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Diabetes
Kidney Disorders
Heartworm Disease
Leptospirosis
Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when the pancreas does not secrete enough insulin to meet an animal's requirement. Insulin is a hormone that controls and maintains the blood sugar level within the body. Therefore, when your pet eats, the food is turned into sugar, the pancreas secretes insulin and insulin enables the body's cells to use this sugar for energy. Energy allows your pet to breathe, wag its tail, jump on the furniture, etc. Early clinical signs of diabetes include some or all of the following: increased thirst, frequent urination, weakness and an increased appetite. Untreated, diabetics will eventually develop a loss of appetite, dehydration and a toxic state called ketoacidosis.
DIAGNOSIS
Diagnosis of diabetes requires a thorough physical examination and a full diagnostic work-up. Diagnostic tests include a chemistry profile, a CBC and a urinalysis. Diabetes is often complicated by urinary tract infections and other underlying hormone disorders therefore further diagnostic tests may be required.
TREATMENT
Treatment of diabetes requires a commitment of time and management from you, the owner. There is no cure for diabetes but it can be controlled with insulin injections, diet and exercise management. With proper therapy your pet can lead a happy, comfortable life. Once your pet has been diagnosed with diabetes its insulin requirements must be determined. Your pet may need to be hospitalized for 2 to 4 days in order to determine its specific insulin dose. After your pet is hospitalized the insulin dose is determined by giving your pet an insulin injection and testing the blood sugar levels at regular intervals throughout the day. These results are used to determine your pet's initial insulin dose. Because your pet's insulin needs may change once it returns home, periodic reevaluation may be required over the next 2 weeks until satisfactory control is achieved. Once control is achieved, further evaluation should be completed every 2 to 4 months.
HOME CARE
The type of insulin and the daily dose are tailored to meet the needs of your pet. Most animals require insulin injections twice a day. Establish a routine schedule, such as morning and evening. Consistency is important. Insulin should be kept cool at all times and the bottle should be rolled prior to drawing the insulin into the syringe. The syringe and needle should be stored in protective wrappers to keep them sterile. Insulin syringes consist of four parts, the syringe barrel, the plunger, the needle and the needle guard. These syringes and needles are single use only. After giving your pet an injection, place the needle guard over the needle and dispose of it in a suitable container such as an empty coffee can. When this container is full bring it to your veterinarian who will dispose of it properly. It is extremely important that children do not have access to syringes.
THREE BASIC RULES OF INSULIN ADMINISTRATION
Never re-dose if some leaked out of the injection site.
Never re-dose if you cannot remember when you gave it.
Never double a dose under any circumstances.
DIET
As a general rule, the diabetic animal should be fed twice a day to help maintain blood sugar at a constant level. When you feed your pet is as important as what you feed it. Your pet must be fed the prescribed diet in the correct quantity at a regular time each day in conjunction with the insulin medication. Correct dietary management of the diabetic animal is a critical part of successful management. Keep some Karo syrup on hand so that you can administer it if your pet becomes hypoglycemic (low blood sugar).
HOME GLUCOSE MONITORING
You may be asked to monitor your diabetic pet at home for the presence or absence of glucose in its urine.
To test your dog for glucose:
Note the time you collect the urine.
Place a lead on your dog so it will be within reach when it urinates.
With a container, such as a soup ladle, a disposable cup, or small pan, collect a small amount of urine.
Remove one glucose test strip from the bottle and quickly re-close the bottle. The urine may sit for a while, as it does not change chemically.
Dip the end of the test strip into the urine. Tap the strip to remove any excess urine, and wait half a minute for the color to develop. Compare the color of the test area with the colored squares on the bottle.
Record the result and the time period it represents on a daily record sheet for your pet.
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Kidney Disorders
OVERVIEW
The kidneys remove waste materials from the blood and help regulate body fluids. When the kidneys fail to perform these functions, your pet shows signs of the disease.
ACUTE OR CHRONIC
Kidney disease is either acute (sudden) or chronic (long-term). Acute kidney disease is a rapid decline in kidney function which is often the result of sudden change in the body, such as:
Blood loss
Shock
Surgical stress
Trauma
Severe dehydration
Poisons
Drugs
Obstructed urine flow
Chronic kidney disease can result from the same causes listed above, as well as:
Breed tendencies
Hereditary tendencies
Nutritional factors
Immune system defects
SIGNS
Unfortunately, the signs of kidney disease do not appear until more than two thirds of the kidney function has been lost. Once this occurs, waste materials begin to accumulate in the blood stream and the pet will exhibit:
Loss of appetite
Increased thirst
Frequent urination
Poor hair coat
Vomiting
Depression
These signs may appear suddenly or develop slowly over time. Other diseases may also produce them.
