Reflects the function of the pancreas. The increase occurs in acute pancreatitis, peritonitis, perforated gastric and duodenal ulcers, and in chronic kidney diseases. A decrease is observed in liver diseases, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, acute and toxic dyspepsia.

The norm is 2.3 - 3.0 mmol / l.

An increased calcium content in the blood may indicate the presence of tumors of the parathyroid glands, developing decalcifications and destruction of bones, calcification of blood vessels, organs and tissues, and the formation of stones. Reduced calcium content is observed in enteritis, pancreatic insufficiency, obstructive jaundice, hypovitaminosis D, rickets.

The norm is from 1 to 2 mmol / l.

An increase in the level of power acids is observed in neoplasms, arthritis, and arthrosis.

The norm is from 1 to 30.

The indicator increases with allergic conditions, eczema, dermatitis, infectious diseases.

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Diabetes in a dog

If we are talking about such an ailment as diabetes mellitus in a dog, it should be understood that the diagnosis is not a sentence, but involves cardinal changes in the lifestyle of the tailed patient.

Description of the disease

This is a metabolic disorder in which blood glucose/sugar levels rise (often to critical levels) instead of being absorbed to give the body the energy it needs. Carbohydrate starvation begins, often leading to noticeable exhaustion.

Diabetes is characterized by one or two conditions:

the pancreas produces insufficient insulin or does not produce it at all;
cells refuse to take up insulin, making glucose uptake impossible.

There are 4 types of diabetes mellitus:

Insulin-dependent (type 1). Due to the complete / partial absence of insulin, which ceases to produce the pancreas. Over 90% of affected dogs have this type of diabetes (caused by autoimmune lesions or bad genes).
Insulin-independent (2 types). Glucose in the blood is also excessive due to the body's refusal to take its own insulin (normal or reduced). Such diabetes, if it is started or treated erroneously, threatens to turn into a disease of the first type. Cells get tired of producing unclaimed hormone, wear out and stop functioning.
Transient (secondary). It is noted against the background of a primary disease, for example, pancreatitis (and not only) or after prolonged therapy with the use of glucocorticoids / progestogens. This type of diabetes is cured completely when the primary disease is eliminated.
Gestational (type 4). It is possible only in pregnant females in diestrus (after the end of estrus) or in late gestation. In the second case, jumps in progesterone and somatotropin affect the sensitivity of glucose to insulin. This violation is normalized after childbirth on its own or easily corrected to the level of the norm.

Symptoms of Diabetes in a Dog

The owner of the animal must pay attention to 4 basic clinical signs that indicate the development of diabetes:

polydipsia (unquenchable thirst) - the dog practically does not leave the drinker, and saliva is sticky and viscous;
polyphagia (exorbitant appetite, turning into gluttony) - the pet is not saturated with a standard portion, absorbs it quickly and begs for an additive;
polyuria (abundant and frequent urination) - the dog often asks to go into the yard, and the volume of urine increases markedly;
weight loss up to pronounced exhaustion - the animal's ribs show through and the stomach empties.

Important! If all four signs are present, you need to go to the clinic, where your doubts will be confirmed or refuted by conducting urine / blood tests. The remaining painful manifestations can equally relate to both diabetes and other pathologies.

However, additional signals will be:

tachycardia (more than 150 bpm);
dry mucous membranes and the smell of rotting fruit from the mouth;
enlarged (protruding from under the ribs) liver;
poorly healing wounds (due to bleeding disorders);
coat and skin become dry, various dermatitis occurs;
develops (sometimes) diabetic cataracts;
diarrhea or vomiting (rare).
general lethargy.

The initial signs of the disease are easy to miss if the dog lives in the yard, occasionally falling into the field of view of his owner.

Causes of diabetes, risk group

In recent years, diabetes has rejuvenated, a trend seen in both humans and four-legged animals. If earlier the disease was diagnosed from 7 to 14 years old, now it affects dogs that are barely 4 years old. Younger animals also get sick, and females more often than males.

Some breeds are also at risk:

In international veterinary medicine, there is still no solidarity about the causes of the onset of the disease. So far, only a few factors that can trigger diabetes have been identified:

congenital predisposition;
prolonged/improper hormone therapy;
autoimmune diseases in which the full work of the pancreas is impossible;
pancreatitis (of a different nature);
infectious / somatic diseases that impede the activity of the pancreas;
improperly selected diet and, as a result, obesity;
features of gestation or estrus.

It has also been noted that the exacerbation of diabetes occurs mainly in autumn.

Diagnosis and treatment

Both major types of diabetes become chronic, leading the doctor and dog owner to take measures such as:

elimination of severe symptoms;
prevention of complications;
achieving the longest possible remission;
reducing the impact of the disease on the body as a whole.

Diagnostics

Not a single endocrinologist will make a diagnosis based only on external signs, but will definitely prescribe a set of diagnostic measures:

analyzes (expanded) of urine / blood;
tracking the dynamics of glucose levels;
hormonal tests;
analysis for the presence of acetone;
Ultrasound of the pancreas and (if necessary) other organs;
ECG and X-ray.

Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in dogs is possible only after passing all the tests and conducting a series of studies.

