Until about a year and a half ago, I had no idea that pets could develop diabetes. I found out about pet diabetes when my mother-in-law’s dog was diagnosed as diabetic. I’m not alone – pet diabetes is not a well-known health issue, and many people who have heard about it don’t fully understand it. It’s actually fairly prevalent among both dogs and cats. If you are a pet owner it’s important to know the signs of the disease, and how to care for your pet if they have (or develop) diabetes.

Pet diabetes is not a fatal diagnosis. It’s a manageable condition that requires pet owners to keep a watchful eye on their pets and carefully manage their diet. For some pets, a carefully monitored diet, exercise and glucose monitoring might be enough to manage their diabetes. Other pets might need to also receive insulin injections.

Sugar and Spike merck diabetes

There is a Face the Facts campaign starting in November, led by Merck Animal Health. They have created fun characters called Sugar and Spike. Sugar, a sweet little cat, and Spike, an energetic dog, want to inform pet owners about the reality of their diabetes.
Here are some messages directly from Sugar & Spike!

Q: Sugar, what message would you like to share with people who have a diabetic pet?

A: “It is important for my owners to work out a plan with the vet to make sure I’m healthy. They know that with a little love and effort I will be okay. The vet developed a plan that fits my needs. The plan your vet develops could include a prescribed diet, exercise, glucose monitoring and an insulin injection routine, depending on each pet’s needs.”
sugar cat diabetes

Q: Sugar, is it painful for you to get insulin injections?

A: “My owner was scared that the pet insulin injection they would need to give me would be painful, but the vet taught them a few tips and tricks that make it easy!”

Q: Spike, are you able to run and play like you did before your diabetes diagnosis?

A: “It’s really important to stay consistent when it comes to activity. My pet owners take me, Spike, to the dog park every day to stay active and they’re sure to play with Sugar every day so she isn’t just laying around.”

Visit USA.SugarAndSpike.com to learn more from Sugar and Spike.

spike diabetes dog

Some facts from the Face the Facts campaign:

The rate of diabetes in dogs has increased by nearly 80 percent and by almost 20 percent in cats in the last decade. The number is expected to continue to rise.1 Signs of early diabetes in cats and dogs include excessive thirst, frequent urination, having “accidents” in the house and an increased hunger paired with weight loss. Cats may also become less active and sleep more. If you notice these signs or symptoms in your pet, you should contact your vet.2

If your pet has diabetes, you should follow the advice of your vet regarding maintenance. When successfully managed, pets with diabetes can live healthy, active and happy lives.2

Learn more about pet diabetes by visiting the USA.PetDiabetesMonth.com website. Or visit MyPet.com for more information about general pet health.

References:

1 Banfield Pet Hospital. (2016). State of Pet Health® 2016 Report. Portland, OR.

http://www.banfield.com/Banfield/media/PDF/Downloads/soph/Banfield-State-of-Pet-Health- Report-2016.pdf.

2 AVMA. (2016). Diabetes in Pets. American Veterinary Medical Association.

https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/Diabetes-in-Pets.aspx.

©2016 INTERVET INC., DOING BUSINESS AS MERCK ANIMAL HEALTH, A SUBSIDIARY OF MERCK & CO., INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

EmilyEvert

This post currently has 4 responses.

  • Deb E

    I knew pets could get diabetes since I’ve been in healthcare for several decades now, but haven’t known anyone who had to deal with it. This is a great way to teach kids especially about their pet’s condition, as I’m sure they have a hard time understanding it and why their pets need extra attention when diabetic.

  • Jerry Marquardt

    I think it is quite like our own diabetic problems. Just because they are animals doesn’t make it much different, aqnd Your need to be ready to help with the treatment the same.

  • Dotty J Boucher

    I don’t even uderstand how a pet could get this, but if they do, they need medical help just like us. I think owners need to make sure that they are feeding there pets properly and that take looking into what they are feeding them.

  • Kimberly Flickinger

    I cannot imagine having a pet that has diabetes because I am not familiar with the disease. This post was very informational and very cute. Thank you for sharing.

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