Ketoacidosis in dogs

Diabetic ketoacidosis in dogs is often a result of untreated canine diabetes. This deadly side effect of diabetes in dogs requires fast and aggressive treatment.

Diabetes insipidus is a condition where the body fails to maintain water balance due to lowered production of the hormone, antidiuretic hormone (ADH), also known as vasopressin. This hormone regulates the kidneys' ability to absorb water. It can also occur as a result of the failure of the kidneys to respond to the antidiuretic hormone, released by the pituitary gland. Diabetes insipidus is a rare disease affecting dogs and is quite different from canine diabetes mellitus, which is caused by the deficiency of insulin or insulin resistance that disrupts sugar metabolism.

What is diabetic ketoacidosis? This dangerous complication of canine diabetes is sometimes the first symptom of untreated diabetes in dogs. Dog owners must know the symptoms of this condition to prevent this life-threatening complication of diabetes in canines.

Diabetic Canine

During the process of digestion, food is broken down into glucose, which is the fuel used by the body. Normally blood glucose levels are regulated by insulin, which is secreted by the pancreas. But if the body can't use the insulin, then glucose levels in the blood become too high.
The body compensates by breaking down stored fat for energy. This produces fatty acids, which are sent to the liver. The liver then uses these fatty acids to produce ketones, which the body can also use for fuel.
When glucose levels in the blood are too high, this causes the liver to produce too many ketones, leading to diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA. If left untreated, this condition is fatal.

From : dog-care.suite101.com

Hunting dog hypoglycemia ,Home Care and Prevention

Administer as directed any medications prescribed by your veterinarian. Observe your dog's general activity level, appetite and attitude.

If you have reason to suspect hypoglycemia, you should rub Karo® syrup on your dog's gums and call your veterinarian immediately. Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to identify, treat, and monitor the underlying cause of hypoglycemia.

See your veterinarian for regular check-ups as directly.

Provide a warm environment, frequent feedings, routine vaccinations and de-worming procedures for puppies as recommended by your veterinarian. Provide frequent, regular feedings. Young puppies should be fed at least 3 to 4 times a day.

Feed a high quality dog food and provide extra feedings or snacks to working dogs.

Hypoglycemia in dog - low blood glucose (sugar) levels in the body

Hypoglycemia
is defined as a blood glucose or blood sugar concentration of less than 70 milligrams per deciliter(mg/dl) of blood. Symptoms depend on how quickly the blood glucose concentration decreases but rarely occur until it falls below 50 mg/dl.

Symptoms reflect the rate of decrease of the blood glucose concentration, the underlying cause of hypoglycemia, and the chronicity of the problem. One common form of hypoglycemia is called juvenile hypoglycemia because it occurs in puppies less than three months of age. Juvenile hypoglycemia is common in puppies because they have not fully developed the ability to regulate their blood glucose concentration and have a high requirement for glucose. Stress, cold, malnutrition, and intestinal parasites are problems that may precipitate a bout of juvenile hypoglycemia. Toy breed dogs less than three months of age are most commonly affected.

Hypoglycemia in dogs results from a sudden drop in the concentration of blood sugar levels in the body. Dogs that go into hypoglycemia suffer from weakness, they can collapse, and sometimes go into seizures.

Hypoglycemia is medically defined as abnormally low blood glucose (sugar) levels. Our body (and our dog's body too!) uses glucose as its primary energy source. In particular, the brain needs sugar in order to function normally, and unlike many other organs, the brain has a very limited ability to store glucose. As a result, when blood glucose level becomes very low, the brain is the organ that is affected the most.

Other causes of hypoglycemia include fasting before vigorous exercise, which may be a factor in the syndrome called "hunting dog hypoglycemia"; Addison's disease, an endocrine problem caused by a lack of hormone production by the adrenal glands which can cause weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, and collapse; excessive insulin administration, as may occur in pets with diabetes mellitus; insulin-producing tumors of the pancreas, called "insulinomas" or "beta cell tumors"; severe liver disease; some other tumors that produce insulin-like factors; dogs with portosystemic shunts, which are congenital blood vessel abnormalities the cause blood from the intestines to by-pass the liver; hereditary diseases arising from abnormal storage of glucose as starch in the liver, or glycogen storage disease; and serious systemic bacterial infection, or sepsis.

