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Caring for pets with diabetes

Mike Pearson's story of caring for an afflicted pooch

By Mike Pearson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published December 7, 2008 at 3 p.m.

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Oso, a lab-chow mix, enjoys a dog biscuit.

Oso, a lab-chow mix, enjoys a dog biscuit.

Mike Pearson and Oso, who developed diabetes at age 9. He'll need insulin shots for the rest of his life.

Mike Pearson and Oso, who developed diabetes at age 9. He'll need insulin shots for the rest of his life.

Insulin injections are administered to Oso, who has Type 1 diabetes, twice a day. A $45 bottle lasts three weeks.

Insulin injections are administered to Oso, who has Type 1 diabetes, twice a day. A $45 bottle lasts three weeks.

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When I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes three years ago, I was saddened but not surprised. Years of feeding an indiscriminate sweet tooth had always made that outcome a vague possibility.

But when my dog was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes three months ago, I was stunned. I didn't know dogs could get diabetes, and I certainly hadn't been feeding him corn syrup instead of water.

As it turns out, 1 to 2 percent of dogs and cats develop diabetes, the form and severity varying. In cats, diabetes is most often associated with obesity. In dogs, it's usually a genetic development.

Because the field of animal diabetes is relatively young - veterinarians have been researching it seriously for only about 30 years - pet owners can be forgiven for not always understanding the symptoms and repercussions.

Take my dog, Oso, a 90-pound lab-chow mix whose symptoms started small and intensified in a hurry. It began last summer when he became reluctant to hop into the car when we were going to the dog park or for a quick errand. Here was a dog that usually couldn't wait to go for a ride. Suddenly, he balked at the effort.

Once we did get to the park, his usually robust demeanor waned. He'd go full speed for about 10 minutes, then exhibit fatigue. Instead of trotting relentlessly by my side, he'd jog 20 feet, then sit down and adopt the expression of a small child who wants to be carried.

I continued to ignore the change in his behavior, assuming that because he was 9 years old, maybe he was getting a bit arthritic. He still ate and drank roughly the same amount, and he didn't appear to be in pain. Fatigue I can understand; I often wake up feeling like I need a nap.

Then his behavior took a turn for the serious. One day I called him to the yard and he didn't come. I found he was having trouble standing up. His back legs didn't seem to want to work.

The next day we went to the vet. I was convinced he had some kind of intestinal illness. Maybe a muscle strain. The vet took X-rays and did blood work.

The initial diagnosis was ominous: The vet showed me X-rays that indicated a strange spot on Oso's spinal cord. It could be a slipped disc, the doctor said. If that were the case, surgery would run about $5,000 and there was still no guarantee the dog wouldn't be paralyzed.

The vet prescribed Oso anti-inflammatory medicine and sent me home to think about my options. I could put Oso down or I could opt for a surgery that might or might not work.

Every pet owner knows that's a dilemma right out of Sophie's Choice. I've spent thousands on my animals over the years, but usually the medical crises arrived when they were young (replacing anterior cruciate ligaments) and the prognosis was fairly clear-cut.

I was still fretting over the situation the next morning when I got a call from my vet. He had good news and bad news, he said. The good news was that the dog probably didn't have a slipped disc. Forget about back surgery.

The bad news? He had diabetes. The blood work had come back and shown his glucose level (blood sugar) to be in excess of 600. The normal dog glucose level is between 100 and 130.

"Now that we know the problem, we can treat it," the vet said. "You need to know that he'll need insulin injections twice a day for the rest of his life."

Another trip to the vet, another blood test. The vet showed me how to fill the syringe (as a Type 2 diabetic, I take oral medicine), and he shaved a patch behind the dog's neck, where he advised me to insert the needle.

He then e-mailed me some information about diabetes, which revealed that it's fairly rare in male dogs (female dogs are most likely to develop it) and that it usually strikes dogs from ages 8 to 10.

In Oso's case, the onset of diabetes and the lack of treatment for two months had resulted in diabetic neuropathy: The nerves in the back half of his body had started to go haywire; the synapses weren't firing correctly, which made it difficult for him to control the muscles.

What causes diabetes to arise in an otherwise healthy pet? No one knows, the vet told me, but research indicates that it's genetic. At some point, a switch just turns on (or off) in the pancreas.

