Diabetes is very commonly seen in dogs and cats. It is sometimes life threatening. But another aspect associated with diabetes is what we are going to discuss in this blog. That is, it causes other diseases to attack and stay for a long time within the diabetic animal. This is because the ability of a diabetic animal to fight diseases decreases, making the pet vulnerable to disease.

Let us see what complications diabetes can cause, especially to your pet dog.

Complications from Diabetes

Diabetes is not only a serious disease on its own, but as we discussed, it causes other diseases in your dog as well. Specifically, it makes a dog more prone to other diseases because the immune system is so weak that the pet finds it difficult to recover from even a minor infection.

Some common complications associated with diabetes are:

Nerve Pain

High amounts of glucose in the blood causes nerves to damage a lot. It’s not always because of diabetes, but diabetes is a major cause.

Sudden tremors, weakness or reluctance to make movement indicates the possibility of this nerve damage called diabetic neuropathy.

Ketoacidosis – A Consequence of Mistreatment of Diabetes

Diabetic management can sometimes be very hectic to people as it demands a number of tasks to be carried out every day. A diabetic pet needs insulin injections, glucose monitoring, exercise, a planned diet, etc., all in a disciplined and organized manner. Any mishandling on the part of the pet owner, or even the veterinarian, can cause a dog to develop a serious condition called ketoacidosis. This condition occurs when the pet breaks down its own essential fats and even muscle to provide itself with energy due to the improper handling of the body’s glucose. This breakdown causes the formation of ketones, which can also bring hyperglycemia – a dangerously high concentration of glucose in blood.

Ketoacidosis is usually quick with its symptoms and vividly indicates its presence. Muscles unable to exert force, increased thirst, hunger, and frequent calls of nature are some common symptoms of ketoacidosis, how to test blood sugar in dogs.

Cataracts

Diabetes disturbs the proportion of glucose not only in the blood, but also in other body fluids, including the ones which fill the eyes. Cataracts are cloudy formations that develop over the lenses of the eyes. This formation blocks the light from entering and reaching the retina. Since no light gets in, the ultimate consequence of this condition is blindness.

Cataracts are usually not painful but they irritate a dog a lot as they gradually grow and block the vision. However, sometimes slight inflammation and redness may cause discomfort to the suffering animal.

Bacterial Infections

There are many effects of diabetes within a dog’s body. However, as the disease is brought under control, the effects are minimized and the condition of the dog improves. One potential risk to a diabetic dog is an increased vulnerability to bacterial infections. Bacteria, which feed on glucose, take more time and really intelligent treatment to be eradicated completely.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye condition which most often occurs genetically. Glaucoma takes a long time before showing signs clearly. Though the actual reason for this condition is pressure on the optic nerve due to reasons like bad drainage of eye fluids, it may also occur due to cataracts, which is secondary to diabetes. The formation of cataracts presses the optic nerve back in the eye and damages it badly, resulting in the painful condition of glaucoma.

Diabetes demands a lot of care and attention to be kept in control. You must see a veterinarian regularly to avoid any sudden situations. But the good thing is, a diabetic pet can be managed and monitored at home with ease – courtesy of medical science. Devices like a blood glucose monitoring system and insulin injectors make a pet owner’s life easy to handle their diabetes stricken pet. The effort of carrying out day to day tasks to take care of your pet cuts in half and treatment becomes more effective.

How do you use a blood glucose monitoring system?

A blood glucose monitoring system is a device used to calculate the glucose level in blood. A number of brands are available in the market, which are almost all the same to use, but choosing one should not be taken too casually. Some devices may not be very accurate with the reading, or some are confusing to use. Therefore, the best option is to ask a veterinarian about purchasing one. They would guide you with a number of things from cost to using the device.

How to Use:

First, you must make sure that the dog is quiet and calm, or it may create a mess later. Then follow a few simple steps as follow:

• Arrange a test strip in the glucometer after turning it on.

• Take a blood sample from the dog (you can take a sample from the dog’s ear or from under the lip flap).

• Find a clear spot, and prick quickly with a lancet.

• As soon as a drop of blood comes out, collect it on a test strip.

• The glucometer will show you the result on screen. Note the results and keep a proper record of it.

Conclusion

Diabetes may be easy to control when it is under control, but it may ultimately lead to many complications which can trouble a dog a lot. It would never be advised to take diabetes casually or delay the treatment when the dog apparently looks to be doing well. Regular monitoring, check-ups, exercise and a balanced-diet are crucial for a dog to survive and have a long healthy life. Diabetes may lead to such complications, however it’s not the only cause of them. There can be other reasons behind those diseases, or they may occur genetically as well.