Posts Tagged ‘diabetes’
How to Deal with Diabetic Dogs
Canines are affected by diabetes in the same way that millions of people are everyday. Specifically, the disorder is called diabetes mellitus (DM). An insulin deficiency prevents your pooch’s body from metabolizing glucose effectively. There are two varieties of DM: Type I and Type II. The former is the most prevalent type (99% of dogs with DM suffer from this type) and occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin. The latter occurs when insulin is manufactured but your pooch’s body isn’t able to use it properly.
In the following paragrpahs, we'll lay out the warning signs to look out for if your dog have developed diabetes mellitus. It's a potentially life-threatening condition, so catching it early is critical. We’ll also explain how the disease is diagnosed and treated as well as what you can do at home to help your dog manage the disorder.
Possible Warning Signs
The most common symptoms of DM include a marked increase in the amount of water your canine drinks and as a result, the frequency with which he urinates. You might also notice that he is losing weight even though he maintains a strong appetite. Other signs include a general apathy or decrease in physical activity and the sudden onset of blindness.
Treatment After Diagnosis
The health of your pooch can decline rapidly once diabetes mellitus develops. His body’s inability to process glucose effectively can lead to severe dehydration and other health issues. It is important that you have a veterinarian perform a full physical exam if you notice any of the warning signs described in the section above.
The veterinarian will ask you about your dog’s eating routine as well as his elimination activity. You'll also be asked to describe any changes in his weight and disposition. Then, a urine analysis is performed to identify possible infections and review glucose levels.
Once diabetes mellitus has been diagnosed, your veterinarian will teach you how to administer daily insulin injections for your pooch. He or she will also create a diet and exercise routine that will help your canine manage his weight. The level of insulin administered will probably change during the first several weeks of treatment. Most veterinarians prefer to start cautiously with small doses and increase them gradually.
What You Can Do At Home
Providing care for your dog involves administering daily insulin shots (sometimes, twice daily) as well as any other medications that your veterinarian has recommended. You'll also need to be vigilant regarding your canine's eating and exercise routine in order to ensure he maintains a healthy weight level. If your dog experiences an insulin overdose (he might seem weak or disoriented), give him food right away.
As noted, diabetes mellitus can be potentially deadly. However, once it has been diagnosed, you can help your dog live a healthy, happy, and problem-free life.
Find the best Dog Treats and Bully Sticks at http://www.bestbullysticks.com
Diabetes cure could be found in sled dogs
Siberian Huskies that compete in the Iditarod are some of the most energy efficient animals on earth. Even after running hundreds of miles on a day to day basis, they barley show any signs of fatigue
Is is possible that their fat burning skill help to find ways to treat and prevent obesity type 2 diabetes?
Michael Davis, a professor who has studied exercise physiology in sled dogs, is on the road to find out. Davis recently finished the initial research phase of examining how Siberian huskies training for the exhausting Iditarod, become “insulin-sensitive” and effortlessly change fat into energy.
“If we can figure out what exercise is doing to start the process, then we may be able to find how it can be applied to everyone, whether or not they are physically able to exercise,” he says.
Nearly twenty million Americans have diabetes. By maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise it is possible to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.
The Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation has contributed one-third of the $30,000 research grant. Oklahoma State University is bankrolling the remainder.
Insulin, a hormone created in the pancreas, typically helps the cells in the body extract glucose from the blood stream and turns it into energy. People with type 2 diabetes often have problems absorbing glucose.
In January, Davis singled out sixteen in Iditarod that were in prime shape from the kennel of one of the present racers and had the huskies run for twenty-two miles at a rapid velocity of eight mph. Half the dogs were anesthetized for five minutes while researchers took small muscle biopsies from their legs; the other half were measured for insulin sensitivity using catheters.
Davis hopes to be able to understand how cells are reacting under various physical conditions by calculating the same dog’s metabolic stress on their muscles again after the summer, when they are no longer in shape.
His research spured the attention of at least one animal rights group that opposes experimentation.
Regarding their statements, Davis mentions that compares to smaller animals such as mice and rats, dogs share more DNA with humans. “There is a greater likelihood that something you discover in dogs will be directly relevant to humans,” he says.