Diet and vitamins

The doctor discusses with the owners of the dog the organization of its drinking regimen, which should provide the body's need for fluid in order to avoid dehydration.

Important! You can not drastically reduce the amount of water in the drinker, as the dog who started the treatment will drink just as often and a lot. For more effective thirst quenching, add 2-3 drops of fresh lemon juice to the water.

Along with this, when restoring the water balance, the doctor often prescribes medications:

adiurecrine (in the form of a powder / ointment) - injected into the nasal cavity;
pituitrin (injections) - the scheme and dosage depend on the condition of the pet.

It is equally important to saturate the weakened body with the necessary nutrients, which are excreted in large quantities during diarrhea and vomiting. Vitamin complexes come to the rescue, including Beaphar, Herz-Vital or Brewers. An additional therapeutic measure is the adjustment of the dog menu.

insulin therapy

The owner of a sick dog must understand that type 1 and type 2 diabetes is not curable, and insulin therapy is designed to manage the pathology, which in itself is not a little. Your task is to be able to lower the glucose level to normal, maintaining these optimal parameters for the rest of your pet's life. Sugar is reduced by introducing insulin into the body, which (depending on the duration of exposure) is divided into “short”, “long” and “medium”. The former is used in type 1 diabetes, the latter two in type 2 diabetes.

It is interesting! Insulin injection is designed to bring the glucose level to about 8-10 mmol / l, which is slightly above the upper limit of the norm. This prevents the development of hypoglycemia, when the level of sugar drops sharply, which leads to death.

Insulin syringes and special injector pens are intended for the introduction of the hormone. The capacity of the syringe depends on the concentration of ED: for example, the composition of 100 ED / ml is administered with a U100 syringe, and 40 ED / ml with a U40 syringe.

Algorithm for working with insulin:

Before injection, hold the vial / ampoule in warm palms to warm to body temperature.
Mark the area where you will inject the hormone subcutaneously (usually the chest, withers, or belly).
With three fingers, grab the dog's skin so that a fold is formed that resembles a pyramid.
Insert the needle into the base of this pyramid (usually under the thumb).

You should always have the drug in stock - in case it breaks or is out of date. After you have opened the ampoule, it is not allowed to store it for more than 1.5–2 months (even if all the conditions specified in the annotation are met).

Dosage

The optimal dose is selected gradually, controlling the condition of the animal. They start with the minimum - for a dog it is 0.5 U / kg of weight. Sometimes it takes from several days to several months before the final dose is determined for your pet.

After the drug is administered for the first time, the owner is obliged to monitor to see the dynamics of changes in sugar levels. Three methods have been developed for this:

tracking sugar in the urine - 1-2 times a day;
in urine and blood - 3 times a day;
in the blood - every 2-4 hours.

It is believed that it is the third method that gives a more objective picture.

Important! If, after an insulin injection, the concentration of glucose in the blood exceeds 15 mmol / l, the dose is increased by 20% of the original. With fluctuations in the level in the range mmol / l, the dosage increases by 0.1 U / kg. If the dose is chosen correctly, the sugar level will not exceed 8-10 mmol / l.

The exact dosage assumes that after an injection of insulin, sugar in the dog's urine is not detected in principle. The fact that the dose is set correctly will be reported not only by the biochemical parameters of the canine blood / urine brought to normal, but also by the general improvement of the animal. You should see the disappearance of disturbing symptoms: the dog begins to gain weight, drink normally, eat and relieve itself.

Somoji syndrome

Manipulations with insulin require punctuality and scrupulousness: injections are given at the same time, adhering to the scheme written by the doctor. Remember that an excess of the hormone is much more dangerous than its deficiency. If you forget whether you took your next dose or not, don't panic. One missed injection will not lead to disaster, but a double dose will. The stroke volume of the hormone, an erroneously selected dosage or an incorrect scheme for administering insulin threaten Somogyi syndrome.

It is interesting! A second injection is also canceled if the dog flinched and you were unable to completely inject the contents of the syringe, since an increased blood glucose level is safer than a reduced (less than normal) level.

The Somogyi phenomenon can be encountered when using unreasonably high doses of the drug, leading at the first stage to a sharp drop in glucose concentration, and at the second stage to an uncontrolled release of diabetogenic hormones (glucagon, cortisol and epinephrine).

As a result, the dog becomes hypoglycemic, but the owner (confident that the sugar is rising) increases the insulin dose and makes the situation even more serious. Somogyi syndrome occurs most often in those dogs whose urine / blood is checked for sugar levels once a day. Only a doctor will help to cope with the consequences of chronic insulin overdose syndrome.

Diet during treatment

Another paramount question is how to feed a diabetic dog? If the disease is accompanied by excess weight, the animal will need a strict diet (for weight loss), and a little later - a special diabetic table. After completing the diet, the pet's weight will have to be monitored every day to avoid relapse.

Important! The owner will be required to maintain the dog's feeding regimen, taking into account the time intervals for insulin injections. First, the dog is given an injection, and then fed (ideally, up to 5 times a day, in small portions).