For the record, cats are highly susceptible to Type 2 diabetes, especially if they're allowed to free-feed and become obese. Depending on how well you control an afflicted feline's diet, it can actually revert to normal blood sugar level with proper care.

Alas, once a dog has diabetes (like a person), it will always have it.

Three months into treatment, Oso is doing well. He doesn't have the stamina he had pre-diabetes, but his appetite is healthy, and his water consumption no longer rivals that of a man who's just staggered out of the Sahara. He's alert and genuinely doesn't seem to mind getting his medicine. He's so used to it now that when I go to the refrigerator to get the bottle of insulin (it costs about $45 for a bottle, which lasts three weeks), he trots over to me and waits.

It took about a month of weekly blood tests to indicate that his glucose level had fallen back to the normal range. Now we do blood tests every four months to determine whether his dosage needs to be adjusted.

It would have been easier, of course, if Oso could talk, or at least if he'd started barking in French. That's a sure sign that something's wrong, second only to what my grandmother's cat did when it got sick: started peeing on the piano.

The vet says that with proper care, a diabetic pet can live a long and healthy life. I guess that means no more playing fetch with Twinkies.

pearsonm@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2592

Treatment is on the rise, expert says

Richard W. Nelson is one of the world's foremost small-mammal endocrinologists, with an emphasis on diabetes. Besides chairing the Department of Medicine and Epidemiology at the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Nelson is in demand around the world to speak on diabetes and pets. We caught up with him at his office for a brief phone chat.

How common is diabetes in dogs and cats?

Most studies put it from about a half-percent to 11/2 percent. It's certainly (something) that small-animal veterinarians are going to deal with on a weekly basis.

What warning signs should pet owners look for?

The biggest thing is going to be an increase in water consumption and urination, which is usually pretty (noticeable) in dogs because you interact with them. In cats it's a little more nebulous; a lot more clumps of kitty litter in the litter box. Increased water, increased urination, increased appetite and weight loss. The appetite is a tough one because a lot of (animals) will eat whatever you can give them.

Do all animals get diabetes?

There are cases of diabetes in horses, cows, monkeys, rats, birds - pretty much any mammal has the potential to go diabetic.

What causes its onset in an otherwise-healthy animal?

Dogs and cats mimic both forms of the disease you see in people. Type 1 (insulin-dependent) is (most often what) we see in dogs. Usually they get it at an older age, 9 or 10.

Because it's an autoimmune situation, it's relentless and aggressive. The key is trying to figure out the triggering mechanism. In people, there's often a genetic predisposition. That same type of thing is starting to be suspected in dogs. Certain breeds of dogs have a higher probability of getting the diabetes - Samoyeds, poodles, Australian shepherd - which implies that it's genetic.

The cat is more likely to have Type 2 diabetes. There is evidence that a major contributing factor is obesity in cats. The pancreas of cats under a microscope looks very similar to what we see in people. (Diabetes in cats) is much slower to develop, and you have windows of opportunity to treat it with diet, weight loss, exercise and those types of things.

The dog - when you make a diagnosis of diabetes, you're looking at insulin. With the cat, you may or may not be looking at insulin.

Are we seeing an increase in the number of diabetic pets?

There was a noticeable increase in diabetes in cats during the '90s and early 2000s because free-choice feeding was common; sort of like children, they eat and eat and eat. Now that that's recognized, there's been a lot of information disseminated to the general public. I think the incidences in cats are starting to level off.

Are pet owners generally alarmed?

There are more and more people willing to deal with it. When I first became involved in (diabetes research) 25 to 30 years ago, people were much more willing to say, "I'm not going to deal with it," and put (the animal) to sleep. As the status of the pet in the family has risen, (owners) are much more willing to treat the disease. I can't remember the last time I put a diabetic pet to sleep.

Most at risk

Dog breeds most at risk for developing diabetes, according to drug-maker Caninsulin:

* Keeshond

* Poodle

* Samoyed

* Dachshund

* Miniature schnauzer

* Chow

* Beagle

* Doberman pinscher

* Labrador retriever

Worst offenders

Top five ailments for dogs and cats, based on common claims at Veterinary Pet Insurance Co.

