Diabetes And Your Pet...what You Need To Know

DIABETES AND YOUR PET

Symptoms of diabetes in dogs and cats may include: excessive drinking & urination (PUPD), loss of appetite, vomiting, dehydration, depression & lethargy, loss of muscles & weakness, weight loss, cataracts and weakness of the back legs. Diabetes is diagnosed with blood and urine tests. There are two ways urine tests indicate diabetes: sugar in the urine or ketones in the urine. Sugar gets into the urine if your pet's blood carries so much sugar that it exceeds the kidneys' ability to hold onto sugar. This is called exceeding the renal glucose threshold. A urine dip stick can identify how much sugar is in the urine, without the pain of drawing blood. A urine dip stick can also identify infections in the urine, which are more likely to occur in diabetic pets because bacteria flourishes in a high-sugar environment. Once a diagnosis is confirmed your doctor at VitalPet will work with you to determine the best treatment options for you and your pet. Call the office to schedule an appointment if you feel your pet might be at risk.