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November 2015 | Read this issue and more at www.healthandwellnessmagazine.net |
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Diagnosing Diabetes
To diagnose diabetes, veterinarians
take a fasting blood sugar (blood glucose) level. If this level is consistently
elevated and your pet also has glucose
present in the urine (which is due to
a spillover from too much glucose in
the blood), this is suggestive of diabetes. Sometimes cats can get elevated
blood sugar just from the stress of
being in the vet clinic, so we have to
look at glucose present in the urine in
addition to the blood sugar.
Diabetes Treatment
PET HEALTH
Diabetes in Pets
Our furry friends are susceptible to this disease, too
By Dr. Addie Reinhard, Veterinarian, Village Animal Hospital
Diabetes is a disease that not only
affects humans; it can also affect dogs
and cats. This article will discuss
symptoms, diagnosis, treatment,
monitoring and prognosis of diabetes
in dogs and cats.
Symptoms Of
Diabetes
• Eating a lot more than normal.
• Weight loss.
The most common signs of diabetes in pets are:
• Drinking more water.
• Peeing a lot more than previously.
Other symptoms include:
• Sudden blindness in dogs (due to
cataract formation).
• Lethargy and less interaction.
Working with animals requires
patience, understanding, and,
above all, compassion; both for
the animal and for
their owners
FREE NEW PATIENT EXAMS
(859) 252-4917
www.villageanimalhospital.net
1801 Alexandria Dr., Suite 180 • Lexington, KY 40504
Once your pet is diagnosed with
diabetes, we then manage the disease
with the goal of eliminating your
pet’s symptoms. Diabetes treatment
involves giving insulin, promoting
exercise, treating concurrent diseases
and promoting weight loss if the animal is overweight.
There are many different types of
insulin we can use for pets. Your veterinarian will decide how much and
what type of insulin will be best for
your pet. Typically, insulin is given
as a shot under the skin twice daily
around the same time every day.
Daily exercise has been proven
to lower the insulin needed, so it is
important in the control of diabetes.
Dogs and cats that are overweight
w