The key requirement for a natural menu: a minimum of carbohydrate foods, but a maximum of fiber and proteins. Meat and fish products should make up at least 60% of the daily feed volume. The dog is given:

fresh beef, lean pork and poultry;
offal (especially tripe);
low-fat sea fish;
low-fat cottage cheese;
soups without frying (vegetable) and greens;
eggs.

Add cinnamon (twice a day) and a teaspoon of fenugreek seeds (in the morning) to meals, as well as vitamin supplements for dogs with diabetes. Drinking can be slightly alkalized by diluting a little baking soda in water (about a third of a teaspoon without top per glass).

flour (wheat and corn);
baking and confectionery;
canned food and pickles;
bones and fatty meat;
white rice and hercules;
garlic and onions;
products with artificial sweeteners.

The easiest way is for those people who keep their dogs on industrial feed. Almost all trusted manufacturers produce lines of therapeutic feeds focused on different age categories and diseases. These are products of holistic and super-premium classes, containing an increased amount of proteins and little (no more than 4%) carbohydrates.

Prevention methods

Since it is still not entirely clear what triggers pancreatic failure, leading to diabetes mellitus, a healthy lifestyle should be considered one of the primary preventive measures.

A healthy lifestyle of a dog differs little from a human one - it consists of a well-balanced daily routine, physical activity, outdoor walks, rational nutrition, hardening and the absence of infectious ailments.

But even if these rules are observed, it is impossible to exclude a disease that is often inherited. If the pet is still sick, diabetes cannot be ignored: the longer the pathology develops, the more difficult it is to start treatment.

It is interesting! With advanced forms of the disease, ketone bodies accumulate in the blood. Ketoacidosis delays insulin therapy, which is started only after the removal of ketone bodies (otherwise there will be no result).

A diagnosis not made on time threatens the dog:

cataract with subsequent loss of vision;
heart / kidney failure;
fatty liver (often to cirrhosis);
physical impotence;
extreme exhaustion;
lethal outcome.

An owner who follows the advice of an endocrinologist (who is responsible for the insulin correction scheme and an approximate diabetic menu) will provide his dog with a long and fulfilling life.

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The norm of sugar (glucose) in cats and dogs in the blood and urine

Cats and dogs can have similar diseases to humans. One of these diseases is diabetes mellitus, which proceeds in much the same way as in humans.

Elevated blood sugar can be formed due to animal obesity. Also, cats and dogs are often diagnosed with pancreatic disease with pancreatitis.

The level of glucose in the blood can increase, including during pregnancy or the use of any hormonal drugs.

In dogs, high sugar levels are most often associated with heredity, while in cats, diabetes usually develops at an older age. Often, neutered animals that gain excess weight are susceptible to the disease.

How to detect diabetes in an animal?

Detecting diabetes mellitus in cats or dogs, unlike humans, is quite difficult. The main features include:

Frequent thirst in the animal;
Frequent urination;
Sudden weight loss or vice versa. Obesity;
Sensation of bad breath;
Apathetic state of the animal;
An untidy appearance of the coat;
Cases of temporary loss of orientation.

If a cat or dog shows these signs, you should immediately seek help from a veterinarian. The veterinary clinic will conduct a urine and blood test, make a study on hormones and, if necessary, an ultrasound examination.

Meanwhile, diabetes mellitus is not diagnosed immediately according to the results of the obtained tests. The fact is that during a visit to the veterinarian, dogs and cats can experience stress, as a result of which the animal's blood glucose levels increase. This, in turn, often leads to misdiagnosis.

If the sugar in the animal is elevated, the insulin production process may be disrupted. For this reason, despite high-quality nutrition, the body does not fully receive the required amount of energy. Cats or dogs become lethargic, feel weak, move unsteadily, and may even pass out.

To find out the cause and help the pet, the first step is to measure the level of glucose in the blood. In cats and dogs, the blood sugar rate is 6 mmol / liter, ruminants have indicators of 4 mmol / liter. The norm in birds is the highest and is 11 mmol / liter.

Cats and dogs are usually tested for glucose levels from blood vessels located at the tips of their ears.

How to measure blood sugar at home

To measure blood glucose levels without resorting to the help of veterinarians, you can use a regular glucometer with test strips. To conduct a blood sugar test in cats or dogs, it is better to use a device that measures capillary blood.

In this case, it is necessary to pay attention to the minimum dose of blood sampling and choose a glucometer that requires taking a small drop of blood so that the animal does not hurt.

In particular, you can use visual test strips so that you can measure glucose in the urine. In specialized stores you can find strips of Glucofan and Uriglyuk. Such a device does not replace a glucometer, however, if necessary, it allows you to quickly determine whether the level of sugar in the body is elevated.

If the treatment of diabetes is carried out correctly, sugar will not be detected in the urine. In the blood, the norm described above should be determined.

In the laboratory, blood for sugar analysis is taken from a vein. If the veterinarian does a test with a glucometer and test strips, blood is most often taken from the blood vessels in the tips of the ears.

Blood from the crumb of the fingers is usually not taken due to the fact that the blood vessels lie deep under the skin, which can injure the animal when blood is taken.

If the pet is in a veterinary clinic for a long time, a blood sugar test is usually taken every two to three hours. At home, a blood test can be done less frequently, but you need to focus on the condition of the animal and monitor every day whether the blood sugar level has changed.

