Symptoms and Treatment

Canine diabetes treatment revolves around regularity and sooner or later most diabetic dog owners come across the "problem feeder" syndrome where their pet does not want to eat. Whilst missing a meal occasionally will do them no harm (provided you also miss out the  insulin injection) it is not an ideal situation.

One of the symptoms of poor diabetes control is weight loss, even when the animal eats normally, so it is important to ensure your pet eats the right amount regularly and this can be tricky at times.

Diabetics should avoid certain foods and it is often the case where the foods they prefer are the ones they should not have, which can cause problems, particularly if you have more than one dog.

About Us We have five dogs, all Pomeranians, and when one of them was diagnosed with diabetes it turned our world upside down. I worked shifts at that time and was forced to take a lower paid job so that I was able to administer his insulin at regular times; regularity is paramount in diabetes management.

We knew very little about diabetes at first, so it came as a big shock to us to discover one of our beloved dogs, our only male, was diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus. That was over four years ago and we learnt the hard way; if I knew then what I know now, well maybe I would not have had to take a lesser paid job in order to be able to continue our little chaps' treatment and maybe he would not be inflicted with cataracts as badly.

We began researching into canine diabetes and what began as a hobby, slowly escalated as we became increasingly frustrated by the often conflicting nature of the information we uncovered. Being a software author, I regarded setting up a website to help other diabetic dog owners avoid the mistakes we made a piece of cake; I had not considered the vast amount of, often conflicting and inaccurate, information which is freely available. What should have taken 6 months, took over 3 years of research!

The Initial Diagnosis

This can be quite heart-wrenching because you have two options, treatment or instructing your Vet to have your pet put to sleep; anyone who has held a dog in their arms whilst it is being killed by an injection will tell you while it may be peaceful for the animal, it is not a pleasant experience for you, or one you forget easily.

Fortunately, more and more of you are opting for treatment, for which we applaud you because we love our pets, but do you fully understand the commitment? We thought we did. We knew it was an ongoing treatment, we knew it would make changes in our lives, we knew too that having other dogs as well would complicate things still further.

We thought we had considered all of the problems...

...but we were wrong.

The initial diagnosis is only the beginning, and although your Vet will offer good advice, be aware that not everything they recommend is always essential and without knowing specific questions to ask, the advice given is often quoted from text books rather than from experience.

ANN WAS RELIEVED "I was totally in the dark, you can't ever think of all the questions while at the vet only when you leave.. many of my questions were answered in the fact sheets but diet was such a concern. What, when & how much?? Thank you for shedding light on the subject.” "I commend you on your work. I am finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Three weeks and my Toy Poodle - Tater Tot finally felt better yesterday for the first time! Yeah!!! Thank you for all your help!" Ann Stoffregen, Phila., PA USA

Types of Canine Diabetes

There are three forms of canine diabetes but diabetes mellitus in dogs is by far the most common, affecting twice as many males as females. Although there is no cure, it can be successfully controlled with regular insulin, diet and exercise but it will require a huge commitment on your part. Regularity is paramount in the control of diabetes and this alone can place a strain on the whole family.

Diabetes Control

Poor control of canine diabetes often leads to further problems including cataracts, liver and kidney infections, or even failure which is why accurate testing and monitoring is so important.

It was with this in mind that we decided to set up a web-site dedicated to Canine Diabetes in order to help others avoid the mistakes we made. There is a lot of information freely available on the internet regarding canine diabetes. Unfortunately, much of it is misleading or inaccurate; we know this to be true because we researched it, primarily for our own usage, but now we find ourselves advising others, including pet food and treat companies on their products.

Feeding

With such a variety of pet foods on the market you may think it relatively simple to find those which might be suitable for a diabetic dog. Unfortunately pet food manufacturers are not always consistent with their labeling and often use cereals which are high in carbohydrates as a "bulk filler".

The diet for a diabetic dog should be high in protein and fiber whilst being low in fats and carbohydrates, although complex carbohydrates are acceptable in moderation. Complex carbohydrates absorb sugars but take longer to digest, thus allowing the insulin time to break down the glucose and give a better blood-sugar curve.

