Skip to content

Hormonales

Diabetes mellitus

A condition in which the body either does not produce insulin or does not use it properly, and blood sugar goes out of control. It is common and manageable with treatment.

Severe🐕 Dogs🐈 Cats

Symptoms to watch for

  • • Drinking much more water than normal
  • • Urinating a lot and more often
  • • Increased appetite but weight loss
  • • Lethargy
  • • In uncontrolled cases: vomiting, dehydration, fruity-smelling breath (emergency)
  • • Rapid-onset cataracts in dogs

Causes

A lack of insulin or resistance to it. Contributing factors: obesity (especially in cats), genetics, pancreatitis, age, certain medications, and other hormonal diseases.

Diagnosis

Blood and urine tests (persistently elevated blood glucose, glucose in the urine). The vet confirms the diagnosis and rules out complications.

Treatment

Lifelong treatment: injectable insulin (almost always), a specific diet, weight control, and stable routines. With good management, quality of life is good. Some cats even go into remission if the condition is controlled early.

Prevention

Weight control (obesity is a major risk factor, especially in cats), a good-quality diet, and exercise.

When should you see the vet?

See your vet if your pet is drinking and urinating a lot along with weight loss. URGENT if it is decompensated (vomiting, dehydration, very lethargic): this is a metabolic emergency.

Consult a vet

WetAi guides you and takes you to the vet; it does not diagnose.

Notice: this information is for general guidance and educational purposes only. It does NOT replace diagnosis or treatment by a registered veterinary surgeon. If you notice any symptoms, always consult a professional. Wallapets accepts no responsibility for the use of this information without veterinary supervision.

Wallapets Sign in