diabetes in dogs?

[ESlover]

anyone have a dog or has had a dog that has had diabetes?

How has this been diagnosed?

What does it cost to treat it, if you have treated it?

any information would be appreciated. Thanks

[bernicesmama]

NO, i have never even heard of it.

[FairyDogMother]

I haven't had a dog with it but I had a cat that got it. I've known a couple of people who said they had dogs with it when my cat got sick. I do not know if it affects them the same so I don't want to elaborate on what went on with him except that he was so very severe they said only insulin every 12 hours was his only prayer and it cost about $200 per month (7 yrs ago). He didn't make it. Those people I met with the dogs said they were living very good lives on the insilin. Your vet should be able to do a blood test to tell and give you some answers. Best of luck with this..

[aqh88]

I've never had a dog with diabetes but every animal I know can get something at least similar to diabetes. I've had cats, horses, and guinea pigs that had problems with insulin or blood sugar levels. Diagnoses and treatment seems to be pretty much the same for all animals. All had blood tests done to diagnose the problem. Most of them we managed it by modifying their diet. Insulin injections are an option for everything from a horse to a guinea pig but rather expensive(in the $100s per month) so we tried to avoid having to do that. Most of them lived out their lives without further issues provided their specific diet was strictly followed.

[weezyNollie]

Basically, you wont test for the necessary things until something starts going wrong.

Drinking or peeing a lot?

Blood work to test their glucose levels will diagnose the diabetes. Then, depending on the insulin chosen to use and the size of the patient and the response from the patient is how much it will cost.

Here's a generalized cost:

-Blood work
(glucose curve; depending on how stable the curve is and how many times in that day they do blood draws)
$100.00
**Also, keep in mind if the dog is not stabilized, and needs curves once a month or such.. this blood work can be expensive.
-Insulin
(There is Vetsulin, a new veterinary insulin product out there that we use at our clinic)
$30.00 for a 10ml vial
**If you have a large dog that needs more than 20 units or something, you can easily go through 2-3 bottles a month
-Insuling Syringes
(packaged in a box of 100)
$29.50
-Regular office visit with vet
$25 to $75.00 depending on if you are with a specialist or not
-Sharps Container?
$15.00 (this includes container and disposal cost for needles)


Diabetic dogs are pretty common. We see a lot of them at my hospital.

[mara]

After my brother's 16 and 22 year old daughters were diagnosed with diabetes, his 10 year old Schnauzer was diagnosed!! First clue with Nate was he was peeing all over the place all the time. They hadn't noticed excessive drinking but they had 2 dogs so it was hard to tell who was drinking what.
Initially they thought he had a bladder infection but there were no white cells in his urine. A "dip stick" test showed high sugar levels. He was on insulin injections twice a day and also had his urine tested twice a day. You just hold the "dip stick" under them so they pee on it and you can measure the amount of sugar present. After about a month of trial and error with the amount of insulin to give he felt pretty good. My brother thinks it was about $75 a month for the supplies....needles, syringes,sticks,
and insulin.
Of course there is additional expenses when they are first diagnosed because of blood panels that should be run in order to exclude other illnesses.
I've only ever heard of dogs over about 8 years of age being diagnosed....
Wheezy....is it common with younger dogs?

[ESlover]

well this girl I have multiple issues with. I thought it was getting better.

She has had aggression issue since she was 1 1/2 - 2. I have constantly had urinary tract issues with her too. she has been to several vets. cost lots of money doing blood tests. The last vet was really good, I like them. They were saying that it may be Diabetes incipidus that we really can't do anything about.

The urination is a big issue for me, as my dogs are house dogs. That and if she's outside, she is an escape artist! lol she is a crazy Brittany. I just wonder if I should take her back in and have them specifically check the glucose levels or whatever it is for the regular type diabetes. Just kinda at a loss with this funny crazy girl.

[weezyNollie]

I don't think its super common in younger dogs. Although, I can ask an internist tomorrow.

ESlover -- i would definitely try some blood work. What do her UA's show up with? Unfortunately, diagnosing UTI's are way too easy.. but if you never address the underlying issue.. they will reoccur! I wouldn't just look into a glucose test, but the whole chemistry panel. That would be able to show if she has other kidney issues, and not necessarily diabetes. Or perhaps, a radiograph to look at her bladder? Does she have stones? Or what about urinary incontinence? Are these actual accidents? Or are they her asleep and not having control over her urinary sphincter? Or constant dribble? And have they cultured the urine? See what the UTI is resistant with? Maybe the antibiotics they keep using aren't the correct type.

Just some questions to think about or ask your vet. Good luck.

[mara]

Oh, diabetes insipidus is a different can of worms, as you know. Your vet should be able to tell if it's diabetes mellitis from a simple blood test.
If it is DI it's possible she has behaviour problems from electrolyte imbalances like a low sodium or even be drinking to the point of water intoxication.

[ESlover]

Originally Posted by mara

Oh, diabetes insipidus is a different can of worms, as you know. Your vet should be able to tell if it's diabetes mellitis from a simple blood test.
If it is DI it's possible she has behaviour problems from electrolyte imbalances like a low sodium or even be drinking to the point of water intoxication.

wow that is interesting. that seemed to be the vets idea of what it could be without taking her in to limit her water intake and keep an eye on her liver or kidney, gosh, don't remember which one it was. but yes, lots more expense and more then likely nothing much we can do for her. Mara what else can you tell me about it??? hmmmm yeah, and see she used to be fine with other dogs, a really happy go getter pup she was. Then she started going after anything! my friends 110lb sweet sweet rottie boy included! he just looked at her funny though. lol