In order for the sugar test to be most accurate, it is recommended that it be carried out at home, when the animal is in a familiar environment and is not worried.

Also, in some cases, the level of fructosamine in the blood is measured, which can indicate the true state of the blood sugar level.

This allows you to get reliable information about the condition of dogs or cats and determine for what reason sugar in the body is elevated.

Insulin therapy and diabetes treatment

Usually, diabetes can be cured if the owner shows perseverance and increased care for the pet. The first step is to eliminate all factors that provoke the development of the disease or cause complications.

If the animal is overweight, the veterinarian will usually prescribe a strict therapeutic diet until the weight is completely normal. It is obesity that most often becomes the main cause of the disease. A diet high in protein and low in carbohydrates reduces the need for insulin and helps cure diabetes.

Owners need to feed the pet at the same time in small portions, without skipping periods of food. If you change the feeding regimen, the condition of the animal may again be disturbed.

When treating cats and dogs with sugar insulin, in addition to a therapeutic diet, insulin administration is prescribed. The hormone can be administered using conventional insulin syringes or a syringe pen, which must be selected for the required type of insulin. It is more convenient if the syringe pen has a minimum division of 0.5 units, since the pet usually needs a small dosage of insulin.

The dosage of insulin is selected over several days. At this time, it is important to monitor the condition of the animal and pay attention to the following indicators:

Pet behavior. The animal should feel cheerful. If the pet develops complications, vomiting, nausea, loose stools, shortness of breath, dehydration may occur. In this case, you should immediately seek veterinary help.
Fluid intake. With diabetes, the animal may feel very thirsty. Therefore, if the pet began to drink less often, this indicates an improvement in the condition of the animal. The animal should consume at least 20 ml of liquid per day per kilogram of body weight.
Conducting a urine test. Based on the results obtained, the presence of glucosuria is determined. It is important to consider that urine taken in the morning may in some cases contain elevated sugar levels even if the situation is under control. Therefore, urine analysis cannot be considered the main indicator in the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Including such an analysis reveals the presence of a urinary tract infection and ketone bodies.
Regular blood glucose testing allows you to determine how long insulin works and what is the minimum glucose level in the animal after insulin administration. It is necessary to ensure that blood sugar levels do not fall below the acceptable level. If the level reaches 4 mmol / liter, you need to lower the insulin dosage.
The body weight of the animal. With diabetes, the animal can begin to lose weight dramatically, which indicates the negative consequences of the disease. If the pet feels normal, he begins to gain weight, so it is important to ensure that body weight is not excessive.

To fully control the condition of the animal and the course of the disease, you need to keep a special diary, where every day to record such indicators as:

Time of insulin injection;
Dosage of the injected insulin;
How much food to eat and how much food the animal eats;
At what time and how often is feeding carried out;
How much liquid the animal drinks throughout the day;
How much is the weight of the animal;
How does the pet behave?

A cause for concern may be a decrease in blood sugar levels to critical levels. This complication is the most serious, which can lead to the loss of a pet's life if the necessary measures are not taken in time. This condition can occur if an overdose of insulin has been administered.

In case of hypoglycemia, the animal will be weak and lethargic. A pet with a decrease in glucose levels may experience impaired coordination, disorientation, aimless walking around the room. Also, the animal can endlessly search for food and often lick its lips. In this case, you need to seek help from a veterinarian.

With low blood sugar, after anxiety, coma can quickly set in.

You should always have honey or a glucose solution, dilute it a little and give it to drink from a syringe, while the animal is conscious, this will stabilize the condition.

Falling sugar is much more dangerous than high sugar, so it’s better to play it safe and drink it quickly with honey solution or diluted glucose than let anyone ...

My cat was injected with insulin at the vet for his weight. he fell into a coma and died. I was not there, he was in a hospital at Volgogradskaya 44, Voronezh. why?

Normal blood sugar in dogs

A decrease in blood sugar is observed with an overdose of insulin, diseases of the kidneys, small intestine, sometimes with heart failure, poisoning with phosphorus, benzene, chloroform, with insufficient hormonal activity of the endocrine glands.

Blood sugar levels in dogs and cats

Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation: “Throw away the glucometer and test strips. No more Metformin, Diabeton, Siofor, Glucophage and Januvia! Treat him with this. »

Many pet breeders know that sweets are a real poison for their beloved pets, so not only do they not treat their cats and dogs with these treats, but also monitor blood sugar levels. And what it should be in these animals, let's try to figure it out.

blood sugar in dogs

Oddly enough, but sweet foods not only affect blood glucose levels in dogs, but also significantly worsen digestion. Veterinarians warn that even the most delicious chocolate bar can become the last food of an animal, because fatal outcomes are sometimes seen just after eating this product.

The norm of sugar in a dog is approximately the same as the average for a person, 5.5 mmol / l. This indicator allows lowering the limit to 5 mmol / l and, accordingly, a slight increase upwards. It occurs in dogs and a significant (up to 30 mmol / l) increase in sugar levels. In this case, diabetes occurs. Adults over 7 years of age are more susceptible to this disease. It has been observed that females are more likely to suffer from diabetes than males. At risk are poodles and dachshunds, although recently terriers have also been included in this list. Diabetes affects dogs that are overweight.

