Diabetes in bassets

13808 Views 12 Replies 10 Participants Last post by houndmomma, Jan 21, 2012

Kirska

Discussion Starter · Jan 25, 2011

Is diabetes common in bassets? I have always thought that Anabelle drinking (and peeing) a lot as well as her ridiculous laziness was just in her personality but I read recently that they are both possible signs of diabetes, and that it is most common in female dogs that have been pregnant, which she has.

Has anyone dealt with it? What is it like? Similar to dealing with it as a human? I'm going to have the vet do a test to be sure unless she thinks it's useless.

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RachelW

· #2 · Jan 25, 2011

I personally haven't dealt with it but my step-dad has a dog who's had diabetes for about 5 years. I know that his dog requires an insulin shot every 12 hours on the dot - it used to seem like a hassle but they've gotten used to it and it's just part of their daily routine now.

Other than that, he lives like a normal dog! He just has to be careful not to eat certain treats or chew things (I'm sure the vet will educate you on which treats/chewies your little one can and cannot have). Additionally, we've always been a family that feeds our dogs table scraps, and Chauncy can't usually have any. He's also on a specific food that's recommended for dogs with diabetes and has all the proteins and such that he needs.

Once the initial shock of the diagnosis is gone, it shouldn't be that hard of an adjustment, if indeed she does have diabetes. Best of luck to you and I hope everything checks out just fine!

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Mikey T

· #3 · Jan 25, 2011

Diabetes in dogs like humans is highly linked to body fat. If she is marginally overweight that is a place to start rather than insulin shots. Some dogs olso do fine with the oral medications it depends on the severity of the condition.

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lvnMattie

· #4 · Jan 26, 2011

Kirska, I don't have a dog that has diabetes but I do have a cat that has diabetes. I took him to vet for a tooth and he had lost alot of weight and she did blood work and his Blood sugar was in the 400's. It should be like 80 to 100 or so, same as a persons. Basically his liver was taking all his food and storing it. After I got talking to vet, I had notice he drinks alot of water and pees alot. Signs that I had missed.

Jack was diagnose the first part of December, and it is adjustment still for us. He has to have a insulin shot ever 12 hours. So we have to always keep that in mind in planning anything. He is also on special food that is high in fiber and low in Carbs. The roughest part we are having is getting him to eat. Once his sugar dropped he don't want the high fiber food anymore and it is hard getting him to eat.

Having a animal with diabetes is sort of like having a person with it. They can't have alot of stuff with carbs/sugars.

I don't know if that help you at all since it is a cat I am comparing the hound too. I live in a small town so it is not only a learning experience with my me it is for my vet too, she hasn't had to many animals with diabetes before.

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Kirska

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 26, 2011

Whether or not Anabelle is overweight depends on who you ask. When we asked the vet she looked at her for a very long time before deciding her weight was okay. Her belly is in such rough shape you can't use that as a judge. At the same time people have come up to me when I have her in public and criticized that I feed her way too much. She was 51 pounds when they found her as a stray, or maybe less but that's what her first vet report that we have shows. She was 58 pounds when we adopted her, and now she is around 61 pounds.

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Mikey T

· #6 · Jan 26, 2011

[]quote]Her belly is in such rough shape you can't use that as a judge[/quote]

See Corpulent Canine for a method of assessing body weight that does not rely on abdomin tuck or waiste line

People don't know how to determine the correct weight for their dogs. Dogs vary in height, bone structure, and muscularity, so there is no one correct weight for a dog of any given breed. The best way to determine whether a dog is overweight is to test 3 different parts of the body: the neck, the ribs, and the hips.

To check the neck, press your thumb and index finger deep into the side of the neck just ahead of the shoulder, and pinch them together. If your fingers are more than 1/2" apart, the dog is overweight. (Note: this is where old dogs tend to carry most of their excess fat, and they may actually be thin in other locations.)

To check the ribs, stand with your dog beside you, facing his butt. Place your thumb on the middle of his spine half way down the back and spread your fingers out over his last few ribs. Then run your fingers up and down along his skin. You should be able to feel the bumps of his ribs without pressing in.

To check the hips, run your hand over your dog's croup. You should be able to feel the bumps of his two pelvic bones without pressing down.

Some of you may be reading this and thinking, "I would never want my dog to be that skinny!" Think about the Olympic athletes. If you want your dog to be an athlete then it is only fair that you do what you can to help him achieve the body that he will need to perform and stay healthy and injury free for many years.[/url]

we asked the vet she looked at her for a very long time before deciding her weight was okay.

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From the link above

The vet said that the dog was a good weight (or even underweight). I have asked many vets why they don't tell their clients that their dogs are overweight, and I always get the same answer: "I have lost so many clients because they were offended when I told them their dogs were overweight that I just don't tell them anymore". So please, don't be offended—it doesn't reflect on you personally

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Nestlé Purina study confirms link between body fat, certain health conditions

Researchers discovered that excess body fat reduces insulin sensitivity, which inhibits the ability of cells to absorb glucose quickly and efficiently. Glucose and insulin left in the bloodstream can hinder the ability of organs, tissues and body systems to function properly, which can result in the development of some chronic health conditions.

Click to expand...

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Kirska

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 28, 2011

Our vet told us our other dog was overweight so I don't think she is afraid to say so. We are taking her in tomorrow to get screened (she has to go in for vaccines anyway) so hopefully it is just me being overly paranoid.

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mmurphy297

· #8 · Nov 6, 2011

I am new to this sight. I just read all of these comments about Diabetes. My basset was overweight - he lost 18 pounds in the past month (he weighs 50 pounds now) and yesterday I found out about the diabetes. His glucose was 418 yesterday and is down to 319 today. The doctors and nurses are wonderful to him. I know that it will eventually become routine to do the shots. If anyone has any other advise for me I would appreciate it.

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dreamons

· #9 · Nov 6, 2011

Welcome. Hope this site helps with everything. Very good site for info or just for a laugh. How about a picture of Buster

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Soundtrack

· #10 · Nov 7, 2011

Diabetes is linked to body fat because both are usually the result of insulin issues, mostly caused by excess sugar and carbohydrate in the diet.

That said, polyuria (excessive urination) and polydipsia (excessive drinking) can be symptomatic of a number of issues, including diabetes and cushings. Or of nothing at all - I've had two dogs that started peeing and drinking more when they were seniors (first Spot, now his granddaughter Gabby who is 13). Both dogs were checked out and run through tests, but we couldn't find anything wrong with either of them.

But I would definitely get it checked out.

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Wworm

· #11 · Nov 11, 2011

Are you ok Anabelle? mehopes your Ma was just being paranoid.
--Worm

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BassetBasti

· #12 · Jan 21, 2012 (Edited)

I'm just curious. Do dogs with diabetes need insulin shots?

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houndmomma

· #13 · Jan 21, 2012

Have you heard anything back from the vet yet about Anabelle?

BassetBasti said:
I'm just curious. Do dogs with diabetes needs insulin shots?

Yes they could need them – I’ve known people with dog that had diabetes and some needed shots and some not. Just like in people – depending on the levels – diet could control it – and if not then definitely insulin shots are the way to go.

Jen~

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