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1. What are polyuria, polydipsia and polyphagia? 2. What other diseases have the same signs as diabetes? 3. What is the expected life span for a diabetic dog? 4. Is canine diabetes similar to human diabetes?
What are polyuria, polydipsia and polyphagia? You’re likely to encounter these terms as you learn more about diabetes and your pet.
These definitions will help:
What other diseases have the same signs as diabetes? Dogs with diabetes mellitus drink more water and urinate more than normal. They usually have good or increased appetites but may nonetheless be losing weight. Other common diseases with these signs include Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism) and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI).
To diagnose diabetes, your veterinarian will measure your dog’s blood glucose level and test your dog’s urine for glucose and ketones.
What is the expected life span for a diabetic dog? Aggressive treatment of diabetes in dogs is relatively new. Not many years ago, diabetic dogs would have gone undiagnosed and would have died at a young age, either from the disease or euthanasia. Consequently, a very short life span for known diabetic dogs is usually quoted in textbooks (two to five years after diagnosis). Also, keep in mind that many dogs are diagnosed with diabetes later in life, so a two- to five-year life expectancy may be near their natural life span. If a diabetic dog has well-managed blood glucose levels and it doesn’t develop other health problems, it should have a normal life expectancy.
Is canine diabetes similar to human diabetes? Yes, the two conditions are very similar. In fact, your veterinarian will be using medication, equipment and monitoring systems that are similar to those used for diabetic people.
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