Diabetes In Dogs
Natural & Traditional Treatments For Diabetes In Dogs!
Diabetes In Dogs
According to "The Natural Vet Series Natural Health Bible For Dogs And Cats", diabetes affects 1 in 100 to 1 in 500 pets. Unfortunately, many dogs that suffer with pancreatitis end up with diabetes.
This is a complicated disease and although it can be scary for dog owners when they hear that their dog is a diabetic; this disease can be managed by most dog owners.
Keep in mind that it often takes a little time to get the insulin levels regulated, but your Veterinarian will work with you to get it right. Diet will play a significant role and must be maintained in treating your diabetic dog.
Symptoms Of A Diabetic Dog
Early stages of diabetes:
- Frequent urinating
- Drinking more water than usual
- Large appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
Advanced stages of diabetes:
- Lethargic
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Dehydrated
- Cataracts
- Coma
Causes of Type I Diabetes | Most Common Form Of Diabetes In Dogs
The following factors are considered to play the most significant role in the onset of diabetes in pets:
- AKA Insulin dependent diabetes occurs when normal insulin producing cells in the pancreas are destroyed.
- Obesity is another factor that greatly contributes to the onset of this disease.
- Genetics
- Pancreatitis
- Infection
- Medications such as corticostroids (prednisone) and progesterone compounds (used to treat the reproduction system)
Conventional Treatment For Your Diabetic Dog
- Insulin injections which work to lower the dog's blood sugar levels.
- Hypoglycemic agents are another option, but aren't usually prescribed like with people. Research is ongoing.
All Natural Therapy For The Diabetic Dog
While there are other natural treatments for diabetes in dogs, the following are the most common forms of natural treatment:
- Diet is the most important factor in treating your dog naturally. If you choose to prepare your dog's meals, we highly recommend that you share the recipe with your dog's Vet before starting a new diabetic diet for your dog. The diet should be high fiber, high protein and low carb aka the "meat and veggie" diet. Keep in mind that dog's that are already thin, should be introduced slowly to more fiber due to the fact that high fiber diets cause the dog to continue to lose weight. Fiber in small amounts is recommended until a normal weight is reached. It's important that you understand that most traditional Veterinarians will not recommend or encourage any other type of diet except a prescription diet such as the Hills diet. These diets are contradictive to what many breeders and holistic Vets recommend by being low protein and high carb. The following link will take you away from our site, but it offers excellent information on diet and protein levels for diabetes in dogs.
- Exercise is a big part of treating your dog's diabetes. Don't ignore exercise with a diabetic dog.
- Glandular Extracts are very common with holistic Vet's in treating diabetes. Glandular supplements are whole animal tissues of particular organs such as the pancreas. They are a natural source of lipids and steroids, and also an excellent source of enzymes. These enzymes stimulate the dog to produce hormones which contribute to maintaining health and fighting disease. Learn more about glandular therapy.
- Chromium is a trace mineral which balances glucose metabolism. Chromium works for both hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) and diabetic patients. Chromium supplements help to improve blood sugar conrol in diabetic people and Holistic Vet's routinely use this supplement for their canine patients as well.
- Vanadium is a mineral with insulin like properties. It must NEVER be administered to a pet without the supervision of a Veterinarian. Vanadium is often used by Holistic Veterinarians to reduce blood glucose levels. High doses of this mineral are considered unsafe for people and pets.
A combination of both conventional and natural therapy is most often prescribed for diabetic dogs. While some pets are fortunate and the use of conventional treatments such as insulin can be reduced or completely eliminated, others must remain on the prescribed therapy for life.
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