Signs a Dog May Be Struggling With Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that affects up to 1 in 300 dogs and can occur anytime between the ages of 4 and 14 years. While many dogs diagnosed with diabetes can live a normal life with regular insulin injections and dietary changes, the average life expectancy of a dog with diabetes is around two years after diagnosis.

For dogs who've gotten a diagnosis later in life or whose diabetes is complex and uncontrolled, even with treatment the disease can be fatal. Let's look at what causes this condition, how it affects your dog and when it might be time to say goodbye to your furry friend if their diabetes has worsened.

What Is Canine Diabetes?

Just like people, dogs can suffer from diabetes mellitus, a disease that affects how your dog's body uses glucose (blood sugar), which is produced from the food your dog eats.

The pancreas is a small organ in the body that helps regulate digestion and the production of insulin. Insulin helps regulate glucose and helps deliver that blood sugar to the tissues of the body. Dogs with diabetes will not produce enough of the insulin that allows the body to correctly process and absorb glucose or have tissues that are resistant to the insulin that the body does produce.

When the pancreas fails to produce insulin or produce enough of it, it leads to diabetes. Or, when the body is unable to properly absorb and use the insulin that the pancreas produces, then your dog will develop diabetes due to insulin resistance.

How Does Diabetes Affect Dogs?

When a dog has diabetes, their cells are unable to properly absorb and use the glucose in their blood. This leads to the "starvation" of these cells and a buildup of the unused glucose in the bloodstream.

Here's more on the effects of that unused glucose:

• Over time, a buildup of unused glucose in the bloodstream can lead to organ and tissue damage.
• The glucose buildup spills over into the urine, drawing large amounts of water with it. The loss of fluid leads to extreme thirst.
• Your dog's body, unable to use the glucose, starts breaking down the body's muscles and fat, which is then converted into sugar by the liver. This is what causes your dog to lose weight.
• Unable to use the glucose in their bloodstream, dogs with diabetes will have a ravenous appetite while continuing to lose weight.
• Untreated, diabetes is fatal due to the high level of glucose in the blood and the body's inability to use it to function properly.

Different Types of Dog Diabetes

Similar to diabetes in humans, there are three types of diabetes in dogs:

• Type I diabetes: Dogs with type I diabetes have a pancreas that is unable to produce insulin. These dogs will need daily insulin injections to control their disease.
• Type II diabetes: Dogs with type II diabetes have a pancreas that continues to produce insulin but the cells stop absorbing glucose at a normal rate. This usually happens when too much sugar and carbs are consumed, and as a result, the cells can't keep up with the amount of sugar in the blood. This is the type that most commonly affects humans, but (although rare) it can also develop in dogs who are obese. With the right diet and exercise, this type can go into remission.
• Type III diabetes: Dogs with type III diabetes have a rare and potentially fatal hormonal condition that affects dogs who are pregnant and sometimes those going through a heat cycle. It is the equivalent of humans having gestational diabetes. Although it's temporary, a pregnant dog who survives this type of diabetes is likely to have it recur if they get pregnant again, so it's usually recommended to have them spayed as soon as they're healthy enough to undergo the procedure.

Common Causes of Diabetes in Dogs

There are several potential reasons for diabetes in dogs, including:

• Obesity. If your dog is overweight, they are more prone to developing insulin resistance and type II diabetes.
• Chronic pancreatitis. Repeated bouts of inflammation can damage this insulin-producing organ and lead to diabetes. Obesity may also put your dog at risk for pancreatitis, as can high-fat foods.
• Being female. Female dogs that are unspayed have twice the risk of developing diabetes compared to male dogs.
• Steroid medications. When used long term, steroids can lead to the development of diabetes.
• Cushing's disease. Dogs with Cushing's disease produce steroids within their bodies, which can cause diabetes if untreated.
• Health problems. Some health problems, such as autoimmune diseases and viral infections, can trigger diabetes to develop. Hormonal imbalances may also contribute to the development of diabetes.

Are Some Dog Breeds Prone to Developing Diabetes?

Yes, some dog breeds are more prone, genetically, to developing diabetes. They include:

• Alaskan malamutes
• Australian terriers
• Bichons frises
• Beagles
• Cairn terriers
• Fox terriers
• Keeshonds
• Labrador retrievers
• Miniature schnauzers
• Miniature dachshunds
• Norwegian elkhounds
• Poodles
• Pugs
• Pulis
• Samoyeds
• Tibetan terriers
• Yorkshire terriers

What Are the Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs?

Dogs with diabetes will exhibit symptoms that may appear subtle at first and worsen over time without treatment or if the disease isn't properly controlled. The symptoms to look out for include:

Increased thirst and urination

Because your dog's body can't make use of the glucose in their bloodstream, it builds up until it is filtered out into the dog's urine. The glucose also takes extra water from the body with it. This leads to excessive urination and increased thirst.

Weight loss despite increased appetite

Without the ability to make use of food that's converted to glucose by the body, your dog's cells begin to starve and become unable to function. Then, the body starts to break down fat stores and muscle tissue in an attempt to "feed" itself. This process results in weight loss and an increased appetite.

Fatigue and lethargy

Without the ability to convert food into fuel for your dog's cells, the body can't function normally, especially as glucose levels rise in the bloodstream and begin to damage the organs, which can lead to lethargy.

Furthermore, when your dog's body begins to break down the stores of fat in the body into alternative forms of energy for the cells, called ketones, it can lead to even more serious problems. In small amounts, ketones are safe; in larger amounts, they can dangerously acidify the blood. This can lead to ketoacidosis, a condition that causes lethargy and fatigue.

Frequent infections and slow healing

Dogs with diabetes tend to have frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs) due to the high concentration of glucose in the urine and the urine being very dilute. They are also more prone to dental disease. In addition, they will have very slow-healing wounds because the high concentration of glucose in the blood interferes with the healing process.

Changes in appetite and eating habits

Dogs with diabetes may have a ravenous appetite or may not want to eat at all if they are experiencing ketoacidosis.

Unusual breath odor

Dogs with sweet-smelling breath may be experiencing ketoacidosis due to the increase in the amount of ketones in their blood. The sweetness will smell similar to acetone or may smell fruity.

Cataracts and blindness

Cataracts are more likely to form in dogs with poorly managed diabetes, due to the way glucose is metabolized in the eye lens. As cataracts progress, they can lead to partial or complete blindness. But cataract removal surgery may be able to restore your dog's sight.

If you suspect your dog may have diabetes or has been diagnosed with diabetes and it is getting worse, make an appointment with your veterinarian to find out how to best care for your furry friend.

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Expert Reviewer

Dr. Kathy Wentworth, V.M.D.

Dr. Kathy Wentworth was the Medical Director of the VCA PetPoint Medical Center and Resort, located in Irvine, California. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine and became board-certified as a Diplomate in Canine and Feline Practice by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in 2010.

Author Bio

Susan Paretts is a freelance writer with 19 years of experience covering health and wellness, pet care and more. Her work has been published by the American Kennel Club, Bayer Animal Health, Elanco, LIVESTRONG.com, The San Francisco Chronicle, Chewy and more.