To date, there is not cure for diabetes in dogs, but it can be managed well if caught at an early stage. There  are a few common symptoms to look for when dealing with dog diabetes. Dog diabetes usually surfaces between the ages of 7 and 9. About one out of every ten dogs will suffer from diabetes.

Diabetes is when the pancreas cannot produce enough natural insulin to prevent glucose levels from rising in your dog’s system. If the levels of glucose get too high, they will leak into the kidneys and cause infections and eventually lead to other internal problems.

Symptoms

There are a number of symptoms to keep an eye out for when dealing with diabetes. The most obvious symptoms include:

- Frequent urination

- Excessive water consumption

- Lethargy and lack of energy

- Cataract formation

- Weight loss or gain

The most common symptoms are frequent urination and excessive water consumption. This is because excess glucose in the body cannot process normally in the bloodstream. Your dog’s body will then try to rid the glucose through urination. This in turn causes extreme thirst, which starts the vicious process all over again.

Treatment of Dog Diabetes

Spaying Females.

Female dogs are more susceptible to diabetes than males. Lots of owners choose to spay their dogs to help balance hormone levels.

Insulin shots.

When your dog has diabetes, his natural production of insulin from the pancreas is low. Insulin shots are given and need to be monitored properly to avoid a low blood sugar crisis.

Diet.

Diet is extremely important for diabetic dogs. A good diet is beneficial because it decreases your dog’s dependency on insulin, controls sugar and carbohydrate levels, and helps your dog to lose weight.

 
Exercise.

It is important to keep your dog active during diabetes. This will help maintain weight and keep diabetes under control.

Always take your dog to the veterinarian if you suspect he may have diabetes. Diabetes can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis and organ failure if left untreated. Once diabetes has been diagnosed in your dog, it’s time to begin treatment. It is important to follow a strict treatment plan to best suit your dog’s case of diabetes. Treatments are different for each dog. Talk to your veterinarian about the best options for your dog’s specific case of diabetes.

Zoonoses are diseases or infections transmitted from animals to humans. The risk for transmission of zoonotic agents by close contact between pets and their owners through bed sharing, kissing or licking is real and has even been documented for life-threatening infections such as plague, internal parasites and other serious diseases.

This is not only limited to dogs. Cats are also dangerous. In fact, studies show that diseases from cats are far more prevalent and much more serious. The number of cats snuggling up with their owner is far greater, which may explain the larger number of people acquiring feline-spawned diseases.

There is a lot of empirical evidence that shows that contact with pets can help the physically disabled and mentally challenged. But there is a price to be paid for this. The risk of getting sick from being close with your pets is real, but most of the diseases they pass on to humans can be identified and eliminated by regular veterinary care.

This regular de-worming including puppies and pregnant bitches will minimize infestation of your dog and prevent infection to humans.

Make sure that you maintain a hygienic environment by regularly removing faeces and disposing them properly in sealed bags off your property. Most important is to remember to wash your hands after handling your pet and before eating. make sure you teach this important tip to your children as they tend to forget and are very vulnerable.

Rabies: It is a very uncommon disease with domesticated dogs, but is very fatal to humans. Rabies can be contracted from dogs that have not been vaccinated. If you get bitten by a dog, then get an anti rabies shot if you are not sure whether the dog that bit you has had its rabies shot.

Internal Parasites: Tapeworms, hookworms and roundworms can be contracted from an infected dog. You need to avoid contact from dog saliva and feces which can contain worm larvae and eggs.

Fungal Infections: Ringworm is the main fungal infection that can be transmitted to a human. It is caused by a fungus and symptoms for humans can be itchiness, skin rashes and nail infections. The infection can be contracted by touching an infected dog or feces.

Leptospirosis: This is a bacterial infection that is found in the dog’s urine, and can cause severe internal damage to humans.

Always wash your hands after playing with your dog, and handle his urine and feces with gloves. All dogs, no matter how careful the environment they are in, are easily susceptible to infections.

