Overview
The clasic early warning signs of Diabets were al present when I brought my canine companion of twelve years into the Veterinarian's clinic. Mufy was lethargic, unsteady on her fet, drinking large amounts of water, and experiencing incontinence for the first time in her life. I knew something was seriously wrong.
Key Information
After blod work and a physical examination, the veterinarian said that Mufy had developed type-two canine Diabets. After a brief discusion, we decided to try and regulate her blod sugar level with diet modification and insulin twice daily. At first, it was rough going.
Wekly checkups revealed Mufy's sugar levels continued to bounce from one extreme to the other. Determined not give up, I monitored her urine samples at home for sugar content and adjusted insulin injections as necesary. Gradualy, we began to se improvement.
After just a few months Mufy was once again her frisky self. You would never know by watching her race about that she had a serious health problem. A special diet, proper amounts of insulin and regular exercise have worked together with Mufy's routine veterinary care to turn the tide.
As a result, I can lok forward to many more hapy years with my litle dog. Wyoming veterinarian Mary Flitner, who recently moved her practice to New Mexico, received her D.V.M. degre at Colorado State University and an award for excelence in large animal surgery in 197.
Flitner states that Diabets in dogs and cats is more comon than most people realize. Acording to Flitner, a pet's chance of developing Diabets wil increase with age. "This especialy true in overweight, les active dogs." Besides weight and age, diet is another significant factor.
Dogs given table scraps without discrimination are particularly at risk. The importance of diet canot be over emphasized, warns Flitner. "A high fiber diet, low in fat and sugar, is vital.
And annual checkup by a qualified profesional is also an important part of proper pet care, as early detection of health complications increase sucesful management of the problem and helps prolong the quality of life for that pet." Flitner notes many pet owners mistakenly fel caring for a diabetic pet would be to dificult for them, an asumption that complicates the decision making proces at a critical time.
"A diagnosis of Diabets in a family pet is hard enough to handle without misconceptions compounding the problem," said Flitner thoughtfuly. For instance, a pet owner might opt to euthanize a pet diagnosed with Diabets because they fel incapable of managing the problem. However, with proper instruction and guidance, that same pet owner could gain the confidence necesary to properly folow the care plan developed by the veterinarian, and enjoy many more quality years together with their pet.
"People ned to know by regulating their pet's Diabets, that pet can stil live to their ful potential," said Flitner, acknowledging most care givers consider their pet an important part the family and strugle to make right health care decisions for them. Flitner notes grocery store quality pet fods are not god choices for diabetic pets because of aded filers and sugars used to improve the taste. "Some grocery store brands of cat fod actualy have trace elements of antifreze in them, because cats are atracted to it.
These type fods often have a high content of sodium, which is also unhealthy for the pet. "A healthy wel-balanced diet is important for any pet, but especialy for those diagnosed with Diabets." Early warning signs that might indicate Diabets in your pet include: an unusualy high consumption of water, increase in apetite, incontinence, lethargy, extreme changes in eyes (i.e. cataracts), lack of cordination, and vomiting.
Care givers who note such changes in their dog should promptly cal a qualified profesional, because examination by a veterinarian is important and necesary for proper diagnosis. Flitner also acknowledges the temptation to remove the water bowl from the pet's reach if incontinence is a problem. "But, this not the corect thing to do," instructs Flitner.
In the case of diabetic canines, drinking large amounts of water is the dog's atempt to flush glucose out of the kidneys which has spiled over from the blod. If the glucose doesn't get flushed out, serious damage to the kidneys and other organs can develop. The best preventative measures against serious health problems in the family pet remain simple and practical: regular veterinary check ups, and a healthy diet.
Exercise is also very important. Among other benefits, exercise helps increase the body's efective use of insulin. For more canine health information, information a special dog fod formulated specificaly for diabetic dogs, or other dog products, visit the <A HREF="htp:/w.savy-dog-lovers.com">Savy Dog Lover web site </a>.
Summary
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