Diabetic cats and diabetic dogs show similar symptoms in suffering from this disease. Increased urination and increased drinking is one of the main symptoms that owners notice and then start wondering what is wrong. Often formerly well-housebroken animals will start having accidents because they can’t get outside often enough to keep up with the symptoms of the disease.

This symptom takes place because of chronic high blood sugar level problems and the kidneys start to leak glucose into the urine to try to eliminate it from the body. The glucose takes water with it and this increases the animal thirst. Increased intake of water increases the need to urinate and the animal is on a cycle they can’t break without help.

Other symptoms or chronic high blood sugar in cats can be neuropathy of the hind legs causing them to walk on their hocks. Dogs exhibit weight loss and are often lethargic and tired. If not treated chronic high blood sugar can cripple the animal and result in death.

Insulin as well as diet modifications are used as part of the plan to reverse diabetes. Diet changes are a change to a high protein, low carbohydrate diet. Low carbohydrate decreases the amount of food converted to glucose to be absorbed into the blood stream. This change alone helps decrease the blood sugar level. In cats diet modification to a high protein meat-based diet can often relieve nearly all diabetes symptoms. Dogs generally need more than diet modification to reverse the symptoms, but every change helps.

U40 insulin is a veterinary formulation of insulin and is used with U40 insulin syringes to treat cats and dogs. U40 insulin has 40 units of insulin per each mL of dilution. Other insulin types used are U100 or U50 strength insulin. U40 syringes are used to inject insulin subcutaneously once or twice a day and injection spots are rotated to prevent injury to the animal.

Treatment is available for sick pets so if your pet is ill, don’t give up hope. Get educated and help your pet regain good health.