Are you worried that your dog may have diabetes? Do you feel overwhelmed at the idea of caring for your pet while he suffers from this incurable illness? It’s totally normal to feel a little helpless if you suspect that your dog is suffering from dog diabetes. After all, you didn’t go to veterinary school.
I remember long ago when I first learned that one of my dogs suffered from diabetes. I thought euthanizing my dog, Murphy, would be my only option. Thankfully, I was wrong. In fact there are millions of dogs that live long, happy lives with diabetes. You just need to know what your treatment options are.
That’s where I come in. This article will detail three primary dog diabetes treatments so you’ll know what to expect and go into the situation a whole lot more prepared. Take a deep breath. The situation isn’t as bad as you may initially think…
Dog diabetes IS unfortunately incurable. But that doesn’t mean it’s a death sentence for your dog. As I said, many dogs live relatively normal and VERY happy lives with diabetes. Don’t be mistaken though. It’s not a carefree kind of problem. It does take some hard word on your part.
Keeping a dog with diabetes will take some commitment on your part and it may be a bit more work than you realize. That said, the benefit of your dog’s love is immeasurable – so take a moment to hear these dog diabetes treatment options and then weigh out your course of action.
The most common type of Diabetes found in dogs is Diabetes Mellitus. It’s a disease of the endocrine system and it’s caused by a deficiency of insulin. You may notice your dog starting to go to the bathroom more or perhaps lose weight. Those are the most common symptoms.
Insulin Injections: Having a set schedule where you give your dog insulin injections is one option. There are no oral medications available to treat dog diabetes. Your vet will show you how to perform this treatment. Stick with the schedule he or she provides.
Monitoring Blood Sugar: Everyday you’ll need to monitor your dog’s blood sugar. This will take place once a day. You’ll use urine strips that you can buy from the drugstore. Again, stick to a scheduled time of day. The strips will indicate if your dog is getting too much or too little insulin so you can adjust accordingly. His diet should stay fairly stable so once you’ve got the proper insulin dosage down, these strips should give you the same results everyday.
Diet & Exercise: Your dog will need to get a moderate amount of diet and exercise to stay fit and use the food that he does ingest. It’s possible that obesity led him to diabetes in the first place. For this reason, monitoring his weight is a must. His diet will consist of a high protein, low fat mix. Your vet will recommend a specific formula.