Hello Gentle Care Animal Hospital clients! We hope all of you are well. It is hard to believe it is already November. Soon we will celebrate the New Year and I imagine most of you are like us; hopeful that 2021 will be much better. We wanted to let you know that November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Veterinarians have the opportunity each year to join the Diabetes Pet Care Alliance for November and December. The main goal of the Pet Care Alliance is to help raise awareness of pet diabetes and reduce the stigma of managing the condition in pets. Diabetes cannot be cured but it can be managed; pets with diabetes can live long and healthy lives with the correct treatment and monitoring.
Diabetes is a shortage of insulin that is produced by the pancreas. The digestion process takes the carbohydrates in your pet’s food and converts them to sugars, including glucose. The glucose is absorbed into the blood and provides energy to the body’s cells. Glucose needs insulin in order to penetrate most cells. In pets with diabetes, their pancreas is producing less insulin so they cannot utilize their glucose properly. Keeping your pet lean and eating high quality food helps protect the pancreas from long term issues.
Some signs of diabetes in your pet may be excessive thirst, excessive urination, fast weight loss, increased appetite, or lethargy. If you have noticed a stand-alone sign or a combination of any of these signs; please call our clinic and make an appointment with your veterinarian. It does not mean it is diabetes but the symptoms should not be ignored. The veterinarian will first look at the history of the pet, find out what and how often symptoms are presenting, a urinalysis is usually preformed as well as blood work. Once we have confirmation the patient is diabetic; we can start treating it right away.
Like we said, diabetes is manageable. If your pet is diagnosed diabetic we have the tools, medication and education to help ease your mind and keep your pet with you longer. We will teach you everything you need to know about administering insulin, how to monitor your pet’s glucose levels and recommend the best foods for diabetes.
If you have noticed your pet behaving differently or recognize any of these clinical signs; call our office. As always, if you have any concerns about your pet in any area, call and make appointment 417-725-2386.