Just as humans can develop diabetes for a variety of reasons, so can many other animals. This common blood-sugar problem can cause serious health problems.
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Diabetes
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Diabetes occurs when the pancreas loses its ability to make insulin, the substance that regulates an animal's glucose, or blood sugar, according to the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
Causes
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Stress, medications, hormonal or genetic problems, and obesity can all induce diabetes in an animal. Diabetes in dogs affects mostly females, while diabetes in cats more commonly affects males.
Symptoms
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Thirst, a frequent need to urinate, abdominal discomfort, depression and weakness may point to a case of animal diabetes. The illness also causes rapid formation of cataracts in some animals, leading to blindness.
Diagnosis
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A veterinarian can diagnose possible diabetes by collecting data about the animal's medical history and testing its blood sugar and urine for telltale signs of the illness. In some cases, the animal may need to stay at the veterinary facility for two to three days.
Treatment
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Once the veterinarian has determined what level of glucose the animal needs to maintain a normal blood sugar, it is up to the owner to administer insulin injections every day to control its diabetes.
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