Diabetes in dogs

What is diabetes?

Diabetes refers to a group of conditions that affect insulin's ability to process blood sugar. Diabetes in humans can come in a lot of varieties, including type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. Some types cause the body to not create enough insulin, while others make people resistant to the insulin they create.

Types of diabetes in dogs

Up to 1% of dogs will develop diabetes in their lifetime. That's quite a lot less than the 5-10% of Australian humans with diabetes. Despite being less common in canines, it's still not a particularly rare condition. There are two types of diabetes in dogs:

• Diabetes mellitus. Sometimes also known as 'sugar diabetes', this is the primary type of diabetes in dogs. It's caused by an insulin deficiency, either from not enough insulin or from insulin resistance.
• Diabetes insipidus. Sometimes also known as 'drinking diabetes', diabetes insipidus leads to the failure to regulate the body's water content. It's extremely rare in dogs.

What are the symptoms of diabetes in dogs?

Most dogs are diagnosed with diabetes between 4 and 14 years of age. The earlier you're able to catch the disease, the better your pup's health outcomes are likely to be. Here are the main symptoms of diabetes mellitus in dogs:

• Increased or decreased appetite
• Weight loss
• Excessive thirst
• Excessive urination

The above are the four classical signs of diabetes, but there are several other signs and symptoms that may present in more advanced cases:

• Sweet-smelling or fruity breath
• Lethargy or a lack of energy
• Depression
• Dehydration
• Loss of appetite

If you suspect that your dog may have diabetes, take him to the vet as soon as possible for a full check-up. If left untreated, the disease can have a severe impact on your dog’s overall health and cause:

• Cataracts (eventually leading to blindness)
• An enlarged liver
• Urinary tract infections
• Vomiting
• Chronic skin conditions
• Kidney failure

Which dogs are prone to diabetes?

Several factors can contribute to the likelihood of a dog getting diabetes. A few of the main factors including your dog's breed, gender and historic conditions.

Dogs breeds prone to canine diabetes

Diabetes can occur in any dog. However, studies have shown that certain breeds have a higher risk of developing the disease. A few breeds at particular risk include:

• Miniature Poodles
• Pugs
• Dachshunds
• Miniature Schnauzers
• Australian Terriers
• Samoyeds
• Fox Terriers
• Bichons Frises
• Beagles

Source: American Kennel Club

Dog gender and diabetes

Female dogs that have not been desexed are twice as likely to get diabetes as male dogs.

Historic conditions and lifestyle

Obesity can make cells resistant to insulin, so it's important to make sure your pet stays at a healthy weight. Also, feeding your dog a diet high in fat can contribute to pancreatitis. Chronic or repeated cases of this can severely damage the pancreas and cause diabetes.

Does pet insurance cover diabetes?

Yes. The good news is that if you have a pet insurance policy that includes illness cover, you'll be covered for eligible vet bills arising from your dog's diabetes treatment.

Also, we crunched the numbers and found that, on average, pet insurance for dogs was around $821 per year, much cheaper than the costs involved with treatment out-of-pocket.

