All cells in the body need glucose for energy. There is a typical method by which glucose enters the cells. Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas that signals the opening of a ‘door’ so that glucose can enter the cell. Any disruption in this mechanism means that cells do not get the energizing glucose that they need and excess glucose remains in the blood stream. This results in high blood glucose levels.

Inflammation of the pancreas is a primary cause of diabetes in cats , dogs and humans as well. Type 1 diabetes is the inability of the pancreas to produce sufficient insulin. Type 2 diabetes is a combination of a similar problem as in type 1 diabetes accompanied by a condition known as insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance is characterized by the inability of the cells to accept glucose. This leads to a viscious circle wherein due to the elevated blood sugar level a signal is sent to the pancreas for production of more insulin. Sometimes this excess production overrides the excess blood sugar and the pancreas exhausts itself and gradually stops funtioning.

Diabetes 3 Ways To Keep Your Dog From Getting Diabetes

There are essentially three ways that you can help prevent your dog from getting diabetes. This disease is one that you want your dog to avoid so that he lives as long and healthy as possible. And although it’s rare, there are many dogs whose diabetes go into remission just by having their diet, supplementation, and exercise all in good order.

1. Lower the carbohydrates. Most dog foods sold in pet stores contain ingredients that are as high as 98% carbohydrates. By reducing the amount of carbs in your dog’s daily meals, this moderate carbohydrate level can go a long way towards diabetes prevention.

Diet is especially important for dogs that are genetically at risk for diabetes. It is critical that you study up on your dog breed and make sure that he is getting the right nutrients so that the gene which can store diabetes will not be triggered off.

Golden retrievers are among the most popular pets that dog owners have in the United States. Unfortunately, many of these retrievers get diabetes because their owners did not do enough research for their breed type in order to get their diet correct from puppy hood.

Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid used by many veterinarians to treat a wide variety of conditions in dogs including:

* Disorders of the central nervous system.
* Endocrinal disorders like Cushings disease and Addisons disease.
* Neoplastic conditions that is growth of tumors.
* Immune mediated diseases.
* Emergency situations like spinal chord trauma.
* Inflammation related respiratory and bowel disorders.

Side effects of prednisone depend directly on the quantum and duration of the drug administered. Short term use of prednisone is less likely to cause any damaging side effects. It is only when the dose reaches an immunosuppressive level when the side effects start causing concern.

Overdose of prednisone can cause suppression of normal adrenal functions, Cushing’s disease in dogs and destabilization of metabolism if withdrawn abruptly. Short term use can cause excessive urination abnormal hunger and an increase in the appetite for dogs. Prolonged use, even in recommended dosages may cause:

* Diarrhea.
* Gastrointestinal ulcers.
* Inflammation in the pancreas.
* Muscle degeneration.
* Vomiting.
* Weight gain.
* Diabetes.
* Behavioral changes.
* Skin and hair coat problems.

Anything to make life easier…

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease of the pancreas that affects the body’s ability to control its blood sugar levels. The pancreas is responsible for producing a hormone called insulin which keeps blood sugar levels balanced.

Glucose is produced from the breaking down of starches and carbohydrates. It is absorbed through the wall of the digestive tract and passes into the bloodstream.

Insulin allows glucose to leave the bloodstream and enter the body’s tissue where it is then used as energy for the cells. With diabetes, the body either produces insufficient quantities of insulin or does not utilize insulin effectively. Glucose then builds up in the bloodstream and causes an elevated blood sugar level.

High levels of glucose can lead to a number of complications such as cataracts, liver and kidney disease, increased infections, heart disease, gastrointestinal disorders and even coma and death.

What are the symptoms of Diabetes in cats and dogs?

Certain symptoms are common in cats and dogs with diabetes. However these signs may also indicate other diseases or conditions. The best way to determine if your pet has diabetes is to have his blood sugar levels checked by means of a blood test.

Cushing’s syndrome is a disorder of the endocrine system caused by excessive secretion of cortisol by the adrenal cortex. The underlying cause can lie with the adrenal glands or the pituitary gland, which controls adrenal secretions with ACTH, a hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland.

A pituitary adenoma (benign tumor in the gland, also known as Cushing’s disease), adrenal tumor or other conditions that lead to excessive production of ACTH may also lead to a series of symptoms associated with Cushing’s syndrome.

Common symptoms of Cushing’s disease include hair loss, weight loss despite proper diet, lethargy, increased thirst and urination and anemia.

The conventional approach to treating endocrine disorders is to use immunosuppressive drugs or hormonal replacements as the case may be. Conditions caused due to an adrenal tumor may require complete removal of the gland. However, in cases of pituitary tumors it may not be possible to remove this delicate gland.

The disturbing factor associated with conventional treatment is that Cushing’s disease may also occur due to a complication resulting from treatment, especially steroid use. Administration of steroids can lead to the most recognizable symptom, hair loss.

How Low Quality Foods can be Hurting Your Pets

A few short months ago, pet owners everywhere were afraid to feed their pets for fear of what they might be ingesting. Every time you turned on the news, there was an update on the “Pet Food Scare”.

Although the situation has now subsided after more than 60 million bags and cans of pet food were recalled, concerns with production and safety standards were raised regarding the high levels of hazardous food that slipped through to the retail market. The situation caused pet owners to question the quality and safety of even the well-recognized brands on the market.

Disturbing Findings on Nutritional Content

James Morris and Quentin Rogers, two Molecular Biologists at the University of California at Davis, found a lack of information on the bioavailability of nutrients in many of the common dietary ingredients used in pet foods. “These ingredients are generally by-products of the meat, poultry and fishing industries, with the potential for a wide variation in nutrient composition,” the biologists stated.

Given the varying degrees of quality, it is impossible to be sure that your particular batch of food will be of the same nutritional value as another.

This is a video of me giving my cat an insulin shot. My cat was diagnosed as a diabetic feline late last year (2007) and we have been giving him two shots a day. This video is posted to help anyone who doesn’t know how to administer this type of shot to an animal. We needed this when we had to begin…hope this helps

How can toxins affect my pet?

Daily exposure to a wide variety of toxins can seriously affect your pet’s health.

A highly processed, chemically-enriched diet filled with colorants and preservatives; drinking chlorinated water, regularly wearing a commercial flea collar, daily being exposed to second hand cigarette smoke, insecticides and pollution – all these are just the tip of iceberg when it comes to the toxins affecting our pets.

Exposure to toxins can weaken a pet’s immune system and damage his body’s natural ability to fight off disease. Domestic animals are provided with food which they do not have to hunt for and which is not always suited for their bodies.

In addition, they are often exposed to a lifestyle which contributes to sluggish metabolism, underactive thyroids and livers which are not able to remove toxins or eliminate unwanted fat from their bodies.

The first step in helping your pet eliminate toxins from the body is to examine lifestyle factors like diet and exercise. Most of us are so used to feeding our pets commercially produced food that the thought of doing anything else seems very strange. But just as we need to eat a range of foods to ensure we remain healthy, so do our pets. And the more natural and unprocessed the better.

At the age of 9 1/2 Monty was diagnosed with diabetes. Because he was otherwise so healthy, and because I am a nurse and I know people can live happy and healthy lives with diabetes I decided to treat and medicate Monty rather than have him put down. Now, with careful monitoring, Monty is happy and healthy. He does have his ups and downs but his condition is controlled and I wouldn’t be without him for the world. He’ll always be my baby. Please enjoy. I hope you find this interesting and educational. This is my first attempt at a movie and I decided to make a clip of my lovely boy Monty who is a black burmese cross cat.