Diabetes can strike both people and canines. Overweight female dogs are more likely to become diabetic, though the disease is hereditary and passed through bloodlines. Vomiting is a late-stage symptom of diabetes, and should trigger a dog owner to seek treatment for his canine.
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The Facts--Diabetes
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Canine diabetes occurs most often as diabetes mellitus, which is characterized by insulin deficiency, and affects a dog's ability to metabolize and use sugar. Type I diabetes presents when a dog is young, and maintains throughout a dog's life. Type II diabetes occurs when a dog becomes fully dependent on insulin injections, and presents in older dogs.
Causes
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According to the Dog Diabetes Guide, diabetes is an autoimmune disease passed on through genetics. It is commonly brought on by obesity. When a dog is affected by diabetes, its endocrine gland malfunctions and stops releasing insulin. Insulin is the hormone that triggers the body to take up and use sugar. The result is a "wasting" disease, where the dog's body does not take nutrition from food.
Symptoms
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Symptoms of diabetes include exaggerated hunger and thirst--logical reactions to the body's inability to take nutrition from what the dog eats. Excessive drinking leads to excessive urination. According to the Dog Owner's Guide, "Continued failure to seek treatment brings lethargy, loss of appetite, depression, and vomiting." This vomiting exacerbates the weight loss symptomatic of canine diabetes.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis
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Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a complication of diabetes, when the symptoms and disease become even more serious. In DKA, a dog's liver begins to overproduce ketoacids as a result of the insulin imbalance. These ketoacids affect electrolyte levels in the dog's body, and through those the dog's level of hydration and ability to keep nutrition down. Symptoms are aggravated lethargy and vomiting, with an accompanying dehydration. The dog's body begins to reject any food or water, which results in additional dehydration.
Treatments
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Diabetes is treated through both medication and management. Dogs are injected consistently with insulin supplements to aid their bodies in sugar and glucose metabolism. Diet and lifestyle management are important pieces of the puzzle as well; owners must feed dogs a diet that supports healthy metabolism and controls diabetes. DKA requires hospitalization, as it is the most serious level of diabetes, with the most serious symptoms.
Conditions
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Canine diabetes is a serious disorder, and can prove fatal if untreated. Neglect of medications, improper diet, neglect of veterinary appointments and ignorance of symptoms all lead to fatal complications. These complications may involve liver and bladder problems, as well as wasting and depression.
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