What to Watch For

Loss of appetite

Extreme lethargy

Incoordination

Trembling

Muscular twitching

Weakness

Seizures

Unusual behavior

Dilated pupils

Apparent blindness

Stupor or coma

Symptoms of diabetes insipidus in dogs

Diabetes Insipidus is a completely different disease from diabetes mellitus. In extreme cases, both of these diseases can occur together.
Diabetes Insipidus is a disorder of water balance. The animal is unable to concentrate urine, so the volume is very high and the urine is dilute. “Insipid” means tasteless --referring to the dilute urine. This illness is caused by lack of the hormone ADH (antidiuretic hormone) which concentrates urine. This can be because the body is not producing enough of this hormone or because the animal’s kidneys do not know how to use the hormone. Therefore the amount of water taken in is not balanced with the amount of fluid the animal urinates.

Diabetes occurs in dogs when insufficient insulin is secreted by their pancreas. This is the primary and most common diabetes in dogs. It is also called mellitus diabetes or sugar diabetes. There is another more serious form of diabetes in dogs known as hyperglycemia or high blood sugar.

Dog Diabetes Symptoms are most commonly found in dogs who are obese and are seldom exercised. Heredity also plays an important part and good dog breeders keep a record of such details. In rare cases, diabetes in dogs occurs as a result of some medication. The most common Dog Diabetes Symptoms are excessive thirst and frequent urination. There is some amount of lethargy and a loss of appetite.

Some Diabetic Dog Symptoms disappear with an inclusion of fiber in the dog’s diet. Obese dogs have to be progressively put on a low carbohydrate diet so that with weight management the Diabetic Dog Symptoms also vanish. However, in the case of persistent Diabetic Dog Symptoms the dog may have to be taken to an animal hospital and put on insulin injections between meals. If the dog is not very comfortable in the hospital, the pet owner may have to arrange for administering these injections himself at home. Some change in other medications may also be warranted.

Like in human beings, diabetes in dogs is known to be passed down through generations by heredity. But Diabetic Dog Symptoms occur most often in dogs that are obese and live a sedentary life and are never exercised either due to their bloated size, old age or other illnesses. 

From : thepetcheckup , dogsymptoms

Diabetes Insipidus in Dogs - How to Recognize and Treat ?

When a dog experiences diabetes insipidus he isn’t producing the correct amount of anti-diuretic hormones. Dogs of all ages and breeds are equally likely to experience this condition. A canine owner may first notice a health issue when the dog becomes excessively thirsty. If you suspect your pooch has this condition, care should be provided.

Diabetes is a medical term that refers to a range of disorders that are characterized by abnormal thirst and frequent weak urination. One of the dog health issues by breed, diabetes in canines comes in of two forms:

                Diabetes Insipidus or drinking diabetes

                Diabetes Mellis or sugar diabetes

Diabetes insipidus (DI) is a condition caused due to trouble maintaining water balance in the body.  When affected by DI your dog will not be able to concentrate urine because of which he’ll urinate more frequently. The term "insipid" refers to dilute urine.

A rare form of dog health issues by breed, DI, a permanent condition, can only be diagnosed once blood and urine tests are carefully studied. In this form of disease, dogs generally drink more than normal water and urinate more often. However, pet owners mustn’t conclude that their pet has diabetes insipidus based on these symptoms alone. Lack of proper treatment can lead to dehydration, coma, and even death.

Most often pet owners ask pet health questions such as, “my dog has started drinking and urination more than normal, does he have diabetes insipidus?” There can be many reasons why your dog may have increased his intake of water or “polydipsia” and increased urination or ‘polyuria,’ such as diabetes mellis and some other kidney problems. It’s imperative that you get the dog checked by a good veterinarian as well as ask him/her pet health questions to ascertain the actual cause of these dog health issues.

Types Of Diabetes Insipidus ,There are two main types of diabetes insipidus:

1. Pet health questions are important to understand the other causes and effects of central diabetes insipidus and some of these include congenital defect, one or more tumors on the pituitary gland, trauma, or other causes.
2. Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus: Nephrogenic DI is caused due to lack of response by the kidneys to the antidiuretic hormone, which is secreted by the pituitary gland. Some causes of nephrogenic DI include congenital defect, metabolic disorders, or drugs.

Diagnosis of Diabetes Insipidus

A vet would typically, try to rule out other diseases with similar symptoms such as ‘Hyperadrenocorticism’ or Cushing's disease, diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes), hyperthyroidism in felines, renal failure, and liver disease among other dog health issues by breed.

Treatment of Diabetes Insipidus

Central DI can be treated with a drug called ‘Desmopressin’ that fulfills the lack of antidiuretic hormone. Available as DDAVP, its formulations include nasal spray pump; liquid to be used rhinal tube; liquid injection for subcutaneous penetration; and in tablet form for oral penetration.

Nephrogenic DI can be controlled with ‘Thiazide diuretics.’ The main purpose of these medications is to allow concentration of urine. Oral medicine such as ‘chlorothiazide’ works with the kidneys to ensure that urine can be concentrated.

From : ehow , articlesbase