Diabetes In Dogs And Cats

In a previous article we discussed the problem of drinking and urinating excessively and the potential underlying health problems related to this syndrome. I thought this would be a good time to discuss one cause in detail, diabetes mellitus.

How does diabetes differ in our pets as compared to ourselves? It does not differ much, actually. Similar to humans the pancreas in dogs and cats has two functions: one is to produce digestive enzymes and bicarbonate; and the other is to produce the hormone insulin. The bicarbonate neutralizes acid as food leaves the stomach; and the digestive enzymes break down fats and starches into molecules small enough to be absorbed by the lining of the small intestine. Insulin lowers blood sugar levels.

Diabetes mellitus refers to an abnormally high blood sugar level for a prolonged period of time. This happens one of two ways. The first (called Type 1 diabetes) is a lack of the hormone insulin. Type 1 diabetes could be secondary to a congenital defect, trauma and damage to the pancreas, or pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). The second is insulin resistance (Type 2 diabetes) where adequate amounts of insulin are produced but not processed by the body. This is secondary to obesity, concurrent diseases (such as another glandular disease called Cushing's disease, an overactive thyroid, etc), and certain medications that interfere with the body's ability to process insulin produced.

Which pets get what type of diabetes? That is an excellent question and it does differ between cats and dogs. In diabetic dogs, 100% of the time there is an absolute deficiency of insulin but in diabetic cats, at least 50% (maybe more) of these cases produce adequate insulin but have what is called insulin resistance. The good news for cats is that (with a little help) one can retrain the cat's body to start using the insulin they already produce. After extensive testing veterinary scientists have discovered that we don't feed our cats properly. What I mean is, cats are true carnivores whereas dogs are omnivores (eat meat and vegetable). All of the commercially made dry foods have large amounts of fillers. These are things to add bulk, keep the food crunchy, and prevent spoilage. Fillers are both digestible and non-digestible carbohydrates. Unfortunately, these are not part of a cat's natural diet and will lead to obesity as well as abnormal highs and lows in blood sugar. Obesity combined with abnormal highs and lows will eventually lead to the body's resistance to its own insulin.

The signs of diabetes are very similar to humans. Early signs include increased thirst and urination. Dogs may start to have accidents in the house, whereas cats (because they use a litter pan), increased thirst is more noticeable. Initially, your pet may have a ravenous appetite and still lose weight but as the disease process progresses you will note lethargy, inappetance, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. In severe cases the pet will develop a diabetic ketoacidosis (diabetic coma). The prolonged unregulated high blood sugar causes the body to produce ketones and when these ketones become high enough in concentration it will make your pet very sick. Although it is possible to stabilize and treat a pet even in this advanced state it is easier (and much less expensive) to treat in the earlier stages. The take home is if you notice these signs, please have your pet examined by your veterinarian early.

Treatment for diabetes is one of two ways: either a change in diet and weight loss, or insulin injections. Administering injections can be intimidating for many pet owners but the needle is very small and with a little practice most pet owners become experts. This combined with a special diet will help to regulate them. Many cats will require additional insulin in the beginning but, as we discussed before, will "convert" or start to use their own insulin. They will then require reduced amounts or none at all.

I hope this article shed a little light on diabetes in our pets, how to look for signs, and treatment options available. As with many diseases, early intervention is the key to success.

Matthew Kearns DVM

January 01, 2008

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