Why Has My Diabetic Dog Got Diarrhea?

In this research you will know the answer to the query “Why Has My Diabetic Dog Got Diarrhea?“.

There is a high prevalence of diabetes in dogs especially in middle-aged and older dogs.

There are numerous possible side effects associated with this complex condition.

Diarrhea is the one I want to discuss in this article.

You will learn the following in this article:

Is diarrhea a symptom of diabetes in dogs?

I want to take a closer look at diabetes before discussing any possible links between it and diarrhea.

Diabetes in dogs

In humans and dogs alike diabetes is a chronic disease.

It is diabetes mellitus also known as sugar diabetes is the most common type of diabetes in dogs.

A dog with diabetes isnot producing enough insulin which is a hormone responsible for converting glucose into energy.

Insulin levels below normal will disrupt the bodys metabolic conversion of food to energy.

As the glucose/sugar in the food circulates in the blood instead of being converted into energy your dogs blood sugar level is elevated. 

How is diabetes related to diarrhea in dogs?

Diarrhea can sometimes be induced by diabetes because diabetes affects the metabolism of the dog and diarrhea affects the gastrointestinal tract.

Diarrhea can be a symptom of diabetes in dogs so yes diarrhea can occur with diabetes. However just because your dog has diarrhea does not mean they are diabetic.

Later in this research we will discuss other causes of diarrhea in dogs.

What causes diarrhea in diabetic dogs?

When dogs with diabetes have prolonged low amounts of insulin high blood sugar levels cause diarrhea.

Blood sugar levels that are high for a long period of time can damage the digestive system among other things.

Diarrhea in dogs with diabetes is usually caused by dysfunction of digestive system neurons.

How can a diabetic dog with diarrhea be helped?

When your dog has diarrhea no matter the cause the first thing you should do is rest its digestive system.

In order for the gastrointestinal tract to heal they should not be fed for a short period of time.

Diarrhea in diabetic dogs can lead to more serious problems when treated further.

Therefore you should contact the vet immediately so that they can investigate the issue more thoroughly. Until you have tried all home remedies and medications for diarrhea you should not try them.

Why might there be blood in diarrhea?

As diabetes can cause diarrhea it can also cause bleeding in the stool.

A diabetics damaged GI tract nerve can cause scarring and damage to the liver causing bleeding from the walls of the liver.

What is the best food for a diabetic dog with diarrhea? 2 tips

Scientists have determined that when diabetic dogs are fed is more important than what they are fed.

You must be feeding your dog a high-quality diet right?

In order to stabilize your dogs insulin production he should eat at the same time every day.

Give complex carbs to your diabetic dog

In the first place a diet for dogs with diabetes should contain high-quality protein and complex carbohydrates including whole grains. For diabetics simple carbohydrates and simple sugars should be avoided. As a result the blood sugar will be controlled and nerve damage in the GI tract will be prevented.

Fiber is good but…

Diabetes-stricken dogs also need fiber as a nutrient. If your diabetic dog also suffers from diarrhea digesting too much fiber could worsen the condition. Despite this you should not eliminate fiber altogether since they still need it. Consult your veterinarian about how much fiber to cut back on.

Are there any human foods that might help a diabetic dog with diarrhea?

Dogs with diabetes who suffer from diarrhea should be fed bland food. Rice pumpkin oatmeal or chicken meat boiled in water usually make up this meal. 

What other unpleasant side effects can a diabetic dog have?

Diabetes is a horrible disease and it has many side effects like many other conditions.

A list of other common side effects has been created in addition to diarrhea

1: Vomiting

In diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) vomiting is a sign of chronic diabetes. The liver produces ketones or blood acids when the body breaks down fat too quickly for energy. Consequently the dog vomits due to nausea.

Getting your diabetic dog to the vet as soon as possible if they are vomiting is crucial as DKA is the last stage of diabetes. 

It is also possible to smell like nail polish remover when you have DKA although this is not always the case.

2: Cataracts and blindness

It is very common for dogs with diabetes mellitus to develop cataracts. Many diabetic dogs gradually lose their vision until they become totally blind within a few weeks or months.

Due to glucose absorption and conversion to sorbitol eye lenses produce sorbitol. A cataract occurs when the excess sugar in the eye fluids builds up in the lens causing a clouding of the lens.

When your dogs diabetes is treated early and their blood sugar is managed to a safe level cataracts and blindness can be avoided.

3: Urinary tract infections

UTI is another very common problem in dogs with diabetes. A high level of glucose in the urine or glucosuria attracts bacteria causing an infection of the urinary tract.

As a result of the anatomy of the urinary tract female dogs are more susceptible to diabetes-induced UTIs. It is a difficult condition to treat and your dog might still get UTI even if they have received a sufficient dose of insulin.

What are the main symptoms of diabetes in dogs?

You may still be unsure whether your dog has diabetes or just diarrhea but here are the most common symptoms.

1: Frequent peeing

Too much blood sugar in a dogs blood often spills into the urine when the blood sugar level is too high. In order to wash out the blood sugar the kidneys will draw water from the tissues of the dog leading to the secretion of more urine. The condition of excessive urination is called polyuria by veterinarians.

2: Frequent drinking

Drinking is a good thing but if your dog suddenly seems to be drinking water more frequently than usual this might be a cause for concern. Some people see their dogs peeing and drinking more frequently and assume that they must be peeing a lot because they’re drinking a lot. The reverse is actually true.

Diabetes causes diabetic dogs to urinate a lot resulting in dehydration. Therefore diabetic dogs drink a lot. Always pay attention to changes. Dogs who drink a lot of water are probably fine if they have always done so. However if they are suddenly drinking more than usual this might be a symptom.

3: Increased appetite

Diabetic dogs also develop an unusually ravenous appetite along with increased drinking and urinating. A low level of insulin disrupts the bodys ability to convert glucose into energy. A dogs body will demand more food to compensate for the lack of energy thus causing them to become hungry as a result.

Despite eating as much as they want their system is broken so they would not get energy. Diabetes causes dogs to have an insatiable appetite a condition known as polyphagia.

4: Lethargy

Diabetes can also cause low energy levels. They suffer from this because their bodies cannot convert glucose into energy. As a result of diabetes dogs often stumble or have difficulty moving around.

5: Extreme weight loss

Diabetic dogs typically lose weight after becoming lethargic despite eating normally. They become fatigued when their body cannot obtain energy from food so it breaks down muscle and fat and converts them into energy.

Weight loss does not always happen suddenly it can also happen gradually but if this happens and your dog continues to consume normal amounts of food you should be concerned.

What are the main causes of diarrhea in dogs?

It is possible that your dogs diarrhea has nothing to do with diabetes. The following are some of the most common causes of diarrhea in dogs.

• Consuming spoiled or contaminated food
• The ingestion of foreign objects
• Bowel inflammation
• Parasites
• Viral infections
• Change in diet
• Stress

There are other possible causes of diarrhea in dogs including:

• Colitis
• Pancreatitis
• Intestinal cancer
• Liver disease

If you want to read more about dog health tips read here: Dog Health Tips and Tricks.