Just like humans, man’s best friend is susceptible to illnesses and chronic conditions. One of those is canine diabetes. If your furry companion has been diagnosed with diabetes, you may have questions. What does diabetes mean for your dog’s health, well-being, and life expectancy? And what do you do next?
Here are some things you have to keep in mind once your dog is diagnosed with diabetes.
- Don’t panic
- Do your research
- Make a treatment plan
- Consider Insulin
- Focus on the right diet for your dog
Don’t Panic
Canine diabetes is more prevalent than you might think. Despite popular misconceptions, canine diabetes is not a death sentence. It is a treatable chronic illness provided your dog is otherwise healthy. Should you put down your dog with diabetes? Unless your dog has other serious health complications or is very old, most of the time it’s not necessary.
Do Your Research
After your dog receives their diagnosis, it’s time to get to work. Consult with your veterinarian about all your options. You may want to do further research as well, especially when it comes to managing common symptoms of canine diabetes ( like excessive thirst, blindness/cataracts, or weight loss) and determining what treatments work best for the type of diabetes your dog has.
Make a Treatment Plan
Once you’ve armed yourself with the right knowledge, you can move forward with the best plan to ensure your dog’s continued health and happiness. With the right treatment plan, diabetic dogs can live anywhere from 2-9 years post-diagnosis!
Treating canine diabetes largely comes down to two strategies: insulin supplementation and dietary changes. Frequently, the two strategies are combined for the best results.
