November is National Pet Diabetes Month, and BluePearl Veterinary Partners encourages pet owners to become more aware of the signs and symptoms of diabetes.
Diabetes is a relatively common disease in which the body doesn’t use glucose properly. If left untreated, diabetes is life-threatening. It is manageable and if detected early enough, pets with diabetes can live a normal life when treated and medicated properly. In some cases with cats, diabetes can actually be reversed.
Signs and symptoms of diabetes that owners should be aware of include the following:
• Increase in water consumption
• Increase in urination
• Increase in appetite
• Weight loss
• Cataracts may be present if diabetes has been existent for a longer period of time
Certain steps can be taken to prevent diabetes. For example, obesity is a risk factor that can be controlled. In cats, diabetes is similar to the human version of diabetes and can often be managed with a change of diet recommended and supervised by a veterinarian. In dogs, diabetes must be managed with insulin.
“If you notice any of these symptoms, we highly recommend seeing your family veterinarian as soon as possible,” said Dr. Neil Shaw, chief medical officer of BluePearl.
This information was provided by BluePearl Veterinary Partners.
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