Diabetes mellitus is a common lifelong endocrine disease in dogs, resulting from a deficiency of insulin. It requires ongoing treatment, dietary management, and careful monitoring. At Portland Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Care (PVESC), our internal medicine specialists work closely with you and your primary veterinarian to help your dog live a full and comfortable life despite diabetes.
What Is Canine Diabetes?
- Dogs with diabetes can’t produce enough insulin (or their body can’t use it properly), which results in elevated blood glucose (sugar) levels. A normal blood glucose range in dogs is about 70–120 mg/dL. pvesc.com
- Untreated, high glucose levels may lead to serious complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis or cataracts. pvesc.com
Treatment Goals
When we manage a diabetic dog, our aims are:
- Improve clinical signs: reduce excessive thirst, frequent urination, regain stable appetite and weight.
- Prevent emergencies (like ketoacidosis).
- Minimize long-term complications, including cataract formation.
- Achieve blood glucose readings in a safer range. Generally, for treated diabetic dogs, the aim is a blood glucose between 60–300 mg/dL, with a daily average under 250 mg/dL. pvesc.com
Key Components of Management
Here are the core areas we focus on in treating canine diabetes:
- Insulin Therapy
- Insulin injections are essential and very well tolerated by most dogs. pvesc.com
- We’ll choose the type of insulin that works best for your dog’s lifestyle, overall health, and how well they respond.
- Proper storage, injection technique, dose adjustments, and consistency are critical.
- Diet & Nutrition
- A prescription diet tailored to diabetic dogs helps regulate blood sugar.
- The right balance of nutrients can help slow blood sugar spikes after eating.
- Consistency in meal timing and portion size supports better control.
- Glucose Monitoring
- Regular monitoring is very important. This can be done at home (with appropriate devices) or by performing glucose curves in a clinical setting.
- Tracking clinical signs (e.g., thirst, urination, appetite, weight changes) is also key.
- The data collected helps us fine-tune insulin dosing and adjust the treatment plan.
- Handling Complications
Even with good management, complications can occur. These may include:- Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) — a serious, possibly life-threatening emergency if untreated or improperly managed.
- Cataracts — elevated glucose may lead to opacity of the lens, affecting vision.
- Risk of hypoglycemia (too much insulin) if dosing is incorrect or meals are missed.
We keep a close eye on your dog’s health to catch these early and intervene.
Our Approach at PVESC
- Specialist care: Our internal medicine team has experience in diagnosing, treating, and managing canine endocrine disorders.
- Tailored plans: Each dog’s treatment plan (insulin type/dose, feeding schedule, monitoring) is individualized based on their health, environment, and response.
- Collaborative care: We coordinate with your primary veterinarian so that everyone is working together.
- Long-term support: Diabetes requires ongoing follow-ups and possible treatment adjustments. We guide you through this process and help you recognize when things change.
What You Can Do at Home
- Administer insulin as prescribed, by the method shown by the veterinary team.
- Feed on a consistent schedule and portion the correct amounts.
- Monitor drinking, urination, appetite, weight, and activity.
- If you’re using home glucose monitoring, keep a log of readings.
- Contact us (or your primary vet) if you observe signs like vomiting, lethargy, tremors, collapse, or anything unusual. These may signal hypoglycemia, DKA, or other emergencies.
When to Seek Veterinary Help Immediately
Reach out right away if your dog:
- Shows weakness, collapse, or seizures.
- Stops eating or becomes very lethargic.
- Has persistent vomiting or diarrhea.
- Shows signs of dehydration.
These may indicate serious complications needing urgent care.
Contact & Getting Started
If you believe your dog has diabetes or has been diagnosed and you need help managing it, we’re here for you.