Diabetes is more common in obese dogs, but diabetes dog symptoms can be quite diverse. Once you know what to look for, the signs are usually easy to spot. Additionally, certain breeds are predisposed to diabetes such as Dachshunds, Cocker Spaniels, Cairn Terriers, and Beagles to name a few.
Early treatment of diabetes can prevent it from getting worse. The symptoms of canine diabetes can appear rather sudden or gradually over time. Look for these common warning signs:
Weight Loss or Gain
A commonly overlooked symptom of canine diabetes is weight loss. If your dog is young and otherwise healthy, a slim physique is not typically cause for concern. However, even though diabetic dogs are eating their regular amounts of food, they still shed pounds.
On the other hand, your diabetic dog might experience weight gain because he is not burning off the right amounts of sugar due to the insulin deficiency in his system.
Excessive Trips to the Water Bowl
When your dog is drinking more fluids or becomes dehydrated, he is suffering from diabetes. Diabetes may cause your pet to consume too much water because of overproduction of glucose, or because glucose cannot metabolize correctly in his system. This type of diabetes is typically treated with medication.
Diabetes Dog Symptoms: Other Signs
Look for these other signs that may indicate your dog has diabetes:
- Increased urinating
- Sudden cataract formation
- Lethargy and weakness
- Shaking
- Sweet smelling breath