November is National Diabetes Month, which makes this month a great time to talk about pet diabetes and its ability to affect your cat or dog’s health. While diabetes may seem like a human disease, pet diabetes affects one in every two hundred cats and is one of the most common diseases in dogs—with some breeds, such as Samoyeds, dachshunds, poodles, Beagles, and Schnauzers—being over-represented among those dogs affected. Diabetes is seen twice as much in female dogs as in males, while male cats are more prone to diabetes. While juvenile diabetes can occur in pets, it’s fairly rare—usually diabetes affects older pets, that is, dogs aged seven to nine years old, and cats aged eight to thirteen. Pet diabetes can take the form of Type I, a lifelong condition where the body doesn’t make enough insulin (more common in dogs) or Type II, an often temporary condition where the body makes inadequate insulin (more common in cats).

While there’s no cure for pet diabetes, with correct care and early diagnosis by your veterinarian in the greater Philadelphia area it is a disease that can be managed, allowing your pet to live a long and healthy life. Pet owners should be aware of the following symptoms of diabetes in pets, and take their pet in if they suspect diabetes:

• Excessive Thirst. This is a big one, and often an early warning sign. If your pet is draining his or her water bowl more frequently all of a sudden, it may be time for a visit to the vet.
• Excessive and Inappropriate Urination. This often goes hand-in-hand with excessive thirst. When your pet drinks more, they urinate more, and this may lead to dogs inappropriately eliminating in the house, or cats marking areas other than their box.
• Blindness and/or Cataracts. Any new vision problems should prompt a pet owner to visit their local veterinarian or a specialty veterinary healthcare hospital. Specifically, the whitening of the eye in animals may be a sign of diabetes.
• If your pet is suddenly unusually ravenous, it may be time for a checkup.
• Lethargy or Weakness. All pets slow down with age, but if you notice your pet is lethargic, or unable or unwilling to do the things they used to love, take them in.
• Dandruff or Oily Coat. Changes to your pet’s coat can be a good indicator of a health problem in general, but they can also specifically indicate diabetes.

If you suspect your pet has diabetes, please make an appointment wit
h your local veterinarian as soon as you can. It is likely they can help, or they can refer you to specialists like those at VRC in Malvern, PA. Diabetes can be managed with injections of insulin, but it can be fatal if it goes untreated.

VRC is a specialty veterinary healthcare hospital. We’re open 24/7, 365 days a year. Referring veterinarians can count on us to give great advice to families with pets suffering from diabetes, so give us a call.

When you own a dog, you become responsible for their health. Sometimes that means taking your canine companion in for regular checkups at their veterinarian in the greater Philadelphia area. Sometimes it means seeking out a specialty veterinary healthcare hospital when something more serious is needed. And sometimes it means making the right sort of decisions on a daily basis to keep your dog at a healthy weight.

While it may not seem like a big deal to feed your dog pizza crusts or the trimmings from your porterhouse, over time those extra calories can pack on some extra pounds. Sure, videos of chubby dogs may be common online, but it’s best to keep your dog at their ideal weight. This is because excess weight can affect your pet’s health and quality of life, both long-term and short-term.

The best way to keep your dog at a healthy weight is not to let him or her get overweight in the first place. Controlling your dog’s dinner portions is a great idea, as is feeding them only healthy snacks like carrots, celery, apple slices, and the appropriate amount of biscuits. But diet is only one part of healthy weight control—exercise is crucial, too! Regular long walks will help your dog maintain his or her weight by burning off calories and keeping their metabolism up.

Speaking of dog metabolisms, they slow down as your pet ages. Yes, if there’s one thing all dogs have in common, it’s that they age—and you want them to stay healthy as they start to become older. Dogs at a healthy weight live longer lives, studies have shown, but as the years creep up on them, so can their weight, and that can lead to a host of health complaints—such as osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is common in larger dogs, but heavier dogs of all sizes have a higher risk of contracting the disease. Joint problems can really affect dogs’ quality of life, so the best thing to do is keep them at a healthy weight to reduce their likelihood of joint pain as they age.

Weight management is also an important part of caring for your dog after they’ve had a surgery. Sedentary dogs are more likely to put on unhealthy weight, and your dog may be less eager to play or move after going through a medical procedure. That’s why VRC in Malvern, PA offers rehabilitation for your dog, including weight management. We have a canine gym just for your dog, including a sandbox to help provide resistance as they run and play. VRC’s therapeutic exercise sessions are for post-surgical canine patients, but your local veterinarian can refer your dog to us if you believe they are in need of some rehabilitation to improve their weight and quality of life!

Located in the greater Philadelphia area, VRC is a specialty veterinary healthcare hospital. If you’re curious about our canine gym or our weight management and rehabilitation services, give us a call.