Even simple diarrhea in healthy dogs must not be ignored. When you have a diabetic dog with diarrhea, take the matter seriously. It could turn fatal to your dog. In the following article, we will see how diabetes and diarrhea are linked. How to treat diabetic dogs with diarrhea and what could be the potential risks involved. Here a simple dietary change can even help your diabetic dog.
Diabetes in dogs
In dogs, due to metabolism disorder, a type of diabetes called “diabetes mellitus” happens. We all know diabetes is an ongoing illness that has no cure. It can occur in cats, dogs, and other pets. In some cases, if not managed properly diabetes could be a serious threat to the health of a dog.
Diabetes in dogs means the dog’s body doesn’t effectively convert food into energy. The insulin-glucose connection in a dog’s body turns weak. As a result, the amount of glucose increases in the bloodstream causing sugar levels to rise. Diabetes can be extremely dangerous if not treated. It could cause diarrhea, organ failure, blindness, and other life-threatening situations in dogs. The other symptoms that might show that your dog has diabetes includes
- Lethargy
- Decreased Appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Twitching
- Seizures
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Weight-loss
- Organ failure
- Blindness
Diarrhea in dogs
Diarrhea is a loose watery stool and happens often from bacterial infection. Your dog having Diarrhea means his intestinal functions are upset. There could be multiple reasons for diarrhea in dogs. It could be as simple as a dietary change or a serious indication of an underlying threat like diabetes.
An acute diarrhea situation can turn chronic and serious. Start taking diarrhea seriously if it persists for more than two days even after you have tried home remedies. If not treated properly, diarrhea could lead to the death of a dog.
(Read pregnant dog diarrhea and dog diarrhea at night only to know more about diarrhea in dogs)
How diabetes and diarrhea are linked in dogs?
Diarrhea could be a symptom that your dog has diabetes. Or it can happen when diabetes gets worsen. Diabetes is related to metabolism disorder, which includes functions of the pancreas, stomach, and gut so any dysfunction in them could lead to diarrhea. Commonly, your dog may face intestinal problems in diabetes causing diarrhea.
How diarrhea is a symptom of diabetes?
Diabetes happens when the function of the stomach and gut are affected. All the food that your dog eats is not properly converted into energy. As a result, the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin in the body and the glucose level rises.
Increased sugar levels affect the body in adverse ways. Persistent diarrhea in your dog could be a symptom that your dog has a sugar problem. If even after the treatment diarrhea doesn’t go away, this means the body is not functioning properly and there could be other hidden illnesses too.
In case of persistent diarrhea, it is always advised to cross-check your dog for diabetes. Although diabetes has no cure but with proper management you can save your dog from severe illness and can increase the quality of its life.
When diarrhea is due to diabetes in dogs?
When diabetes happens, It will affect the digestion process at the cellular level. The metabolism doesn’t work efficiently and as a result, the pancreas will not produce enough insulin. At this stage, if you don’t know your dog is having diabetes, you may be feeding him food that you shouldn’t. The insulin levels will not allow the body to transform blood sugar into energy causing the sugar level to rise. As it disturbs the digestion process, Intestinal health will also be affected and it can cause diarrhea.
If you know your dog has diabetes, don’t take diarrhea lightly. It can quickly lead to organ failure because gut health is already melting down.
Diabetic dog with diarrhea and vomiting
When your diabetic dog has diarrhea and vomiting, take it as an emergency. Diarrhea with vomiting can be a symptom that your diabetic dog has Ketoacidosis which is usually the last stage of diabetes. In ketoacidosis, the body starts using fats and proteins instead of glucose.
Most owners can successfully manage diabetes in dogs. However, when the situation will start getting worse, diarrhea and vomiting are mostly far away step towards bad health and fatality. First, your dog will experience loss of appetite and low energy. Then it will start losing weight and will not eat properly. In some severe conditions, the dog will develop ketoacidosis. Diarrhea and vomiting at this stage mean the situation is critical and your dog is dying.
Other than ketoacidosis, your diabetic dog can get diarrhea due to
- Bacterial infections
- Pancreatic problems
- Intestinal issues
- Gut problems
- Dietary changes
How to treat a diabetic dog with diarrhea
Diarrhea needs to be taken and treated seriously especially if your diabetic dog has it. As soon as your dog starts having loose stools start to take precautionary measures. This is how to treat a diabetic dog with diarrhea.