In winter, the fur becomes dry due to the cold dry air, and as we humans apply dry skin lotion, dogs who are constantly scratching, biting and licking their fur, are probably victims of the dry skin. When this happens, there will be red marks around the body of your dog. He or she will be concentrating on those spots, probably making them worse by constantly scratching and biting at those areas.

Keep alert for this, especially if your dog is continuously doing the above. Immediately take your dog to the vet for treatment.

It is important that you regularly give your dog a bath with a mild moisturizing shampoo that gives body to the coat. Moisture in the shampoo will help heal the dry spots, remove fleas and reduces itchiness in your dog’s skin

What Are the Symptoms of Canine Hip Dysplasia?

The symptoms of CHD depend on the severity of the dysplasia. Another factor is the whether or not degenerative joint disease (DJD) is present. Dogs less than 1 year old have a tendency to have periods of acute bilateral (or unilateral) lameness in their rear legs.

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Diabetes mellitus, the medical name for diabetes, is a disease caused by a lack of insulin, or the inability of the body to utilize the insulin properly, that affects the level of glucose, or sugar, in your dog or cat’s blood. The glucose comes from the food that your pet eats. The food is broken down into very small components by the pet’s digestive system so their bodies can use it for energy. Glucose is one of these components, and an important source of energy.

Glucose is absorbed from the intestines into the bloodstream where it travels to cells throughout the body. Insulin is required for the cells to absorb glucose. Insulin is produced by the pancreas in response to the amount of glucose in the bloodstream. Healthy pets produce insulin easily, but pets with diabetes don’t. In canine and feline diabetes, unused glucose builds up in the bloodstream.

Is diabetes in my pet the same as diabetes in people?

The two conditions are very similar. In fact, your veterinarian will be using medication, equipment, and monitoring systems that are similar to those used for diabetic people.

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Cats and dogs are the favorite nesting grounds of four principal groups of worms and a few species of microscopic protozoa. The four worms are roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, and whipworms. Among the protozoa are coccidia, toxoplasma, giardia, and ameba.

Proper identification is vital. Unfortunately, in the case of parasites, identification isn’t always easy because adult worms release their eggs sporadically. Knowing exactly what the problem is, is the first step in finding a solution.

It’s very important to bring your pet’s fecal sample (bowel movement) to your veterinarian as often as requested up to one year of age. Collect fresh fecal sample within 12 hours of an examination. It is also very important to keep the samples cool or refrigerated. A microscopic examination of the fecal sample will be performed to identify the worm’s eggs.

An annual fecal check is also good preventive medicine.

Treatment begins once the specific parasites are identified. It’s important to realize that different parasites will require different medications. Your veterinarian can administer the proper treatment for your pet. There are also some new preventive medicines on the market. Check with your veterinarian about whether these are appropriate for your pet.

Tapeworms are of special concern. Tapeworm segments resemble small pieces of rice. They are one of the few parasites that may be seen in a bowel movement or clinging to the hair near your pet’s tail. If you notice these segments, carefully place them in a small container and take them to your veterinarian for positive identification along with a fecal sample. Several types of worms may be involved, and it is important to identify all of them for proper treatment.

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One of the most common conditions veterinarians note in older dogs, which may cause them to snap at their handlers, is degenerative arthritis. Degenerative arthritis is usually caused by the accumulated wear-and-tear on the dog’s joints, and the various structures within them, or as a result of a previous injury to a particular joint.

It can be extremely painful for the animal, particularly when the dog has had an unusually active period of exercise, laid down to rest, and attempts to get up again. Watch your dog carefully to see if it shows any signs of trouble getting up after a nap. Also, watch your pet’s gait and make a note of any stiffness or unusual sluggishness when first rising. Often, the stiffness of arthritis will disappear as muscles and joints warm up.

If you see any warning signs in your older dog, your vet may recommend X-rays to examine the internal structures of joints that may be causing the problem.

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