Diabetes mellitus (DM)

Any time your pet is drinking and eating too much while at the same time appearing to lose weight, Diabetes mellitus or “sugar diabetes” is one of the conditions suspected.

Urinary accidents in the house when the pet has long been house-trained or a soaking wet litter box are also likely to be seen with this metabolic imbalance. Diagnosis of DM is easily done by performing a routine blood panel, urinalysis and a fructosamine level, a special test determining how your pet has been regulating its blood glucose level over the past 2-3 weeks.

The findings contained within the lab results will determine if your pet will be able to be managed as an outpatient or best served with round the clock critical care to be stabilized.  Once diagnosed, dogs and cats are placed on a regimen of insulin administration and a special diet for optimum regulation of your pet’s DM.

Follow up care is very important in the first few weeks-months and any time your pet’s insulin or dosage changes.  DM is a treatable disease but not a curable one.  Your pet will require you to stay on schedule with insulin administration and regular checkups for the rest of their lives. Contact the staff at Piney Creek Square Integrative Veterinary Medicine is you feel your pet is exhibiting signs of DM.

Additional information regarding this condition can be found at the following links:

• Diabetes Mellitus Center
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Feline Diabetes
• Pet Owner Resources
• Diabetes Mellitus – Nutritional Management
• Iggy – Living with Diabetes