My dog was diagnosed with canine diabetes. Now what?
If your dog was recently diagnosed with diabetes, you might feel relieved that you know the cause for all those worrisome clinical signs your dog has been showing. However, it can be overwhelming to first learn about the diabetes treatments.
The type of treatment will depend on the diagnosis. Diabetes insipidus, also known as "watery diabetes," is treated with an antidiuretic hormone, while diabetes mellitus, the much more common "sugar diabetes," is treated using insulin. Consistent feeding and a stable, stress-free environment are also crucial to treating diabetes mellitus in dogs, according to VCA Animal Hospitals.
Giving shots to dogs is something most owners assume only their veterinarian will have to do, but if your canine has diabetes, shots might be a part of daily life. Usually, veterinarians prescribe an insulin treatment for dogs with diabetes. Even if you don't know how to give a dog a shot, your veterinarian can teach you. VCA reports that there is no need to fear inflicting pain on the animal, since the shots are very small and cause minimal pain.
According to WebMD Pets, the insulin should be injected into loose skin anywhere along the dog's neck or back, but try to give it in a different spot every time.