Glucose levels in cats

Pharmacies once again want to cash in on diabetics. There is an intelligent modern European drug, but they keep quiet about it. This is.

Glucose in the blood of cats should be about the same as that of a dog. The lower value is in the region of 5 mmol / l, the upper one is slightly higher than 6. With an increased level and deviation from the norm, diabetes occurs. Sometimes this disease can accompany pancreatitis or pancreatic tumor. The first signs of high blood sugar in a cat are lethargy, lack of appetite, diarrhea, and shortness of breath. If help is not provided in time, even death can overtake the pet. Only in the clinic can a cat be diagnosed correctly, and the owner will have to monitor the level of sugar in the blood of a four-legged patient at home. Treating cats with this diagnosis is very difficult. However, insulin injections help, if not completely cure the animal, then alleviate the condition.

It is difficult to treat ailments associated with high blood sugar in dogs or beloved cats. Take care of their health while they are cheerful and carefree, feed them properly and care for them with love. Then your four-legged family member will be absolutely healthy.

I have been diabetic for 31 years. Now healthy. But, these capsules are not available to ordinary people, pharmacies do not want to sell them, it is not profitable for them.

Reviews and comments

I have type 2 diabetes, non-insulin dependent. A friend advised me to lower my blood sugar with DiabeNot. I ordered via the Internet. Started taking. I follow a non-strict diet, I started to walk 2-3 kilometers every morning. Over the past two weeks, I have noticed a gradual decrease in sugar on a glucometer in the morning before breakfast from 9.3 to 7.1, and yesterday even to 6.1! I continue my preventive course. I will write about success.

Margarita Pavlovna, I am also now on Diabenot. DM 2. I really don’t have time for a diet and walks, but I don’t abuse sweets and carbohydrates, I think XE, but due to age, sugar is still elevated. The results are not as good as yours, but for 7.0 sugar does not come out for a week. What glucometer do you measure sugar with? Does it show on plasma or whole blood? I would like to compare the results of taking the drug.

Our Rottweiler suffers from diabetes (30) This is already a critical condition, it is necessary to inject insulin and diet food.

My Rottweiler has a sugar level of 31m/mol after the operation, what should I do?

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Diabetes Mellitus in Dogs - Signs, Causes and Treatment

Diabetes mellitus affects humans, cats, dogs and other mammals whose diet is distorted due to human intervention or life circumstances. Despite the similar mechanics of the course of the disease, the causes, specifics and treatment of the disease differ for each individual organism. Diabetes mellitus in dogs is not "treated" by human therapy, is not divided into groups, as in humans, but is a chronic disease that leads to death.

How Does Diabetes Occur in Dogs?

Normal life of the body without glucose is impossible. Dogs do not eat sweets, however, they get the right amount of sugar from a nutritious diet. In the process of decay, the intestine absorbs glucose, supplying it with the blood. The circulatory system carries glucose to every cell in the body. Cells cannot absorb sugar without a special signal; insulin is the conductor for transmitting commands from the brain to the cell body. Insulin, in turn, is produced by the pancreas.

To understand how diabetes mellitus manifests itself in dogs in each case, it is necessary to undergo an examination, there can be two reasons for endocrine disorders:

Pancreatic insufficiency - insulin is produced in small quantities or the cells do not perceive it.

In both cases, the cells receive less nutrition, and a healthy body consumes glucose quickly and completely. Overloaded kidneys begin to “lose” and excess glucose is excreted in the urine. The next step in the chain - glucose combines with water and removes it from the body, reducing the total blood volume and creating an additional detrimental factor - dehydration. The further the disease progresses, the more severe the symptoms become. The main signs of diabetes in dogs, in ascending order:

High blood sugar and urine - detected by clinical tests.

Constant thirst - the dog increases the rate of water intake and urination.

Weight loss - cells that do not receive glucose die from "hunger".

Unhealthy appetite against the background of weight loss - the dog begins to eat much more to compensate for body losses. Body weight does not increase, as the cells remain immune to sugar. It turns out that the dog eats a lot, but loses weight due to the breakdown of muscle tissue proteins - for the sake of survival, the body “consumes” itself.

The most difficult stage - the formation of acetone (ketoacidosis) - against the background of the massive breakdown of fats and the "shrunken" liver and kidneys, the body does not have time to get rid of heavy decay toxins. The dog's blood is oxidized, which "burns" the vessels from the inside, and the smell of exhaled air smells like acetone. The temperature of the ears of a dog with diabetes mellitus, as well as of all limbs, falls, and cyanosis of the mucous membranes appears. When shifting the eyelid, a network of burst vessels can be observed.

Diabetic ketoacidosis is the last and critical stage. Additionally, it may be accompanied by: partial paralysis, fainting, vomiting, diarrhea, coma, salivation. Without urgent, aggressive intervention, the animal dies in a matter of days/hours.

Naturally, such destructive processes are accompanied by a number of violations, most often found:

Cystitis and other acute bacterial diseases.

General weakness and numbness of the limbs - the dog can pull up or tuck its legs.