Compare pet insurance

Name	Product	Accidental Injury	Illness	Paralysis Tick Yearly Sub-Limit	Maximum yearly benefit	Reimbursement rate	Reimbursement Rate
Medibank Pet Max Cover with Extra Care Exclusive				$30,000	$30,000	90%	90%	⭐Finder Exclusive: Get your 1st month’s premium free when you choose Medibank Pet Insurance. Sign up using promo code FINDERONE. Offer ends 12 December. T&Cs apply.	Get quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Everyday Comprehensive Plus Cover				$3,000	$30,000	80%	80%	Everyday Pet Insurance customers get 10% off their monthly Woolworths shop. T&Cs apply.	Get quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Budget Direct Pet Insurance				$1,500	$12,000	80%	80%	Current Offer: Apply online and get 15% off your first year's premium PLUS go in the draw for your chance to win 1 of 3 $10,000 cash prizes. T&Cs apply.	Get quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Kogan Pet Luxury Cover				$2,000	$15,000	80% up to age 8 & 65% over age 8	80% up to age 8 & 65% over age 8	Sign up and get your first month FREE plus $10 ongoing monthly credit. T&Cs apply.	Get quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Coles Premium Cover				$2,500	$15,000	80% or 100%	80% or 100%	Earn 10x Flybuys points per $1 spent on pet food at Coles Supermarkets. T&Cs apply.	Get quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
PD Deluxe Plan				$15,000	$20,000	100%	100%	Apply online and get your first 1 month free. T&Cs apply.	Get quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Fetch Pet Insurance				$30,000	$30,000	80% or 90% or 100%	80% or 90% or 100%	Get dental, physio and behaviour cover included and skip wait periods by following our in-app journey.	Get quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Pet Circle Dog Cover				$10K or $17.5K or $30K	$0	70% or 80% or 90%	70% or 80% or 90%	Get quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Vets Choice Elite Cover				$2,500	$15,000	80% or 100%	80% or 100%	Get a 5% discount when you insure more than one pet.	Get quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Guardian Platinum Accident & Illness Cover				$1,200	$12,000	80%	80%	Lifetime cover for cats and dogs, up to 80% covered.	Get quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
PIA Major Medical Cover				$3,000	$30,145	80%	80%	Covers specified accidents and illnesses, with Routine Care Cover included. Get 2 months free when you sign up using the code PIA241. T&Cs apply.	Get quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Petsy Custom Cover Exclusive				$5000 or $10,000 or $25,000	$0	80% or 90%	80% or 90%	⭐ Finder Exclusive: Enjoy 30% off your first month of pet insurance, plus receive a custom pet tag. Sign up using the code FINDER. T&Cs apply.	Get quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Real Premium Accident & Illness Cover				$1,200	$12,000	80%	80%	Claim up to a maximum of $12k per year, with no excess to pay.	Get quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
RSPCA Ultimate Plus Accident and Illness Cover				$20,000	$20,000	80%	80%	Comprehensive cover for your pet, including the option of routine care. Get 1 month free for the first year of new policies. T&C's apply.	Get quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Australian Seniors Top Accident & Illness Cover				$1,200	$12,000	80%	80%	Benefits include overseas cover when in NZ or Norfolk Island for your pet, plus an optional routine care add-on.	Get quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Knose Pet Insurance Finder AwardExclusive				$25,000	$25,000	90%	90%	⭐Finder Exclusive: Get 10% off your first year. Sign up using promo code FINDER10. T&C's apply.	Get quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Kogan Pet Primary Cover				$1,200	$8,000	80%	80%	Sign up and get your first month FREE plus $10 ongoing monthly credit. T&Cs apply.	Get quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Frequently asked questions

• How long will my pet be covered for with insurance?

  Cover for chronic conditions like diabetes can be maintained throughout your pet's life, provided you renew your policy annually, have no break in cover and you don't change your level of cover after your pet reaches the policy's upper age limit.

• What if my dog already has diabetes?

  Most pet insurance policies don't cover pre-existing conditions, so if your dog already suffers from the disease you'll need to request special cover at the time of application.

• What are the first signs of diabetes in a dog?

  The very first signs you might notice in your dog include:

  • Excessive thirst and increased urination
  • Weight loss
  • Decreased or increased appetite
  • Cloudy eyes
  • Recurring infections.

• How long do dogs live after being diagnosed with diabetes?

  The median life expectancy for dogs with diabetes is two years, although there are many that live to have a full, happy life much longer than that.

• How can you tell if your dog has sugar diabetes?

  Signs of sugar diabetes (also known as diabetes mellitus) include excessive thirst, increased urination, weight loss and increased appetite. Your vet can also do simple blood and urine tests to check for diabetes.

• How should I treat diabetes in my dog?

  If you suspect that your dog has diabetes, your vet will ask for details of any symptoms and perform a thorough physical examination. Bloodwork and urinalysis will then be used to diagnose the disease. The treatment program for your dog will vary depending on how severe the symptoms are and whether or not your pooch has any other health issues.

  The main goal of treatment is to keep your pet's blood sugar level as close to normal as possible. Diabetes treatment in dogs usually requires a combination of:

  • Daily administration of insulin
  • Dietary changes
  • Regular exercise
  • A stress-free lifestyle.

  If your dog is seriously ill when first diagnosed, s/he may need to be hospitalised for several days so that your vet can regulate their blood sugar and bring the disease under control. After the dog has been stabilised, your vet will work out the best treatment plan to allow you to manage their condition at home.

• What food causes diabetes in dogs?

  Diet doesn't cause diabetes in dogs but it can affect other risk factors which is why it's so important to factor in a balanced diet into your overall pet costs. Risk factors to look out for include:

  • Obesity
  • Inflammation
  • Pancreatitis
  • Metabolic syndrome
  • Autoimmune disease.