Diabetes
mellitus is a condition that usually
develops because of a lack of insulin.
Insulin is
a hormone the body needs to help it use
blood
sugar. A shortage of insulin is usually the
result
of damage to the pancreas.
A pet with diabetes can show a wide range of
signs. The longer the disease is untreated,
the
more complications result, including
cataracts in
the eyes. There is no cure, but pets with
diabetes
can live longer with proper nutrition,
exercise and
insulin injections.
CAUSES OF DIABETES MELLITUS
Factors that can cause or increase the risk
of
diabetes include:
-
Breed
-
Some dogs, such as Samoyeds,
Miniature Schnauzers, Miniature Poodles and
Pugs are predisposed to diabetes. In cats,
no
breeds are more at risk than others.
-
Gender -
In dogs, diabetes is at least twice as
common in females. In cats, neutered males
are at greater risk.
-
Body Condition
-
Overweight pets have a
greater tendency to develop diabetes.
-
Body
-
Pets can develop diabetes at any age,
although the peak onset is around the age
of eight.
-
Hormonal Changes
-
Short-term hormonal
changes can cause diabetes.
SIGNS OF DIABETES MELLITUS
A cat or dog with diabetes mellitus could
exhibit some or all of the following
symptoms:
·
Weakness
·
Increased thirst
·
Increased
and frequent urination
·
Weight loss
·
Change in appetite; initially increases
and later declines
·
Depression
·
Vomiting
·
Cataracts (in dogs), causing blindness
HOME CARE
-
If additional signs of illness appear,
contact your veterinarian.
-
Feed only the food recommended
by your veterinarian.
-
Follow a daily routine, such as regular
meal times, set amounts of food and
consistent levels of daily exercise.
-
If giving insulin, make sure you set
regular times for injections.
-
Provide free access to fresh, clean
water.
-
Diabetes requires regular, careful
monitoring, so make sure you keep
appointments with your
veterinarian.
FEEDING RECOMMENDATIONS
In addition to exercise and, possibly,
insulin injections, your veterinarian
may recommend a food with moderate
to high levels of fiber and a consistent
nutrient profile. Consistency is important
to help keep your pet's metabolism
level for better health. The nutritional
profile of
many commercial foods varies from batch to
batch, which can
complicate
Prescription Diet® Canine w/d® and Feline
w/d®
are specifically formulated as nutritional
aids for pets with diabetes mellitus.
Moderately high fiber
helps minimize blood
glucose fluctuation and may decrease insulin
dosage.
Higher levels of L-Carnitine
help the body use
fat effectively.
Prescription Diet® Canine Treats
are low in calories
for dogs on Prescription Diet® Canine w/d®
Providing consistent nutrition is essential
in the
management of diabetes, which is why Hill's'
Prescription Diet' products are made to
strict nutritional
and ingredient profiles.
FEEDING TIPS
-
Follow your veterinarian's directions
when feeding
any
Prescription Diet® therapeutic food.
-
Gradually introduce the new food over a
7-day
period by mixing the new food with the
old.
-
If your pet is reluctant to try a new
food, warm
the canned product to body temperature,
hand
feed or mix the dry food with warm water
(dog food only).
-
Be patient but firm with your pet
-
success
depends on strict adherence to the new
food.