Causes of diabetes and risk groups

In the early stages, diabetes is invisible, and preventive urine and blood tests are given only to dogs with a genetic predisposition to diseases. Based on physiology, the reasons include:

Hormonal failure during estrus or immediately after it.

Inflammation or insufficiency of the pancreas (accompanied by vomiting).

Hormonal disorders due to therapy or other circumstances.

There are no official statistics on the spread of the disease. Diabetes is not a virus, so it occurs and is recorded everywhere. Based on the practice of veterinarians, people with diabetes suffer from:

All breeds, including mestizos and translations.

Animals with a hereditary predisposition from their mother, father or older generations.

Dogs over the age of 6, although with a genetic predisposition, young individuals also become ill.

By gender, females are more ill, due to a more “shaky” hormonal system.

The most serious risk group for diabetes mellitus is females who have not been spayed, who have not given birth, who have undergone false pregnancies.

What can be confused with diabetes, how to identify it

Having found one or more of the above symptoms in a dog, do not make a diagnosis yourself, much less start treatment.

Elevated blood sugar levels may be due to stress or poor diet.

Increased water intake - kidney failure, purulent inflammation of the uterus.

Dehydration can have many causes, from heat stroke to serious chronic conditions not related to diabetes.

Numbness and partial paralysis - disorders in the central nervous system, injuries.

Cataract develops as an independent disease in dogs older than 7 years.

Bacterial diseases of the genitourinary system in females may be the consequences of a recent estrus or antibiotic treatment.

During the examination, the veterinarian will also not make a diagnosis by external signs; to remove / confirm diabetes, they prescribe:

Step-by-step analyzes of the dynamics of glucose fluctuations.

The final diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in dogs is carried out only by clinical tests.

If a dog has diabetes - what to do next

It will be mentally prepared, it just won’t be, but the dog is your friend and family member, it cannot be left without treatment. Every cell in the animal's body starves and dies without glucose, to stimulate the body will have to regularly inject insulin from the outside.

The goal of therapy is to stop all symptoms and achieve a constant level of glucose in the blood of the animal. The ideal is to achieve a complete remission, when insulin injections are minimized or eliminated altogether.

The owner must learn for himself that without the following measures, the animal will die:

Strict food and meal times diet.

Daily controlled physical activity.

The selection of the dose and frequency of insulin injections is made individually. The first dose is determined by the veterinarian based on the weight and condition of the animal. Further, by keeping a diary, adjusting the dose, blood and urine samples for glucose content, the optimal volume and frequency of administration is determined.

The construction of a feeding schedule directly depends on the insulin preparation used. There may be several options:

The introduction of a fast-, medium-, slowly excreted drug and feeding after a certain period.

Fractional feeding - eating every period of time in small portions.

Injection before or immediately after a meal.

Important! Do not, under any circumstances, administer a second dose of insulin. If you are not sure that all of the drug got under the skin, or perhaps one of the family members could have injected before you, skip the injection. A slightly elevated glucose level can be "knocked down"; a lower level can quickly kill the animal.

How long dogs with diabetes live depends on the success of therapy and proper feeding. The most important factor is the gradual entry of glucose into the blood. What to feed a diabetic dog depends on the condition and eating habits. In any case, the food should be fibrous, slow digesting, low in calories, rich in protein. There is a special medical food for dogs with diabetes. However, special food is not suitable for everyone and it is quite difficult to buy it in small towns and villages.

Medical treatment of diabetes in dogs

The sooner therapy is started, the less trouble you will have to endure. Consider the most difficult option for rehabilitation. So, you have found signs of diabetic ketoacidosis (acetone smell, unsteady gait, partial paralysis).

Lubricate the gums, tongue, area under the tongue with honey, sugar syrup, something that contains a lot of sugar. And we immediately go to the clinic.

The stabilization period is mandatory hospitalization. Droppers and intravenous injections of drugs aimed at reducing blood acidity and stabilizing insulin levels.

Damage assessment - a comprehensive examination is carried out to identify organs and systems affected by the disease. Symptomatic or global treatment is prescribed, depending on the risk assessment and the conflict of therapies.

Selection of the daily dose and frequency of insulin injections in the hospital setting.

After eliminating the threat to life, the dog can go home. As treatment, the animal is prescribed insulin-containing and supportive drugs.

At home, the drug is injected under the skin and acts for 20–140 minutes.

One of the popular analogues of long-acting insulin in terms of "price-performance-quality" is Lantus.

In the conditions of therapy, the dog must walk and endure measured physical activity. Hunting and other working skills are strongly discouraged. Physical fatigue leads to exhaustion of the body, reducing insulin sensitivity.

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Description of the disease

Diabetes is characterized by one or two conditions:

the pancreas produces insufficient insulin or does not produce it at all;
cells refuse to take up insulin, making glucose uptake impossible.

