Watching your pets for diabetes symptoms

This was my Scooter, who developed secondary diabetes from original pancreatitis. She left me after developing Cushings and Congestive Heart Failure, all complications from the original pancreatitis.



Adapted from a newsletter from American Diabetes Wholesale, by Dr. Gary Edelson, DVM

My cat, Tiger, has been drinking a lot of water and losing weight. My veterinarian diagnosed diabetes, but what does this mean?

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common endocrine diseases of dogs and cats. To better understand the disease process, let's review the normal metabolism of an animal. The body's cells need energy in the form of glucose, a sugar, which is delivered by the bloodstream. Unless the hormone insulin is present, the body cannot absorb the glucose to use as energy. The pancreas, an organ that is located next to the stomach and small intestine, produces insulin into the bloodstream to regulate blood sugar. In addition to secreting insulin, the pancreas secretes digestive enzymes into the small intestine to aid in digestion.

Insulin acts like a key to “unlock” the cell so glucose can enter from the blood. Inside the cell, glucose is either used for energy immediately or stored for future use in the form of glycogen. Without the key (insulin) to unlock the cell, glucose builds up in the bloodstream, resulting in too much glucose (hyperglycemia) in the blood, which causes problems.

When the glucose is about double the normal value in the blood, the kidneys cannot process it properly and the level increases in the urine (glucosuria). Glucose in the urine leads to increased production of urine (polyuria) as water is drawn out with the glucose, and consequently more water consumption (polydypsia) results. In addition, an increased appetite results as the sugar present in their blood cannot be utilized without being unlocked by the key - insulin. As time goes on, the body uses protein, starch and fat for energy. When diabetes is left undiagnosed, ketones, a waste product, accumulates leading to vomiting, dehydration and depression. The disease can ultimately progress to coma and death if untreated.

Diabetes mellitus is a classic disease in humans and has been classified into two main forms: type I (juvenile, insulin dependant) and type II (adult, non-insulin dependant). With type I diabetes, there is no insulin (key) production by the pancreas. With type II diabetes, the shape of the lock and key is different, so even though the insulin is present, it cannot be utilized. Nearly all dogs have type I diabetes, whereas their feline counterparts are mostly type II diabetic.

The cause of diabetes in dogs and cats is multifactorial. In dogs, there maybe a genetic predisposition where German Shepherd dogs, Schnauzers, Beagles and Poodles have an increased risk. Golden Retrievers and Keeshonds are most predisposed to developing type I. Middle aged (6-9 years old), female dogs are more likely to develop diabetes. In contrast, male cats that have been neutered (fixed) over 6 years old are predisposed.

The four main clinical signs of diabetes are excessive drinking, urinating, eating and increased weight loss despite an increased appetite. If any of the signs above are recognized in your four-legged friend, contact your veterinarian immediately as it may be a sign of a serious illness.

One other thing I would like to point out, is that in the case of most cats, as the Dr stated, it is multifactorial, meaning there are several other endocrine or gastrointestinal diseases that can trigger diabetes. I do not personally agree with the statistic on neutered male cats being more predisposed than others. It can happen to any cat.

There are several theories concerning the onset of diabetes in our pets. One is the feeding of commercial pet foods that are actually inappropriate for your pet, this can cause triad's disease, or pancreatitis. Feeding too many or rancid fats, people food, etc. can bring on these also. Other diseases can create secondary problems like diabetes, this can also be Acromealgy, Cushings, and several others. In our pets, their systems are smaller and the digestive tract is shorter than ours, so say they have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), this can travel up the ducts to affect the pancreas and liver.  Diet plays a very big role for our pet's health as Dr. Pierson notes below.

Dr. Lisa Pierson, DVM  points out these facts:

Diabetes is one of the most common feline endocrine diseases and, while we do  not know all of the causes of this complex disease, we do know that many diabetic cats cease needing insulin or have their insulin needs significantly decrease once their dietary carbohydrate level is decreased to a more species-inappropriate level than that found in many commercial foods. 

Although all dry foods are too high in carbohydrates, please be aware that many canned foods also contain far too many carbohydrates making them very poor choices for cats.

Feeding a diabetic cat a high carbohydrate diet is analogous to pouring gasoline on a fire and wondering why you can't put the fire out. 

Cats are obligate carnivores and are not designed by nature to consume a high carbohydrate diet.

Dogs aren't necessarily obligate carnivores, but the main make up of their diet should be a good quality meat base. Dogs have a very hard time digesting corn and wheat. Rice is tolerated, but grains aren't the best for them either. I mean come on, how many dogs, or cats for that matter, do you see out hunting grain? Yes they may eat grass, but then that isn't a grain, it is the leaf and thereby could be considered a vegetable.  And usually eating grass is to help them purge their stomachs, and leave you a wonderful vomit puddle where you really don't want it. Be sensible, their teeth are built for meat eating, not grain eating.

I will keep saying it over an over, the first 3 minimum ingredients in your pet's diet should be meat and meat broth, not meal or by products, and if there is to be a grain, it should be rice and it should be lower on the list.

So, getting back to the original topic, also watch your pet for excessive vomiting, and very liquid loose stools that may be smelly or have some blood in them, this can be a sign of pancreatitis and IBD, which can lead to diabetes. On the urination bit, if the urine smells sweet, or is sticky, then you know you have sugar in the urine. And any dramatic weight loss despite the amount of food you feed (diabetic pets can't get enough to eat) is a cause for alarm, and they should go to the vet immediately.