National Pet Diabetes Month with Your Columbus Veterinarian

When owning a pet, it is imperative that you be aware of diabetes. If your pet develops diabetes and is not properly treated, this can be detrimental to his overall health. Fortunately, staying on top of your pet's diabetes isn't as difficult as you might think it is. For National Pet Diabetes Month, Hamilton Road Animal Hospital would like to provide you with a quick overview of animal diabetes and what you can do if your pet has diabetes. 

What is Pet Diabetes?

Known for being more common in older pets, animal diabetes can actually occur in any pet regardless of age. You should know that the earlier diabetes is diagnosed in your pet, the easier it is to treat and manage. You will, however, need to visit your veterinarian regularly to ensure you are staying on top of your pet's diabetes. With proper monitoring and treatment combined with exercise and dieting, your pet can live a long and healthy life with diabetes. 

If your pet has diabetes, this means his body is not processing and using sugar/glucose normally. It is of the utmost importance that glucose is used properly because if not, it can lead to a wide range of negative symptoms, including loss of energy and poor appetite. Since glucose is controlled by insulin, your pet may need to take supplements of insulin to control his diabetes. 

Signs of Diabetes in Pets

Most cats that are diagnosed with diabetes are at least six years old. Dogs, however, usually develop this condition anywhere from four to 14 years old. On average, though, dogs are diagnosed between the ages of seven and 10. Common signs of pet diabetes include:

• Cloudy eyes
• Excessive water drinking
• Increased urination
• Weight loss
• Decreased appetite
• Recurring infections (these infections tend to be chronic)
   

Scheduling an appointment with Your Columbus Veterinarian

If you think your pet may have diabetes, please do not hesitate to come to Hamilton Road Animal Hospital today. Call us at (614) 239-0027 to learn more about what you can do to make sure your pet receives proper treatment for pet diabetes.