There are 4 types of diabetes mellitus:

Insulin dependent (type 1). Due to the complete / partial absence of insulin, which ceases to produce the pancreas. Over 90% of affected dogs have this type of diabetes (caused by autoimmune lesions or bad genes).
Insulin independent (2 types). Glucose in the blood is also excessive due to the body's refusal to take its own insulin (normal or reduced). Such diabetes, if it is started or treated erroneously, threatens to turn into a disease of the first type. Cells get tired of producing unclaimed hormone, wear out and stop functioning.
Transient (secondary). It is noted against the background of a primary disease, for example, pancreatitis (and not only) or after prolonged therapy with the use of glucocorticoids / progestogens. This type of diabetes is cured completely when the primary disease is eliminated.
Gestational (type 4). It is possible only in pregnant females in diestrus (after the end of estrus) or in late gestation. In the second case, jumps in progesterone and somatotropin affect the sensitivity of glucose to insulin. This violation is normalized after childbirth on its own or easily corrected to the level of the norm.

Symptoms of Diabetes in a Dog

The owner of the animal must pay attention to 4 basic clinical signs that indicate the development of diabetes:

polydipsia (unquenchable thirst) - the dog practically does not leave the drinker, and saliva is sticky and viscous;
polyphagia (exorbitant appetite, turning into gluttony) - the pet is not saturated with a standard portion, absorbs it quickly and begs for an additive;
polyuria (abundant and frequent urination) - the dog often asks to go into the yard, and the volume of urine increases markedly;
weight loss up to pronounced exhaustion - the animal's ribs show through and the stomach empties.

Important! If all four signs are present, you need to go to the clinic, where your doubts will be confirmed or refuted by conducting urine / blood tests. The remaining painful manifestations can equally relate to both diabetes and other pathologies.

However, additional signals will be:

tachycardia (more than 150 bpm);
dry mucous membranes and the smell of rotting fruit from the mouth;
enlarged (protruding from under the ribs) liver;
poorly healing wounds (due to bleeding disorders);
coat and skin become dry, various dermatitis occurs;
develops (sometimes) diabetic cataracts;
diarrhea or vomiting (rare).
general lethargy.

The initial signs of the disease are easy to miss if the dog lives in the yard, occasionally falling into the field of view of his owner.

Causes of diabetes, risk group

Diabetes has become younger in recent years, a trend seen in both humans and four-legged animals.. If earlier the disease was diagnosed from 7 to 14 years old, now it affects dogs that are barely 4 years old. Younger animals also get sick, and females more often than males.

Some breeds are also at risk:

and poodle;
dachshund;
scotch terrier.

In international veterinary medicine, there is still no solidarity about the causes of the onset of the disease. So far, only a few factors that can trigger diabetes have been identified:

congenital predisposition;
prolonged/improper hormone therapy;
autoimmune diseases in which the full work of the pancreas is impossible;
pancreatitis (of a different nature);
infectious / somatic diseases that impede the activity of the pancreas;
improperly selected diet and, as a result, obesity;
features of gestation or estrus.

It has also been noted that the exacerbation of diabetes occurs mainly in autumn.

Diagnosis and treatment

Both major types of diabetes become chronic, leading the doctor and dog owner to take measures such as:

elimination of severe symptoms;
prevention of complications;
achieving the longest possible remission;
reducing the impact of the disease on the body as a whole.

Diagnostics

Not a single endocrinologist will make a diagnosis based only on external signs, but will definitely prescribe a set of diagnostic measures:

analyzes (expanded) of urine / blood;
tracking the dynamics of glucose levels;
hormonal tests;
analysis for the presence of acetone;
Ultrasound of the pancreas and (if necessary) other organs;
ECG and X-ray.

Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in dogs is possible only after passing all the tests and conducting a series of studies.

Diet and vitamins

The doctor discusses with the owners of the dog the organization of its drinking regimen, which should provide the body's need for fluid in order to avoid dehydration.

Important! You can not drastically reduce the amount of water in the drinker, as the dog who started the treatment will drink just as often and a lot. For more effective thirst quenching, add 2-3 drops of fresh lemon juice to the water.

Along with this, when restoring the water balance, the doctor often prescribes medications:

adiurecrine (in the form of a powder / ointment) - injected into the nasal cavity;
pituitrin (injections) - the scheme and dosage depend on the condition of the pet.

insulin therapy

It is interesting! Insulin injection is designed to bring the glucose level to about 8-10 mmol / l, which is slightly above the upper limit of the norm. This prevents the development of hypoglycemia, when the level of sugar drops sharply, which leads to death.

Algorithm for working with insulin:

Before injection, hold the vial / ampoule in warm palms to warm to body temperature.
Mark the area where you will inject the hormone subcutaneously (usually the chest, withers, or belly).
With three fingers, grab the dog's skin so that a fold is formed that resembles a pyramid.
Insert the needle into the base of this pyramid (usually under the thumb).

Dosage

After the drug is administered for the first time, the owner is obliged to monitor to see the dynamics of changes in sugar levels. Three methods have been developed for this:

tracking sugar in the urine - 1-2 times a day;
in urine and blood - 3 times a day;
in the blood - every 2-4 hours.

It is believed that it is the third method that gives a more objective picture.

Important! If, after an insulin injection, the concentration of glucose in the blood exceeds 15 mmol / l, the dose is increased by 20% of the original. With fluctuations in the level in the range of 10-15 mmol / l, the dosage increases by 0.1 U / kg. If the dose is chosen correctly, the sugar level will not exceed 8-10 mmol / l.

