Discussing Diabetes In Pets, How To Avoid It, And How To Observe The Holiday That Promotes Awareness About It
Diabetes is a very serious health condition that can drastically impact our pets health and overall way of life. The Countryside Veterinary Clinic reports that 1 in 500 dogs has diabetes. Additionally, they report that 1 in 200 cats has diabetes. To help raise awareness about diabetes in pets, the entire month of November is celebrated as National Pet Diabetes Month! This article will take an in-depth look at pet diabetes, how it happens, how to avoid it, and how to observe this month-long pet-themed holiday.
What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes can be defined as a chronic health condition that directly impacts how the body processes food into energy. According to the C.D.C. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), the body breaks down consumed food into a sugar called glucose. Glucose is then released into the bloodstream and as the blood sugar goes up, the pancreas releases insulin. Additionally, insulin is very important as it acts like a key allowing blood sugar into the cells for use as energy.
However, pets with diabetes can’t produce or utilize insulin properly. Ultimately, this prevents the conversion of food into energy. When there is a lack of insulin or when cells stop responding to insulin, too much blood sugar stays in the bloodstream. This causes major health problems including vision problems, kidney disease, and heart disease. Essentially, diabetes halts the entire process of the body converting food into sustainable energy.
Treating Diabetes
Sadly, there is no definitive cure for diabetes. However, there are several ways to treat and manage diabetes. The best way to manage diabetes is to manage your insulin levels. This can easily be done through routine insulin injections. Insulin injections help reintroduce insulin to the body since the body can’t produce insulin properly on its own. The amount of insulin needed will vary depending on the severity of the diabetes.
Insulin injections are fairly easy to administer to your pets. The syringes have very tiny needles, so it won’t hurt your pet. The measurements are marked and displayed on the outside of the syringe, so it’s simple to gauge how much insulin you are giving. Additionally, it’s important to feed your pet before giving them insulin. Typically within one hour of eating to prevent blood sugar spikes. For more information on administering insulin to your pets click here.
Preventing Diabetes
Although diabetes is not curable, it is preventable. Maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle is the best way to prevent getting diabetes. This includes routine exercise and a healthy diet. Unhealthy foods, such as sweets, fast foods, snack foods, and processed foods, should be avoided.
As for pets, it’s important to pay attention to how much food they eat and the quality of the food they eat. Be sure to check the nutrition label of your pets’ food to see exactly what your pet is eating. For more info about pet nutrition, click here.
Additionally, maintaining an active lifestyle is important for preventing diabetes in your pets. Although both dogs and cats sleep a lot, they are still active creatures. Both dogs and cats need routine exercise and stimulation in order to stay happy and healthy. Taking your dog for daily walks and giving your cat some extra playtime will help keep them active and lower their chances of getting diabetes.
Hire A Pet Sitter Today!
If you or someone you know is looking for a pet sitter or dog walker, then look no further than My Dog Walker & Pet Sitting. We are fully insured & bonded and have over 10 years of experience working with animals. Click here to check out our wide variety of pet sitting services including in-home pet sitting and routine dog walking. We currently service the Medford, Medford Lakes, Shamong, and Tabernacle, NJ areas. To become a client, click here or give us a call at 856-217-2781. We hope to hear from you soon and happy Deaf Dog Awareness Week!