Diabetes-Signs & Symptoms

Special Needs Pets Diabetes

Special Needs Pets have a special place in our hearts.  Today’s topic deals with a question I’ve been asked many times, “How do I tell if my child or dog has Diabetes?”.  Did you know the signs and symptoms of diabetes are the same for children & dogs? Signs and symptoms of Diabetes for all ages are the same but children and dogs are often (as children) or not at all (as dogs) able to tell us what they are feeling and/or symptoms they are experiencing.

Flashback to 2010

Since writing Harley’s Story, a children’s book where Harley tells his story of adoption and being diagnosed with Diabetes (reviews), I have heard the same question over and over. How do I know if my child or dog has diabetes?

I fully understand fearing you will miss the signs and symptoms of diabetes. Either for your child and/or your furry family member.

In late 2010 I called our vet and asked, “Harley is peeing more frequently, having potting accidents despite being potty-trained, and drinking more water. In humans (I’m a Family Nurse Practitioner) that is diabetes what is that in a dog”. The Vet answered, “diabetes, bring him in”. His blood sugar was in the 400’s where normal, for pets and humans, is around 120.

I was devastated. What did this mean for my furkid? After blood tests demonstrated his kidneys, heart, and liver were looking good the Vet reassured me. We caught it since I know the signs and symptoms and called early. As it turns out, a lot of people are not able to identify the signs and symptoms and catch them too late.

It took several months, I had a lot to learn-insulin injections, blood glucose monitoring, and “How to Choose a Dog Food” to name a few but we were able to get his glucose levels under control. I’ll talk about managing diabetes in additional posts.How to Tell if Your Dog or Child Has Diabetes

Know the signs and symptoms & catch diabetes early:

  1. Excessive thirst
  2. Excessive hunger/change in appetite
  3. Excessive urination
  4. Fatigue
  5. Weight loss
  6. Blurred vision
  7. Slow healing of sores or cuts
  8. Frequent urinary tract infections

Helping prevent diabetes:

  1. Maintaining weight
  2. Healthy diet
  3. Exercise

How to tell if your child or dog has Diabetes? Harley & D

Harley's Story CoverHow do you talk to your child about their newly diagnosed illness? How do you tell your child their pet has an illness like diabetes? What can you do to explain that they will be loved unconditionally regardless of health issues? The answer is “Harley’s Story”.

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Purchase Harley's Story

HELPFUL LINKS (where we sniffed out our information & you can get more)

  1.  American Diabetes Association “Basic Symptoms of Diabetes”
  2.  American Diabetes Association “Preventing Type 2 Diabetes in Children”
  3.  The Bark “Preventing & Treating Canine Diabetes”