Somoji syndrome

It is interesting! A second injection is also canceled if the dog flinched and you were unable to completely inject the contents of the syringe, since an increased blood glucose level is safer than a reduced (less than normal) level.

Normal life of the body without glucose is impossible. Dogs do not eat, however, they get the right amount of sugar from a nutritious diet. In the process of decay, the intestine absorbs glucose, supplying it with the blood. The circulatory system carries glucose to every cell in the body. Cells cannot absorb sugar without a special signal; insulin is the conductor for transmitting commands from the brain to the cell body. Insulin, in turn, is produced by the pancreas.

To understand how diabetes mellitus manifests itself in dogs in each case, it is necessary to undergo an examination, there can be two reasons for endocrine disorders:

Pancreatic insufficiency - insulin is produced in small quantities or the cells do not perceive it.

Atrophy of nerve endings of cells.

In both cases, the cells receive less nutrition, and a healthy body consumes glucose quickly and completely. Overloaded kidneys begin to “lose” and excess glucose is excreted in the urine. The next step in the chain - glucose combines with water and removes it from the body, reducing the total blood volume and creating an additional harmful factor -. The further the disease progresses, the more severe the symptoms become. The main signs of diabetes in dogs, in ascending order:

High blood sugar and urine - detected by clinical tests.

Constant thirst - the dog increases the rate of water intake and urination.

Weight loss - cells that do not receive glucose die from "hunger".

Unhealthy appetite against the background of weight loss - the dog begins to eat much more to compensate for body losses. Body weight does not increase, as the cells remain immune to sugar. It turns out that the dog eats a lot, but loses weight due to the breakdown of muscle tissue proteins - for the sake of survival, the body “consumes” itself.

The most difficult stage - the formation of acetone (ketoacidosis) - against the background of the massive breakdown of fats and the "shrunken" liver and kidneys, the body does not have time to get rid of heavy decay toxins. The dog's blood is oxidized, which "burns" the vessels from the inside, and the smell of exhaled air smells like acetone. The temperature of the ears of a dog with diabetes mellitus, as well as of all limbs, falls, and cyanosis of the mucous membranes appears. When shifting the eyelid, a network of burst vessels can be observed.

Read also: Tracheitis - symptoms and treatment of inflammation of the trachea in dogs

diabetic ketoacidosis- the last and critical stage. Additionally, it may be accompanied by: partial paralysis, fainting, vomiting, diarrhea, salivation. Without urgent, aggressive intervention, the animal dies in a matter of days/hours.

Naturally, such destructive processes are accompanied by a number of violations, most often found:

Clouding of the lens ().

and other acute bacterial diseases.

General weakness and numbness of the limbs - the dog can pull up or tuck its legs.

Causes of diabetes and risk groups

In the early stages, diabetes is invisible, and preventive urine and blood tests are given only to dogs with a genetic predisposition to diseases. Based on physiology, the reasons include:

Hormonal failure during estrus or immediately after it.

Inflammation or insufficiency of the pancreas (accompanied by vomiting).

Hormonal disorders due to therapy or other circumstances.

All breeds, including mestizos and translations.

Animals with a hereditary predisposition from their mother, father or older generations.

Dogs over the age of 6, although with a genetic predisposition, young individuals also become ill.

By gender, females are more ill, due to a more “shaky” hormonal system.

The most serious risk group for diabetes mellitus is females who have not been spayed, who have not given birth, who have undergone false pregnancies.

What can be confused with diabetes, how to identify it

Having found one or more of the above symptoms in a dog, do not make a diagnosis yourself, much less start treatment.

Elevated blood sugar levels may be due to stress or poor diet.

Increased water intake - kidney failure, purulent inflammation of the uterus.

"Zhor" against the background of weight loss -.

Dehydration can have many causes, from serious chronic conditions not related to diabetes.

Numbness and partial paralysis - disorders in the central nervous system, injuries.

Cataract develops as an independent disease in dogs older than 7 years.

Bacterial diseases of the genitourinary system in females may be the consequences of a recent estrus or antibiotic treatment.

Read also: Gingivitis in Dogs: Causes and Treatment

During the examination, the veterinarian will also not make a diagnosis by external signs; to remove / confirm diabetes, they prescribe:

Complete blood and urine tests.

Step-by-step analyzes of the dynamics of glucose fluctuations.

Separate analysis for acetone.

Hormonal tests.

X-ray, EKG.

if necessary.

The final diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in dogs is carried out only by clinical tests.

If a dog has diabetes - what to do next

The owner must learn for himself that without the following measures, the animal will die:

Daily administration of insulin.

Strict food and meal times diet.

Daily controlled physical activity.

The construction of a feeding schedule directly depends on the insulin preparation used. There may be several options:

The introduction of a fast-, medium-, slowly excreted drug and feeding after a certain period.

Fractional feeding - eating every period of time in small portions.

Constant access to food.

Injection before or immediately after a meal.

Important! Do not, under any circumstances, administer a second dose of insulin. If you are not sure that all of the drug got under the skin, or perhaps one of the family members could have injected before you, skip the injection. A slightly elevated glucose level can be "knocked down"; a lower level can quickly kill the animal.