Diabetes is one of many diseases that can affect your dog and can cause visible changes in behavior and other signs. That’s why it is important that your dog be thoroughly examined by a veterinarian at least once a year or more frequently as your veterinarian advises.

Knowing the signs of diabetes is the first step in protecting your dog’s health. If any of these statements describes your pet, speak with your veterinarian about the possibility of diabetes:

• Drinks more water than usual (polydipsia)
• Urinates more frequently, produces more urine per day or has “accidents” in the house (polyuria)
• Always acts hungry (polyphagia), but maintains or loses weight
• Is less active or sleeps more (lethargic)
• Has cloudy eyes
• Has thinning, dry and dull hair

When evaluating your dog for diabetes, your veterinarian may ask about these signs and will check your dog’s general health to rule out the possibility of other diseases or infections. And your veterinarian will test your dog’s urine for the presence of glucose and ketones and measure your dog’s blood glucose level. A diabetes diagnosis only becomes definite when glucose is found at a persistently high level in blood and is detected in urine.