The Canine Diabetes Management Guide

Thousands of dogs have diabetes and still lead happy and normal lives and we can show you exactly what is involved and how easy it can be to overcome what may seem right now, insurmountable obstacles.

Whilst costs for treatment can accumulate, there can also be an emotional strain which can effect the whole family, but please do not even consider euthanasia (having your dog put down) until you have read The Canine Diabetes Management Guide.

All three forms of canine diabetes are covered in the guide, the symptoms, tests and treatments for each and there are also top tips to make your life easier! The quick reference index enables you to swiftly jump to a topic of interest and there are also some great money saving ideas as well as answers to frequent questions.

It walks you through the process, from the symptoms and first diagnosis to what will be expected of you, taking out the fear. Yes it can be scary at first, especially if you are the person nominated to teach someone else.

Many owners initially fear the prospect of having to administer injections each day, but they soon realize this is actually the easy part. Simple things like insulin handling and diet control often through up surprising problems, particularly with busy life-styles.

We have been through it, know the pitfalls and we have the solutions.

If the Canine Diabetes Management Guide had been around back then, we would have saved time, money and anxiety.

JACKIE WAS DELIGHTED “I went onto Google to look up Dog diseases such as diabetes and renal failure, cushing syndrome etc and came across your website which I found to be extremely unique and helpful at the same time. I was waiting for a definite diagnosis for my dog before purchasing and was overwhelmed with your immediate response with the information I was so desperate to get hold of. I did not really have an issue with the injections it was the "what if" questions that I needed answers to and your Diabetes Guide helped to allay a lot of my fears. Once again Noel a big thank you for your assistance, research and support in kind. I will use the guide to educate my family and neighbours who will all have to look after Cooney at some stage.” Jackie Stamoulis

AS FEATURED IN DOGS TODAY MAGAZINE ... “The guide is full of advice on how to control diabetes, as well as tips on how to avoid pitfalls. It also aims to take the fear out of the early days following a diagnosis by telling dog owners what they can expect. ” “Cheeko has certainly benefited from Noel's extensive research as he is now a very active 11 year old with no signs of slowing down. ” Dogs Today Magazine, March, 2008

The Canine Diabetes Management Guide contains comprehensive information covering the many concerns owners have about treating diabetes in dogs. By knowing the symptoms dogs exhibit, you can get an early detection of poor control and apart from saving on Vets bills, you can can show them that you have a good understanding of canine diabetes..

In many countries insulin is classed as a "controlled drug" and is only available by prescription. For this reason your Vet will often require you to bring in your pet for a check-up every 3 - 4 months so it is important to build a good working relationship with them.

But Wait! Get it TODAY And also receive, 100% free:

	Canine Diabetes Monitoring Kit.	Valued at $18.75
	Includes recording charts to help you to record your results. Regularity is very important in controlling diabetes and these specially prepared charts can be printed to help you and your family members to keep accurate records to show your Vets. ZIP - PDF (Portable Document Format)
	Canine Diabetes Recipe Book	Valued at $27.00
	Prescription pet food can be quite expensive, particularly if you have a large breed of dog. This e-book contains lots of tips on what may be safe alternatives for your diabetic pet. It contains tried and tested recipes used by diabetic dog owners all over the world. (Use only with consultation with your Vet) ZIP - PDF (Portable Document Format)
	Diabetic Dog Recipe Treats	Valued at $19.75
	Dogs with diabetes should not be given ordinary treats but that does not mean you cannot treat your pet at all. Whilst there are no treats in pet supply stores which are specifically designed for diabetic dogs, this book contains information on what may be safe, what to avoid and how to make your own. ZIP - PDF (Portable Document Format)
	The Life Of A Diabetic Dog	Valued At $19.75
	This humorous book tells the story of what life is like for a real diabetic dog from the viewpoint of the dog. It demonstrates canine thinking and how a dog can often know more than we give them credit for. With lots of cute pictures, it is ideal for introducing children to the scary world of diabetes. ZIP - PDF (Portable Document Format)