Diabetes in dogs : Life expectancy

Not only common in human beings, diabetes in dogs is also on the increase. About one out of 500 canines have diabetic disease, according to research conducted on life expectancy of our pets.

by betsyweber under CC BY

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Regardless of the breed or age, any type of dog can be affected with this disease. In addition to the physiological effects of diabetes discussed below, the life expectancy of a diabetic dog would also be reduced due to related illness.

Understanding the disease and knowing the symptoms can make a difference in the long run dogs diabetes treatment outcomes.

Specifically, there are two types of diabetic disease in canines. The first type is diabetes insipidus, which is actually caused by a sudden lack of a specific hormone that controls sugar absorption in the kidneys. The other one is diabetes mellitus, which is caused by a sudden lack of insulin and is similar to what humans would experience. Both diseases are caused by a lack of a certain kind of hormone.

What causes diabetes in dogs

The main causative factor for the dog’s diabetes is a high level of carbohydrates in food. High levels of carbohydrates can cause diabetes and lead to other complications for canines. Many generic brands of pet food products are loaded with additives full of carbs.

Such products are not only loaded with too many carbohydrates but also with addictive sugar sub-products. This unhealthy diet shortens the life cycle of your dog. Of course, the only way to prevent this from happening is to feed your pet healthy foods.

Aside from carbohydrates in the diet, another causative factor for canine diabetes is genetics. Certain breeds tend to have diabetes because their parents have it. Genetic coding not only passes down the physical aspects of adults but also any known sicknesses to their infants.

So, in the case of your pet, his parents might have the genetic precursor that causes diabetic disease. Checking the history of pets would surely be a big help in detecting future diseases, such as determining if he is at risk for diabetes mellitus in dogs.

In checking for diabetic disease in canines, veterinarians usually check for two main factors. The first one is the age of the pet and the second one is the severity of the disease. These are the main components in the prognosis of diabetes in dogs, the course of the disease and life expectancy. The age of the dog and symptoms severity are also used in the determination of what treatment to use.

Usually, pets are given a proper dosage of insulin and a nutritious diet once they are diagnosed with diabetes. Switch your dog to diabetic dog food as soon as possible. Diabetic symptoms can often be reversed with a healthy diet.

Through proper dietary control and nutrition, the diabetes in dogs can be controlled. As a result, life expectancy and total lifespan in your canine will surely increase. Of course, it is the responsibility of the pet owner to prevent diabetic disease by simply lowering the carbohydrate level.

The first step to preventing dog diabetes is by not providing dogs with table scraps or any sugary sweets foods.

Diabetic dog can have a very long life, but your task to put him on a special diet and keep eyes on symptoms.