Start Giving him light food
There are variant foods that can trigger diarrhea. Keep in mind that a normal healthy dog and a diabetic dog need a different kind of food.
So what to give a diabetic dog with diarrhea? Well, Give your dog easy-to-digest food like rice, oatmeals, and yogurt. It’s better not to give raw food to your dog. Also fastening is not a good option for diabetic dogs. They need to eat in portions.
Switch dog food to healthy and homemade food. As diarrhea is alarming in diabetic dogs. Ask your vet if switching dog food cold turkey is a good option for them. You need consistent vet assistance.
Medicine for diarrhea in dogs
Mostly Imodium works magic in dogs. It stops diarrhea within 1-2 hours and with light food, you can make the dog’s stomach better. The dose of Imodium recommended for dogs is one capsule per 50kgs of dogs. However, before giving it to your diabetic dog, always take advice from the vet first. Immodium has side effects too. Your vet will decide if your dog can handle those side effects. Also, don’t give Imodium for more than two days.
Vets also prescribe Flagyl and Tylan to dogs. Some dewormers are also suggested but you should not give them to your as first choice.
(Also read zimecterin gold for dogs and how much safeguard horse dewormer to give a dog? )
What if Dog on insulin has diarrhea?
Mostly, when dogs are diagnosed with diabetes type 2, they are given insulin. As in diabetes, a dog’s body doesn’t produce enough insulin. Giving insulin injections help to increase your dog’s metabolism.
The dose of Insulin is given as one or two injections per day with each meal to diabetic dogs. Diarrhea can be a side effect of insulin too. In some cases, you may need to stop diabetes medication to stop diarrhea.
What you can feed to a diabetic dog with diarrhea?
Normally to a healthy dog with diarrhea, You can feed them
- Rice
- Oatmeal
- Yogurt
- Boiled potatoes
- Cooked pasta etc.
For the diabetic dog, you need to feed them
- Food high in fiber
- Protein-rich food
- Probiotics
- Complex carbohydrates and
- All food that helps slow absorption of glucose. We suggest giving your dog boiled eggs or skinless boiled chicken.
Keep dog hydrated as hydration is important. Dehydration will lead to other health problems. Also, it weakens the body functions making your dog tired, sick, and lethargic.
How to help a diabetic dog with diarrhea
Your diabetic dog needs your attention and cares so
- You must take care of his diet and liquid intake.
- Give your dog enough time and a comfortable place to sleep and rest.
- Your emotional support during this time is necessary. Your dog is fighting two illnesses at the same time. It consumes him in the worst ways. Try being there when he needs you.
- Give medicine on time.
- Keep your dog clean to save him from bacterial infections.
Diabetic dog with bloody diarrhea
If your diabetic dog has diarrhea with blood, consult emergency. Your dog situation might be critical. Usually, this happens when dogs suffer ketoacidosis. Sometimes your dog may seem fine but suddenly start experiencing symptoms like illness, fever, bloody diarrhea, and vomiting. This means he is suffering from ketoacidosis which happens at the last stage of diabetes. These conditions can turn fatal for dogs if they are not treated on time.
Why does ketoacidosis happen in diabetic dogs?
If you are managing your dog’s diabetes just fine then ketoacidosis might come as a sudden shock. Ketoacidosis shifts your body acid balance and glucose regulation is necessary to handle this situation.
Mostly this occurs in dogs due to stress. The stress hormones interfere with insulin activity in the body. This can cause
- a sudden increase in heart rate
- Bloody diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Abrupt breathing
- Muscle loss
- Dehydration
- Hair loss in patches
A professional needs to diagnose ketoacidosis in dogs with diabetes. With quick-handling, you can treat the condition and make your dog better. As ketoacidosis can cause organ failures, seizures, and low sugar and potassium levels, so it’s important to prevent ketoacidosis in dogs.
How to handle ketoacidosis in diabetic dogs to prevent diarrhea?
As ketoacidosis can happen unknowingly too so it’s important to monitor blood glucose levels to prevent it. Always keep a sugar monitoring kit handy. Make sure your dog has a regular insulin checkup. If necessary, you can give your dog insulin injections.
By keeping glucose levels normal you can prevent ketoacidosis thus keeping diarrhea at bay.
Conclusion:
In case your diabetic dog gets diarrhea, take him to the vet. This could be a symptom that your dog has developed ketoacidosis. With timely treatment, you can save your dog’s life. Diarrhea must be taken seriously especially if the dog has diabetes too.