Managing canine diabetes Giving your dog a long, happy life Symptoms of diabetes  Excessive thirst (drinking water)  Increased urination Weight loss (even if eating well)  Decreased appetite  Cloudy eyes  Chronic or frequent infections, including skin and urinary infections  Learning your dog has diabetes can feel like a punch to your gut. Up to 1% of all dogs may develop diabetes during their lifetime. While this is a serious diagnosis, treatment options and management strategies can give your dog a long, quality life.  Diabetes mellitus revolves around a lack of insulin or a lack of the body’s response to insulin. Insulin therapy is a mainstay of treatment. Understanding your dog’s prognosis As with so many canine health problems, early diagnosis is key to your dog living a full life. Caught early, with treatment started right away and careful monitoring, many dogs with diabetes live full, active lives. The battle will be more difficult with dogs who have these issues:  Phosphate levels Dogs who have high levels of phosphate in their blood at the time of diagnosis tend to have a slightly less positive prognosis. The exact reason for this is unknown, but it emphasizes the need for a complete blood chemistry panel at the time of diagnosis.   Medical history Dogs who are more than 10-years-old, overweight, have a history of pancreatitis or are battling hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s disease) are more likely to have problems.  Dogs with hypothyroidism have a slightly higher risk of becoming diabetic, and any dog who has required treatment with glucocorticoids for long periods of time is also at risk.   Breeding A study from the United Kingdom suggested that Border Terriers, West Highland White Terriers and Cocker Spaniels had lower survival times than Border Collies.  Tibetan Terriers, Cairn Terriers and Samoyeds are also considered high-risk breeds for diabetes.   Females  While female dogs have a higher risk of developing diabetes, if they are spayed, they can be managed quite well.  Starting therapy After your dog has been definitively diagnosed with diabetes, treatment with insulin will be the starting point. Dogs who are ill may need to be hospitalized and started with rapid-acting insulin injections. Most dogs will be feeling relatively well and can start treatment at home under veterinary guidance.  Customizing treatment for diabetics is essential. Individual dogs may respond to one type of insulin but not another. Some dogs become resistant to a certain type after time and need to change. Dosages can vary greatly among dogs, as can the timing of dosages. Typically, dogs will start off on insulin injections twice a day, around their feeding times. But be prepared for the experimentation necessary to find the ideal protocol for an individual dog.  Veterinary staff will explain how to handle and store insulin, and how to correctly use the syringes. Different strengths and types of insulin come in different units, and you need to carefully match the syringes you use with the insulin type. Insulin is sensitive and must be stored carefully, not too cold or too hot. Even shaking it too vigorously can harm this medication. Some insulins need to be rolled rather than shaken. Never use insulin past its expiration date.  Finally, you will learn how to give the injections. Some clinics have you practice on something like fruit until you are comfortable with doing the injections properly. Injections are given subcutaneously, reaching the fat between the surface skin and muscle below. The needles are a small diameter and very sharp, so most dogs handle the injections well. Needles and syringes need to be disposed of properly. You will need a sharps container and to learn how to dispose of the needles in your town.  Types of insulin There are many versions of insulin available for treating diabetic dogs, and your veterinarian will guide you to the best choice for y