What causes diabetes in dogs?

When diabetes, a disease that is common in humans, quietly falls on dogs, owners often fall into deep worries. What exactly causes dogs to suffer from diabetes? Finding the answer to this question is not only to better understand the health crisis of dogs, but also to build a solid health defense line for them in daily life. ​

From a genetic perspective, some dog breeds are naturally more susceptible to diabetes. For example, miniature schnauzers, poodles, beagles, etc.these breeds of dogs seem to have a certain genetic code in their bodies, which makes them much more likely to develop diabetes than other dog breeds. Just like the gene chain inherited from the family, the hidden danger of diabetes is passed on to them. Imagine that when you happily welcome a miniature schnauzer puppy home, its lively and cute appearance brings vitality to the whole family. However, as time goes by, you find that it gradually develops some abnormal symptoms and is later diagnosed with diabetes. At this time, the deep feeling of powerlessness and heartache for the dog will surge like a tide, and you can't help but wonder if it is because of its genetic factors that this little life has suffered from illness too early. ​

Diet plays an extremely important role in the onset of diabetes in dogs. Nowadays, many owners feed their dogs a lot of high-calorie, high-fat foods, such as various meat snacks, greasy canned foods, etc., out of their love for their dogs. These seemingly delicious foods may cause a series of metabolic disorders in dogs. Excessive intake of fat and sugar makes it impossible for the dog's body to metabolize normally, and the blood sugar level is out of control. It's like a car that originally had good performance, but was added with unsuitable fuel, causing the engine to gradually malfunction. In the long run, the dog's chance of developing diabetes will increase significantly. There was once an owner who fed his poodle several pieces of jerky and a large can of canned food every day because he spoiled his poodle too much. Gradually, the poodle became obese and his movements became slow. Until one day, the dog began to drink water and urinate frequently, and his mental state was much worse than before. After going to the hospital for examination, it was confirmed that the dog had diabetes. At that moment, the owner regretted it and deeply realized that his improper feeding method had become a "killer" of the dog's health. ​

The dog's obesity problem is also one of the important factors leading to diabetes, which is often closely related to insufficient diet and exercise. When the calories consumed by dogs far exceed the calories consumed by their bodies, the excess energy will accumulate in the body in the form of fat. Obesity not only increases the burden on various organs of the dog's body, but also affects the normal secretion and function of insulin. Insulin is like a "little guard" that regulates blood sugar in the body. Once its function is affected, blood sugar will be out of control. Looking at the originally lively and lively dog, it has become bloated because of obesity and is out of breath when walking. The owner's heart is full of worries. When it is learned that obesity may cause diabetes and threaten the dog's life and health, the worry has turned into deep self-blame and anxiety. ​

Endocrine disorders may also cause diabetes in dogs. For example, if there is a problem with the pancreas in the dog's body and it cannot secrete insulin normally, it will cause blood sugar to be unable to be effectively used and stored, thus causing diabetes. The pancreas is like a "small factory" in the body, which specializes in producing insulin to maintain the balance of blood sugar. Once this "factory" fails, the stability of blood sugar will be broken. In addition, some abnormalities of other endocrine glands, such as hypothyroidism, may also indirectly affect the regulation of blood sugar and increase the risk of diabetes in dogs. When the owner found some inexplicable changes in the dog's body, such as mental depression and changes in appetite, he took it to the hospital for examination, but was told that endocrine disorders caused diabetes. The shock in his heart and the worry about the dog's future are simply indescribable. ​

Age is also an important factor that cannot be ignored in dogs suffering from diabetes. As dogs age, various functions of the body gradually decline, and the function of the pancreas is no exception. The pancreas of elderly dogs may not be able to secrete insulin normally like when they were young, and their ability to regulate blood sugar will also weaken. This is like a machine that has been used for many years, and the parts are gradually aging and wearing, and it is no longer as smooth as before. Many owners will find that their dogs are in poor physical condition after they enter old age, and they are prone to various diseases, among which diabetes is a common one. Seeing his old friend who has been with him for many years suffering from diabetes, the owner is filled with reluctance and heartache. He only hopes to do his best to make the dog live more comfortably in the remaining days. ​

Dogs suffering from diabetes are the result of the combined effect of multiple factors. Genetic factors make some dog breeds inherently face a higher risk, while improper diet, obesity, endocrine disorders, and aging, etc., are like adding insult to injury, further increasing the chance of dogs getting sick. As dog owners, we shoulder the responsibility of protecting their health. In daily life, we should give dogs a scientific and reasonable diet, ensure that they have enough exercise, take them for regular physical examinations, and promptly detect and deal with physical abnormalities.