The treatment for dogs with diabetes has come a long ways. The prognosis of a newly diagnosed dog does not have to be a death sentence. Many dogs go on to live productive lives within the normal life expectancy. There are many factors that can determine this such as when the onset and diagnosis was made, how severe the diabetes is and if it responds to treatment.

The most important thing an owner can do is to make sure that their dog receives the necessary insulin. Some dogs require multiple injections throughout the day. It is important to work carefully with a veterinarian to ensure that the dog’s sugar level is in control. This can result in many vet visits and blood work but it is critical to the dog’s health.

It is also very important to make sure that the dog gets proper nutrition. Diets that are too high in carbohydrates will cause problems. Table scraps should be eliminated.

Canine diabetes has some early warning symptoms, such as increased thirst and urination, but if you don’t catch the disease in its beginning stages, your dog is seriously at risk of various complications. He can develop cataracts that cause blindness, lose his energy, stop eating, lose weight, vomit excessively or go into a coma. Dogs with untreated diabetes are also at risk for serious infections and will die without proper veterinary treatment. A blood test for high glucose levels can quickly identify diabetes early, before irreversible damage has been done to your dog’s organs, and get your dog the help he needs without a costly delay. Having your dog’s glucose level tested reveals if his blood sugar levels are above normal, the earliest warning sign of the disease that you can’t see with your eyes alone.

If you have been feeding your dog their regular portion of food and they appear to be losing weight in spite of it, this could be a sign that they may have diabetes. Unexplained weight loss when paired with other symptoms such as excessive thirst and a lack of energy are signs that your dog needs to see a veterinarian.The full explanation can be found at http://amipourlavie.wordpress.com/2011/08/11/canine-diabetes/ They will screen your pet to determine if they do indeed have canine diabetes.

If your dog does receive this diagnosis, don’t panic. Canine diabetes is entirely treatable, especially when caught early. Daily insulin shots may be required, as well as a special diet that will help keep your dog’s blood sugar levels balanced. If your dog is overweight, this will contribute to the issue and the dog should be placed on a diet. Your veterinarian may also supply you with an oral glucose to assist your pet if they appear to be hypoglycemic, or low in blood sugar.

Because your dog is drinking much more water than he usually does, he will be urinating more. This is also because your dogs’ body has too much glucose in it and the body’s defense systems wants to get rid of it by telling the dog to urinate.I found some more information here. Because the dogs urinating has increased, so does the water intake.

The two forms of diabetes, Diabetes Insipidus and Diabetes Mellitus both show signs of frequent urination. This problem signals incontinence as well. This is why your dog should be taken down to the vet to have a blood test performed. The blood test will show increased levels of sugar in your dog’s urine. If you have light-colored carpet, you will be able to see that the color of the urine is lighter than it usually is. Hesitating to take your pet to the vet could result in death if not treated.