Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that could affect animals, especially dogs of any age and breed, and can’t be cured, but there are many creatures that can live with it if they receive special treatment and change their lifestyle. Pet owners who raise an animal that suffers from this disease should know that they have to change their pet’s diet because diabetes often affects their metabolism (which is the process that converts food to energy). 

If you want to prevent this disease, you should take your pet to the vet as often as possible, or at least once a year. Nevertheless, you have to make sure that your pet is healthy and safe even between specialized checkups, so in this sense, you have to be aware of the possible symptoms of diabetes in dogs and notice if your pet is behaving strangely. Of course, these signs shouldn’t replace the consultation and treatment of your veterinarian!

So, here are the most common symptom of diabetes in dogs! Read on for more info!

You notice an increased amount of urine

If you notice that your beloved furry friend asks to get out of the house more often to meet its needs, it may be a sign that your pet could suffer from diabetes.

According to Dr. Jessica Romine, DVM, DACVIM, from BluePearl Pet Hospital in Southfield, Michigan, an increased amount if urine – also known as polyuria – is one of the most common signs of diabetes in dogs. 

In other words, polyuria is a condition where the body produces a higher amount of urine than normal and is one of the main symptoms of diabetes. This condition could lead to severe dehydration – and as an effect – it may adversely affect the kidneys. 

“There is a renal threshold where the kidney can no longer filter glucose fast enough to keep it in the blood, and it leaks into the urine. When this occurs, it pulls water with it, and the dog will begin to urinate more and more,” said Dr. Romine. 

Drinking more water than usual

First of all, drinking plenty of water is fine for your health and thirst, but excessive thirst could be a sign that your dog suffers from polydipsia. Polydipsia also leads to increased urination. This is a vicious cycle because pets that suffer from diabetes will urinate a lot and the more they do this, the more dehydrated and thirstier they will be, and this is why they drink plenty of water. 

“Oftentimes owners will think they are urinating more because they’re drinking more, but it’s actually the other way around,” says Dr. Romine. “As the dog urinates more and more, they will start to become dehydrated, so they drink larger and larger amounts to keep up.”

Your dog is always hungry

Having a ravenous appetite is another symptom of diabetes. According to animal experts, this symptom occurs when the body suffers from an imbalance of insulin. Insulin is an essential hormone made by the pancreas that allows their (and our) body to use sugar from carbohydrates in the food they eat for energy.

So, excessive eating, also known as polyphagia, is a condition caused by an imbalance of insulin and is one of the most important signs of diabetes. “Because of the lack of insulin, they’re hungry all the time. The body can’t perceive that it has glucose, so it thinks that it’s starving, and is always trying to eat,” says Dr. Ellen Behrend, VMD, PhD, DACVIM, the Joezy Griffin Professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine of Auburn University in Alabama.

Your dog is losing weight

Unfortunately, just like humans, pets can develop many health conditions that could lead to weight loss, such as various cancers, gastrointestinal and liver problems, stress or kidney disease. But if your pets lose weight even though they eat normally, then you should take them to the vet as soon as possible, because it could be a sign of diabetes. 

“With insulin not working to get glucose into the brain, heart and other essential organs for energy, the body will start to break down muscle and fat to use those proteins and fat instead, leading to weight loss,” explains Dr. Romine.

You should remember that when you notice certain changes in the behavior or appearance of your pet, you should consult a specialist because your beloved furry friends need special treatments and medications.

Their eyes look cloudy and blurry

More than 80 percent of dogs with diabetes mellitus develop cataracts. How will you know if your dog has cataracts? When they develop this disease, you will notice an opacity in the lens of their eyes and a blurry vision. In some cases, cataracts lead to blindness, but if monitored, it won’t affect your dog’s vision too much. 

Nonetheless, you should be aware that a dog’s lens will become cloudy or gray with age, and in this case, you should go to the vet for an examination. So, dogs that suffer from diabetes are more likely to develop cataracts. 

“When there is a large amount of glucose, a large amount of sorbitol is produced. Sorbitol has a strong pull on water, so water enters the lens and causes distortion of the fibers, blocking light from passing through,” said Dr. Romine. 

“High blood sugar levels alter the metabolism of the cells in the lens and can cause very rapid onset cataracts,” said Dr. Matthew Fife, owner of the Veterinary Ophthalmology Center in Orlando, Florida. 

Cataracts need to be removed surgically, but you have to talk to your vet to find out if it is right for your dog. 

“Because we can see things pop back up after surgery, this option requires a lifelong commitment from the owner,” said Dr. Gwen Sila, a veterinary ophthalmologist for BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Michigan.

Their skin and coat will lose their shine 

Sadly, animals that suffer from diabetes will have a dull and poor coat and the quality of their skin will decrease. This phenomenon occurs when their body can’t get enough nutrients, vitamins and minerals that are essential for their health, due to other symptoms of diabetes. 

 “When the body is not getting the nutrition it needs because insulin isn’t working, and a dog is becoming chronically dehydrated from the increased water loss in the urine, their haircoat will often start to lose its luster and thin out, and dogs will start to have dandruff and dry, scaly skin,” says Dr. Romine.

But, insulin therapy is beneficial for them, because “there is now enough energy and nutrition to put towards healthy fur, and not just maintaining critical organ function,” Dr. Romine.

They will vomit often

Cases of dogs suffering from diabetes that are properly treated by the veterinarian don’t lead to complications, but those that don’t receive specific treatment can have severe effects, such as excessive vomiting without an apparent cause.

 “If diabetes goes untreated, the dog can go into diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), where you see vomiting, lethargy and a poor appetite. At this point, it’s an emergency situation that requires hospitalization,” said Dr. Behrend. 

DKA will occur when the blood sugar is very high and no insulin to stimulate glucose. “The body will start to produce ketones for energy, but this is not a sustainable pattern; the blood becomes acidic, and the body’s enzymes start to malfunction,” said Dr. Romine.