According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 26 million children and adults in American are living with diabetes and another 79 million at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes. The disease is taking a devastating physical, emotional and financial toll on our country and it is affecting our pets too!
Diabetic pets require special attention and have specific medical needs, but can live healthy, long lives. If your pet has been recently diagnosed as diabetic, don't panic. Here are some information that can help.
Understanding Diabetes
Diabetes results from a decrease in insulin secretion from the beta cells of the pancreas and/or a decrease in insulin action. Insulin is produced by the pancreas, a small organ located in the abdomen. Insulin is made by the pancreatic islet cells (also called the beta cells), then secreted into the blood, where it travels throughout the body and helps regulate blood sugar. Glucose circulates in the blood and is available to all the cells as a source of energy. In order to be used for energy, glucose must get inside the cell. Insulin attaches to receptors on the cell, which in turn allows glucose to pass from the blood into the cell. It's like a key to a door: insulin is the key, and it must attach to the cell before glucose can get through the door and into the cell. Without insulin, glucose can not enter the cell. So the cell is "hungry" even though there are high levels of glucose in the blood.
There are 3 types of diabetes:
Type I: comparable to insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in humans. It results in low insulin concentrations with an impaired ability to secrete insulin after a glucose load. This means after a meal is eaten, the body is unable to put insulin into the blood to match up with glucose. This is the most common form of diabetes in dogs.
Type II: comparable to non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM) in humans. It causes normal to high insulin concentrations with a decreased amount of insulin secreted after a glucose load. In other words, there is usually a high or normal amount of insulin circulating throughout the blood, except after a meal when insulin is needed to bind with glucose. Insulin is not always needed with this type of diabetes.
Type III: usually seen with hormonally-induced diabetes and is similar to impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in humans. Hormones or medications can cause interference with insulin and cause glucose intolerance.
Understanding the difference between cats and dogs:
Cats: The most common causes of diabetes in cats include obesity, pancreatitis and a change in the pancreatic beta cells called amyloidosis. The onset of diabetes is usually middle age.
Dogs: This is most commonly an immune mediated disease with slow destruction of the beta cells. The progression occurs over time and usually 90% of the cells are lost before diabetes occurs. Other causes include genetic predisposition, chronic pancreatitis and medication-induced diabetes.
Breeds that are likely to develop diabetes include German Shepard dogs, Schnauzeers, Beagles, and Poodles. Golden Retrievers and Keshonds are more prone to juvenile diabetes.
Females are three times more likely to develop diabetes than males. Diabetes usually occurs around 6-9 years of age but can start earlier with juvenile diabetes.
What to look for:
Polyuria/Polydpsia (PU?PD): This means excessive urination and excessive thirst. The body eliminates excess blood glucose by filtering it through the kidneys and passing it into the urine. Water must be used to flush this excess glucose out of the body, and this is why you see excessive urine volume in a diabetic. Because so much water is being used to flush the excess glucose out of the body, the animal is thirsty and drinks a lot.
Polyphagia: This means excess hunger. Under these conditions, the body gets signals to start using stored fat and protein as energy sources. A diabetic animal often eats extra food because it is trying to supply its body with additional energy. But the food is not used efficiently, so even though the animal is eating a lot it is still losing weight.
Cataracts: 70% of dogs will develop cataracts in the first year to two years of diabetes. This is rare in cats.
Dropped hocks: Cats may develop a plantigrade stance where they appear to have dropped hind legs. This is directly related to the severity and duration of hyperglycemia. This may or may not improve with treatment.
If your veterinarian suspects that your cat or dog has diabetes, they will need to collect blood for analysis as well as an urine sample. Pets with diabetes also frequently develop urinary tract infections which can make managing the diabetes more difficult.
What is the treatment:
The number one cause of death in diabetic dogs and cats isn't the disease itself, but rather the owner's frustration with the disease. The goals of treatment are to eliminate the clinical signs of diabetes, prevent or slow progression of cataracts, prevent dangerous hypoglycemia, maintaining body weight and prevention of any other illness.