TREATMENT
Once chronic kidney failure develops it cannot be reversed, but there are measures that can be taken to slow the progression of the disease and help the pet live longer. On the other hand, acute kidney function can be stopped and many pets recover completely once the underlying problem is corrected. Treatment of kidney disease is tailored to the individual patient but usually includes hospitalization, medication and nutrition specifically designed for pets suffering from kidney problems.
DIETARY PLAN
Once kidney disease is diagnosed, your veterinarian will recommend special nutrition. These foods contain reduced amounts of phosphorus, salt, and protein to limit waste materials in the blood and reduce the workload on the kidneys. You may also cook for your pet. Several home care diets are available at the animal hospital. As a result of kidney disease, up to 75% of dogs and cats also experience high blood pressure. If this is the case, your veterinarian may recommend a food that contains even lower amounts of salt. It is important that your pet have its blood pressure checked regularly.
FEEDING TIPS
Dogs and cats are creatures of habit and a very small percentage of pets may be reluctant to switch to an unfamiliar food. If your pet is one of the few that resists a dietary change, gradually introduce the new diet over a 7 to 10 day period. Mix the new food with the old, adding more of the new food each day. Here are some other feeding tips:
Hand-feed the food for the first few days.
For dogs only, carefully warm the canned food to body temperature or add a little warm water to the dry dog food and wait ten minutes before serving; remove moistened food after one hour.
MANAGING KIDNEY DISORDERS AT HOME
Once your pet returns home, it will require special attention and care. It is important that you follow these steps and any other instructions from your veterinarian:
Avoid all stress to your pet
Provide lots of fresh, clean water
Administer the recommended medications
Restrict exercise, if necessary
Return for any follow up appointments
Report any abnormalities to your veterinarian
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Heartworm Disease
Heartworm disease is a common problem in dogs in this part of the country. Heartworms are a parasitic worm that are passed from mosquitoes to dogs and, very infrequently, to cats. Once in the animal the larva undergo several molts and migrate to the heart chambers and the vessels of the heart where they gradually cause heart failure.
In dogs the signs of heartworm disease are weight loss, exercise intolerance, shortness of breath, coughing and collapse. In cats, when it occurs, the most common signs are vomiting and coughing.
Diagnosis in dogs is made via blood test drawn to detect either the antigen of the female heartworm or the first stage larvae that may be circulating in the bloodstream waiting to be ingested by a mosquito. In cats the diagnosis can be very difficult. Clinical signs, one specific blood test, and radiographs are all used to help reach a diagnosis.
Heartworm disease is an insidious disease with very slowly developing signs. Once an animal develops signs of the disease treatment becomes very involved and difficult. Treatment is not available for cats - only supportive care.
Our hospital recommends use of a preventative heartworm medication for all dogs. We handle the preventative treatment of cats on an individual basis so ask you primary care veterinarian. You may choose to keep your dog on medication year round and then have them tested on an every other year basis at the time of your annual physical or you may elect to use the medication from April through December and have your dog tested each spring.
There are monthly and daily medications available. By far, the great majority of people use monthly medications. Talk to your doctor if you have questions.
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Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is a disease that is caused by the bacteria Leptospira. Leptospira affects many species of animals including dogs, cats, rats, skunks, opossums, cattle, sheep, horses, and deer. This disease can also be transmitted to humans. Transmission occurs through the urine of infected animals, however, Leptospirosis organisms can survive in moist soil, surface water, drains, and mud. These organisms enter the body through mucous membranes such as the mouth or through abraded skin. Seven different types of Leptospira have been identified. In the past the incidence of Leptospirosis in this region of the country has been relatively low. Recently veterinarians have seen an increase in the numbers of dogs that test positive for Leptospirosis.
Clinical signs that have been associated with Leptospirosis include fever, anorexia, lethargy, vomiting, and an increase in water consumption and urination. Blood work typically will show elevations in liver and kidney values. Diagnosis of Leptospirosis is usually based on a blood test that detects antibodies to the bacteria. Treatment consists of intravenous fluids and specific antibiotics. The key to successful treatment is early recognition in conjunction with rapid, appropriate, aggressive supportive care.
A vaccine for Leptospirosis has been available for many years, however it was often linked to post vaccine allergic reactions and was not effective against the two types of Leptospirosis that are most common in this area. Fortunately, a new vaccine has been developed that works well against those two types. Not every dog requires vaccination. Dogs that are primarily house pets and those that rarely have contact with other dogs or animals probably do not need the vaccine. Owners of dogs that are at the park and in the water and woods on a regular basis should strongly consider the Leptospirosis vaccine. The vaccine is initially a two shot series followed by a yearly booster.
The incidence of Leptospirosis in cats is low and there is no feline vaccine currently available.
Please speak to your veterinarian if you have questions.
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