Diabetes Mellitus in Dogs and Cats
Excerpt : All consumed food is eventually converted to sugar, the energy source for every organ in the body and for every cell in every organ. If too much food is consumed, the extra calories can be stored by
All consumed food is eventually converted to sugar, the energy
source for every organ in the body and for every cell in every
organ. If too much food is consumed, the extra calories can be
stored by the body for later conversion to sugar. Sugar is
carried in the blood to all areas of the body, and any cell that
is in need of sugar simply uses the sugar present in the blood.
How do cells move sugar into their interior from the
bloodstream? A substance called insulin, produced by an organ
located in the abdomen (the pancreas), is the key that allows
cells to obtain sugar from the bloodstream. Insulin is necessary
for life.
People, dogs, and cats who do not have insulin have a disease
called diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus is and extremely
common disease in people, dogs, and cats. There are two common
forms of diabetes. The form in which an individual has
absolutely no insulin has several names: insulin-dependent
diabetes mellitus (IDDM), type I diabetes, and juvenile-type
diabetes.
The other form occurs when an individual has insulin but either
does not have
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enough or has a condition that interferes with
insulin function. It has several names: non-insulin-dependent
diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), type II diabetes, adult-onset
diabetes.
Approximately 10 per cent of people with diabetes mellitus have
type I disease and 90 per cent have type II. Approximately 60
per cent of diabetic cats have type I and 40 per cent type II.
Virtually 100 per cent of dogs with diabetes mellitus have type
I disease.
What happens when an individual has diabetes mellitus? Without
sugar constantly being removed from the blood by cells
everywhere in the body, the diabetic person, dog, or cat has
more and more sugar accumulates that it begins to "spill over"
into the urine through the kidneys along with water. Therefore,
diabetics urinate large volumes. In dogs and cats, sometimes the
first thing that an owner observes is that the pet is no longer
"housebroken" or the pet cat begins urinating outside the litter
box. Because the volume of fluid lost into the urine of
diabetics is excessive, they make up for these losses by
drinking more and more
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water.
Because cells throughout the body have lost their access to
sugar, they begin to "starve." Individual cells do not see the
lack of insulin, they see only a lack of energy (sugar).
Therefore, messages are sent out for energy (sugar) and the
diabetic begins to eat more and more. Cells still have no access
to the sugar, so additional messages for energy are sent out and
the body begins to break down fat and muscle for energy (the
components of fat and muscle can be converted to sugar by the
liver). Although it makes sense to create more energy, the body
still cannot use the sugar resulting from this process. The
symptoms common to all diabetics now become obvious: they drink
excessively, urinate excessively, eat excessively, and lose
weight.
When a dog or cat is brought to a veterinarian for any or all of
the symptoms known to be associated with diabetes, the diagnosis
is quite easily made. Testing is necessary, however, because
there are other diseases that cause all or some of the same
symptoms. However, once the diagnosis is made, the real problems
begin.
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Treating diabetes mellitus is not easy. It takes skill by
the veterinarian, commitment by the owner, and some luck.
The cornerstones of treating type II diabetic people include
weight loss, exercise, and changes in diet to increase fiber
content and to decrease simple sugars. If these factors do not
help enough, pills can be given. Use of all these treatments
rarely helps type I diabetic people. Type I diabetic people,
like 100 per cent of diabetic dogs and 80 to 90 per cent of
diabetic cats, require insulin by injection to live. All
diabetic dogs and cats do best with good commercial pet food
given in two equal-sized meals (cats that tend to "graze" all
day should be allowed to continue feeding that way). High-fiber
foods may be of benefit but are not critical.
Unfortunately, although insulin has been available to treat
diabetics for more that 70 years, it must still be given by
injection. Your veterinarian will teach you how to give
injections to your pet. It is understood that this can be quite
intimidating for owners and that your pet will feel the
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needles.
However, once you have done this for a few weeks, you will
become quite competent and your pet will accept the tiny
pinpricks. Don't give up! Your pet can live an extremely healthy
life despite requiring insulin.
There are several different kinds of insulin. Regular (R;
crystalline) insulin is the most potent and the shortest acting;
Ultralente (U) is the least potent and the longest acting;
protamine zinc insulin (PZI) is similar to Ultralente; neutral
protamine Hagedorn (NPH;N) insulin is less potent and longer
acting than regular but more potent and shorter acting that
Ultralente; and Lente (L) is 30 per cent regular and 70 per cent
Ultralente and has effects similar to those of NPH.
One insulin may not work satisfactorily in your pet but another
may work well. It takes time to determine which insulin and
which insulin dose are best for an individual cat or dog.
Whereas most cats and dogs respond best to insulin given twice
daily (do not try to give the insulin exactly every 12 hours; it
is not necessary), some do well with only one injection per
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day.
Remember the most important goal in treating a diabetic dog or
cat: we want the pet to be happy and stable. No diabetic pet
becomes absolutely normal.
Finally, regardless of treatment, virtually 100 per cent of
diabetic dogs (not cats) develop cataracts and become blind
within the first 6 to 24 months; this is inevitable and not a
reflection of the job you have done in treating your pet.
The above is general veterinary information. Do not begin
any course of treatment without consulting your regular
veterinarian. All animals should be examined at least once every
12 months.
About the author:
From the Textbook of Veterinary Internal Information: Client
Information Series. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.
All rights reserved.
Linda Mar Veterinary Hospital and its cat-only affiliate,
Coastal Cat Clinic, are small animal practices located in
Pacifica, California. To find a veterinarian or to learn more
about the vet clinic and our staff,
visit:[http://lindamarvet.com/]
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