When your pet is diagnosed with diabetes, make sure you and your veterinarian take an appointment to talk about the following topics:
1. How to store insulin
2. How to give insulin
3. What types of food to feed and how often
4. How to recognize signs of hypoglycemia
5. How to react to hypoglycemia
Diet is a big part!
After your cat or dog is diagnosed with diabetes, he or she will need to go to twice-daily meal feeding. The reason for this is to ensure insulin is always given at the same time food is consumed. Your veterinarian will also recommend a specific diet for your pet. Diabetics require a special carbohydrates/fat/protein ratio. There are numerous prescription diets and a few regular brand foods that are appropriate. If you enjoy making your pet's food at home, there are recipes available and your veterinarian should be able to provide you with these.
The dose of insulin that your veterinarian starts your pet on will likely increase over the first year. After starting insulin or changing a dose, blood glucose curves must be obtained to monitor how the glucose levels drop and rise during the day. Your veterinarian will work with you to develop a plan to get your pet controlled. Diabetes is not a simple disease to manage, but once a patient is controlled they can remain well managed for years.
If you have questions or suspect your pet might be diabetic, speak to your veterinarian immediately.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Trick-Or-Treating With Your Pets
It's almost Halloween and this is a fun night for your pet to go out and walk the neighborhood with your family. Here are some tips to help keep your pets safe!
*Make sure everyone can see your dog
Light up collars and reflective materials on your pet are the best way to make sure cars and people can see your dog coming. Most pet stores carry clip on flashing lights that can be attached to the collar also.
*Unfriendly dogs should be left at home
If you know your dog is very protective around strangers or is dog aggressive, please leave him at home. You are putting children, other pets and your dog in danger by taking him in the dark and exposing him to new people and dogs.
*Keep Trick-or-Treat bags out of reach of your dog
Chocolate and candy are great treats for your kids, but not your dog. When walking door-to-door or riding around in a car, make sure the dog cannot reach into a trick-or-treat bag.
*Chose your pet's costume wisely
A mummy is a very cute costume for a Standard Poodle, but if halfway through the night he begins to chew off and swallow parts of the costume, you are going to have a big problem the next day. Pieces of fabric can become trapped in the dog's stomach and not allow anything to pass. A foreign body obstruction requires surgery to remove the material. The same idea is true for costumes with metal pieces which may be fun for the dog to chew on, but don't pass easily through the GI tract if swallowed.
*Choose the right event for your pets to attend
Halloween is a fun night to be shared with friends, family and our four-legged friends. Please choose to bring them to events where they will be well watched. With the distractions of candy, costumes and new people, it is not uncommon for dogs to become lost on Halloween. If your dog does not like new people at the door or the sound of the doorbell, a crate may be the best place for your pet while kids are trick-or-treating. Also, keep in mind that haunted trails where a dog may become spooked or become aggressive out of fear are not appropriate.
I hope these tips help everyone and their dogs have a fun and safe Halloween!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Separation Anxiety- Explained and Discussed
Coming home to a shredded pillow or scratches on the front door might be more than a nuisance, it could be the first sign that your dog is suffering from a medical condition called Separation Anxiety.
What is Separation Anxiety?
Separation anxiety is a physiologic panic attack, outside of your dog's control. It is caused by a hyper-attachment to an individual or other pet. The attack may occur when a pet is left alone or when a particular person leaves. Have you ever been so worried and upset over something you can barely function? This is how your dog feels during separation anxiety.
Do many dogs have Separation Anxiety?
Statistics show that about 20% of dogs are affected. That means one in every 5 dogs you see at the dog park has some degree of separation anxiety.
Why does a dog develop Separation Anxiety?
We often do not know the cause of separation anxiety in dogs and often times they may be anxious in other ways as well. The anxiety related to separation may have started after being boarded at a kennel, after moving to a new home or after a tragic event. Other anxious behaviors include storm phobia or extreme fear of vacuum cleaners.
How do I know if my dog has Separation Anxiety?