DOGS

* Ear infection

* Stomach inflammation

* Skin irritation

* Tumors/growth

* Skin infection/hot spots

CATS

* Urinary-tract infection

* Stomach inflammation

* Kidney disease

* Abscess

* Diabetes

How it adds up

Pet statistics from the American Humane Society

* Dog owners spend an average of $219 on annual veterinary visits.

* Cat owners spend an average of $179 on annual veterinary visits.

* In 2007, Americans spent more than $41 billion on their pets, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. That includes $16.2 billion on food, $10.1 billion on veterinary care and $9.8 billion on medicine.

Should you get insurance?

Just how popular is pet insurance? Not as popular as you might expect.

Today, an estimated 500,000 dogs and cats are insured. That's less than 0.4 percent of the 140 million pet dogs and cats in America.

"We have maybe three or four patients a month with pet insurance," said Dr. Steve Kromka of Evans East Animal Hospital, in Denver. "And bear in mind that we see maybe 40 (patients) a day."

While he says some people benefit greatly from having pet insurance - a dog that's struck by a car or afflicted with neurological problems can cost upwards of $6,000 to treat - he advises patients on a more practical approach.

"The problem is that (pet insurance) doesn't really cover half the bill and the premiums are kind of pricey," he said. "Lots of times they don't cover pre-existing conditions, and they don't cover a lot of common diseases when animals get older (such as developing cancer).

"I tell people to put $50 or $20 a month in a savings account. (A sum of $2,000) is plenty of money to cover 95 percent of pet ailments."

The American Pet Product Manufacturers Association estimates that pet owners spent $195 million on health insurance premiums for their animals in 2007, a 21 percent jump over 2006.

Most pet-insurance plans have a monthly premium and a $50 deductible. Typically, if a dog is injured and its vet bills come to $1,000, the insurance company would reimburse the owner 70 percent of the bill.

The key, Kromka and industry experts agree, is research. If you decide to buy a policy, do your homework to find the best one for your pet.

Comments

  • December 8, 2008

    6:26 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    DD writes:

    Perhaps the rise in diabetes in cats has something to do with the fact that cats weren't designed to eat dry food with gluten meals as the base! Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning that they should only eat meat. The only carbs they eat in their natural diet consist of feathers and fur. They are designed to derive all of their moisture from their food (prey) so they also develop chronic kidney issues on this diet too.

    The by-product of high-fructose corn syrup is corn gluten meal which is used as a natural weed killer. Guess what the base of many junky grocery pet foods, including Iams and Science Diet is? Yep. These dogs and cats need to be eating healthier food to begin with and they'll be healthier in the long-run with fewer trips to the vet.

    If your vet suggests prescription (junk) food, run the other way as fast as you can!

  • December 8, 2008

    7:46 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Wookie writes:

    The article doesn't mention that feeding dogs fatty foods such as ham and other food intended for human consumption can lead to pancreatitis and ultimately to diabetes. My dog is diabetic and developed the disease after having pancreatitis. Pancreatitis in dogs occurs most frequently around the holidays when people feed their dogs people food. It is a very painful and potentially deadly illness. Please don't feed your dogs people food, especially fatty foods such as ham and foods high in sugar content! We almost lost our beloved dog to pancreatitis and spent thousands of dollars to save him.

  • December 8, 2008

    7:47 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    goodheart writes:

    DD sounds as if you know a lot about dog food. I recently started feeding my new dog Blue Buffalo lamb & rice dry food. It seems to be better than the others based upon my reading the bag ingredients of everything at Petsmart. Please give me your opinion as I am trying for 15 yrs with my girl since I think she will be my last pet. I am so devastated when they die I wish I could go with them. Thx for any input!

  • December 8, 2008

    8:05 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    pigtracks writes:

    Excellent article! Over ten years ago we had a Pomeranian who developed diabetes. We had let him become very overweight. If you have a fat pet, get the weight under control!

    Bub was enormously cooperative with the insulin injections. They just became part of his little daily routine. However, keep in mind that diabetes complicates EVERYTHING. Bub developed non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 1999. The clinicians at CSU's vet teaching hospital started out with an old treatment regimen because of the diabetes, which was not effective. Modern cancer treatments involve the use of prednisone, which will cause insulin resistance--the last thing a diabetic needs to deal with. Bub did not survive.

