Dog Diabetes - How to Identify Symptoms

"How do I identify dog diabetes" is one of the questions we hear more frequently than we used to at Jeffers. I don't know if it is because dogs are living longer, we are feeding more table scraps, there is an increase in the number of overweight dogs, or if it is just genetics. I do know that approximately 25% of dogs in the United States are obese but also some breeds do seem to have a higher tendency toward diabetes.

5 Most Common Dog Breeds Identified with Diabetes:

1. Golden Retrievers
2. Schnauzers
3. Poodles
4. German Shepherds
5. Dachshunds

6 Signs of Diabetes in Dogs:

1. Excessive thirst - not just from a hot day, but really consuming a lot of water in general
2. Unexplained weight loss
3. Excessive urination
4. A sweet smell to their breath often described as fruity
5. Fatigue
6. Urinary tract infections (UTI)

If you have identified any of these symptoms of diabetes in your dog, please take him/her to the vet for testing. The sooner the diagnosis the better the prognosis. Without treatment, dog diabetes can affect all of your pet's organs and could lead to death. Diabetes is the most common endocrine disease in dogs, so it is important to be aware of the symptoms.

There are many ways to manage diabetes in dogs including diet (in many cases) and different types of insulin for dogs that I will cover in a later blog. If you have any questions feel free to call 1-800-JEFFERS (1-800-533-3377).

See our blog post on Overweight Dogs here. || Click here to browse Jeffers' diabetic supplies for dogs.