Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Study of 253 dogs in the United Kingdom with diabetes mellitus.
- Journal:
- The Veterinary record
- Year:
- 2005
- Authors:
- Davison, L J et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study looked at 253 dogs in the UK that had diabetes mellitus, which is a condition where the body can't properly manage sugar levels. Most of these dogs were Labrador Retrievers, Collies, Yorkshire Terriers, or mixed breeds, and they were typically diagnosed between the ages of five and 12. Most of the dogs were getting insulin injections once a day, but those that received them twice a day seemed to have better control of their blood sugar levels. Interestingly, fewer female dogs were diagnosed with diabetes compared to earlier studies, and the disease was more commonly found in the winter months, hinting that environmental factors might play a role. Overall, the findings suggest that managing diabetes in dogs can vary, and treatment approaches may need to be tailored for better outcomes.
Abstract
Clinical information and blood samples were collected from 253 dogs with naturally occurring diabetes mellitus. Over half of them were labrador retrievers, collies, Yorkshire terriers or crossbred dogs, and approximately 80 per cent of them were diagnosed between the ages of five and 12 years. The majority of the dogs were receiving insulin therapy once a day, but in the dogs receiving insulin injections twice a day there was a trend for lower serum fructosamine concentrations, suggesting better glycaemic control. The proportion of female dogs with diabetes was lower than in previous surveys. The disease was diagnosed more commonly in the winter months, a seasonal pattern also observed in human beings with diabetes, suggesting that similar environmental factors might be involved in the disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15828742/