Signs can be very mild or very severe. Often times owner's won't know the dog has separation anxiety until the neighbors mention that the dog howls consistently while they are gone. In more severe cases, dogs may destroy furniture or even chew through drywall. For some pets, you don't have to leave to see signs of anxiety. If you can't go to the bathroom without your pet following behind you, you're seeing separation anxiety! A dog that is blocking the door or rushing an owner to the dog is also displaying signs of separation anxiety.
What are the treatments for Separation Anxiety?
Separation anxiety is not a behavioral problem but a physiologic reaction instead. Successful treatment involves teaching the dog to relax when you leave the house, making sure to pair your departure and with pleasurable experiences. It is important to eliminate punishment due to the anxiety. Often times treatment will involve medications to help avoid the panic attack. Some cases involve short term medications while others will require long term medications.
What can you do right now to help with the anxiety?
Your veterinarian may recommend some medications to start your dog on for long term use, but these can take up to 4 weeks to show an effect. In the mean time you can start by hiding all of the triggers that signal your departure to your dog. These often include your purse, keys, or wallet. My dogs know which bag I take when I leave for work and will react differently than when I only pick up my keys. Do not confine your dog to a crate to control anxiety, unless they are already used to it and are comfortable in the crate. Kongs, irresistible toys that are very durable, are great to give dogs before you leave because it can help make leaving a pleasurable experience. One other thing you can do is ignoring your dog for 5 minutes before you leave and waiting until she calms down when you get home. This will help minimize the difference between when you are staying home and when you are leaving.
Can you cure Separation Anxiety?
It is unlikely that you will ever cure separation anxiety in your dog but you can make the situation less stressful over time. It is important to recognize separation anxiety early and speak to your veterinarian about what you can do.
What is Separation Anxiety?
Separation anxiety is a physiologic panic attack, outside of your dog's control. It is caused by a hyper-attachment to an individual or other pet. The attack may occur when a pet is left alone or when a particular person leaves. Have you ever been so worried and upset over something you can barely function? This is how your dog feels during separation anxiety.
Do many dogs have Separation Anxiety?
Statistics show that about 20% of dogs are affected. That means one in every 5 dogs you see at the dog park has some degree of separation anxiety.
Why does a dog develop Separation Anxiety?
We often do not know the cause of separation anxiety in dogs and often times they may be anxious in other ways as well. The anxiety related to separation may have started after being boarded at a kennel, after moving to a new home or after a tragic event. Other anxious behaviors include storm phobia or extreme fear of vacuum cleaners.
How do I know if my dog has Separation Anxiety?
Signs can be very mild or very severe. Often times owner's won't know the dog has separation anxiety until the neighbors mention that the dog howls consistently while they are gone. In more severe cases, dogs may destroy furniture or even chew through drywall. For some pets, you don't have to leave to see signs of anxiety. If you can't go to the bathroom without your pet following behind you, you're seeing separation anxiety! A dog that is blocking the door or rushing an owner to the dog is also displaying signs of separation anxiety.
What are the treatments for Separation Anxiety?
Separation anxiety is not a behavioral problem but a physiologic reaction instead. Successful treatment involves teaching the dog to relax when you leave the house, making sure to pair your departure and with pleasurable experiences. It is important to eliminate punishment due to the anxiety. Often times treatment will involve medications to help avoid the panic attack. Some cases involve short term medications while others will require long term medications.
What can you do right now to help with the anxiety?
Your veterinarian may recommend some medications to start your dog on for long term use, but these can take up to 4 weeks to show an effect. In the mean time you can start by hiding all of the triggers that signal your departure to your dog. These often include your purse, keys, or wallet. My dogs know which bag I take when I leave for work and will react differently than when I only pick up my keys. Do not confine your dog to a crate to control anxiety, unless they are already used to it and are comfortable in the crate. Kongs, irresistible toys that are very durable, are great to give dogs before you leave because it can help make leaving a pleasurable experience. One other thing you can do is ignoring your dog for 5 minutes before you leave and waiting until she calms down when you get home. This will help minimize the difference between when you are staying home and when you are leaving.
Can you cure Separation Anxiety?
It is unlikely that you will ever cure separation anxiety in your dog but you can make the situation less stressful over time. It is important to recognize separation anxiety early and speak to your veterinarian about what you can do.
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