Common diseases of dogs and cats - diabetes

Diabetes is a group of endocrine and metabolic diseases whose etiology and pathogenesis have not yet been fully elucidated. Hyperglycemia is a common feature. Absolute or relative deficiency of insulin secretion, as well as decreased sensitivity of target cells to insulin, causing disorders in sugar, protein, fat and secondary water and electrolyte metabolism.

Type I diabetes, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM): For IDDM, cells secreting insulin from the pancreas are largely destroyed, and insulin must be exogenously supplemented in order to maintain life.

Type II diabetes, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM): For NIDDM, beta cells are still present, but insulin responds abnormally to hyperglycemia. When blood sugar rises, insulin secretion is delayed, followed by excessive insulin secretion. In addition, the body cells cannot respond to insulin as normal. For this type of diabetes, although insulin production and effects on the body's cells are impaired, animals can continue to live without exogenous insulin. However, in order to improve the clinical symptoms of diabetes and maintain weight, treatment is often needed.

Secondary Diabetes: For secondary diabetes, other diseases may damage beta cells or cause abnormal responses to insulin in the body's cells. Such as hyperthyroidism, pancreatitis, estrus, acromegaly (a state of excessive secretion of growth hormone) and adrenal hyperfunction can cause secondary development in dogs and cats.

Almost 95% of canine diabetes is type I (insulin dependent) diabetes, and type II (non-insulin dependent) diabetes is rare. In cats, 50% are type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes and 50% may be type II (non-insulin dependent) diabetes.

Genetic factors: Australian dogs, Cairns, Yorkshire Terriers, standard and miniature Schnauzers, curling Bichon dogs, mini and toy poodles, Samoyed dogs have a tendency to develop diabetes, and German Shepherd, joy The incidence of the breeds of the Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, and Boston Terrier is below average.

Other causes of infection: infection, immune-mediated pancreatitis, pancreatitis, obesity, drugs (such as adrenocortical hormone) and islet amyloidosis.

The most common symptoms of diabetes in dogs and cats are three more and one less: polydipsia, polyuria, hyperglycemia, and weight loss. Hyperglycemia can cause osmotic diuresis. Polyuria causes progressive dehydration and triggers polydipsia, so polydipsia is a common manifestation of diabetes.

Due to the lack of insulin, the hypothalamic satiety center cannot use glucose, which can cause polyphagia. As a large amount of glucose is lost from the urine, the body weight will drop. Furthermore, insulin promotes the synthesis of fat. When insulin is deficient, fat can be decomposed in large amounts, causing weight loss. The decomposed fatty acids are transported to the liver, which is easy to form ketone bodies in the liver. Therefore, many dogs and cats suffer from ketoacidosis soon after suffering from diabetes. In addition, many cats are also prone to fatty liver.

When diabetes is secondary to ketoacidosis, there is usually severe dehydration, hypovolemia, metabolic acidosis, and sometimes shock. Ketoacidosis and diabetes can carry a lot of electrolytes out of the urine, causing low sodium and low sodium in the body, aggravating low blood volume and dehydration. Ketoxemia and hyperglycemia can stimulate the body's chemoreceptors, causing nausea, vomiting and anorexia. Eventually severe dehydration can cause hyperviscosity, thrombosis, severe metabolic acidosis, kidney failure and death.