    Long story short: Keep your pet's weight in check.

  • December 8, 2008

    11:13 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    kookoo writes:

    I have two elderly (17 & 18) diabetic cats -- the diabetes probably resulting from prolonged use of prednisolone for chronic inflammatory bowel disease. (Both now are on another medication.) I purchased a glucometer designed especially for dogs and cats (Abbott's AlphaTRAK, about $160) and was able to regulate their doses myself, avoiding the weekly trips to the vet for "curves." (I did, however, consult with the vet during the process.) I now monitor their levels periodically to ensure insulin effectiveness. I spend about $13 a month on syringes, and $40 on insulin, about every five months. Both cats have adjusted well to the injection routine, and their blood-glucose levels are in the normal range. Based on the horror stories I heard, I thought that having diabetic pets would be a nightmare. But it has proven to be nothing more than a slight inconvenience.

  • December 8, 2008

    12:15 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    wildangel5 writes:

    I had a diabetic cat for 6 years and diabetic Mini Schnauzer for 7 years. I concur with the home testing, which I didn't do until the last couple of years with the dog. Would have saved me lots of money. Also Walmart has their own insulin (NPH) and syringes which I also did not know about until the last year or so which would have also saved me lots of money.

    And I'd like to know what Vet that guy goes to that said $2000 covers most pet ailments - that was a 3 day stay over the weekend for my boy at his Vet.

    I second the opinions on better diet being a big part of it. I've learned a lot and I hope my 2 current Mini's will benefit from it.

  • December 8, 2008

    3:57 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    econjura writes:

    I stumbled upon your article and wish that I had read this before going through exactly what you experienced with your dog. Our dog Molly, 10 year old chocolate lab, was just diagnosed with diabetes in August 2008. Her symptoms were earily similar to your dogs and thus we found it odd that the 2 vets that we took her to didn't think it was diabetic neuropothy based on our description of her symptoms. After many vet visits and tests, we finally got the same answer that you did. I am glad that you wrote this story so that hopefully another family will not have to go through the unknowns of a sick undiagnosed dogs for weeks and weeks.

  • December 8, 2008

    10:58 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    wow writes:

    Evy serpa at Spirit Filled Dogs has designed food fo dogs (and cats) that is just the most amazing stuff ever.
    Over the years I have gone back and forth between Kumpi, and other premium brands, due to the availability problems that Kumpi used to present. Nothing else compares. My very allergic Jack Russel has no more allergy symptoms, and his hyperactivity has leveled out. My German Shepherd with the oversensitive stomach tolerates Kumpi amazingly well, (better than the prescription food from Science Diet), and my cat with chronic mineral crystal urinary problems hasn't had any recurrances since starting him on the cat formula three months ago. No more prescription food for him either.
    I only wish I'd have switched back to Kumpi sooner.
    You can get it at Vitamin Cottage now.
    Nutritional info is on the website

    http://www.kumpi.com/home.html

  • December 10, 2008

    1:21 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    mtnlady writes:

    My llhasa apso mix, female, was diagnosed as diabetic 4 years ago at the age of 7. Her symptoms were extreme thirst, frequent urination and overweight. I've been giving her twice daily shots ever since, and Hill's W/D food. Her food, syringes and insulin cost about $100 per month. Vet bills run a few hundred dollars a year. At age 11 1/2, she is nearly blind from cataracts and she has dental disease, both complications of the diabetes. However she is happy, playful, energetic, affectionate & adorable. A wonderful companion. It has been a real learning experience, I want to keep her with me as long as I can.

  • December 30, 2008

    8:19 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    OHIO4MOM writes:

    I was so thankful to find this article last week when my dog Jasmine (age 7) was diagnosed with diabetes. I was sad and shocked, and I had never heard of anyone giving their pet insulin shots before. Mike and Oso's story helped get me in the right frame of mind.

    The vet told me that the condition may or may not be genetic, but I have a Keeshond....the first breed listed in the "most at risk" section of this article. I wish I would have known about this sooner. I'd have asked for a blood sugar check at my pet's routine, yearly exams. I made a special trip to the vet this month because Jasmine seemed oddly thirsty and had an accident on the rug (not like her). I was thinking bladder infection, not diabetes.