Diabetes is a fairly common in older dogs. Just like it happens in people, the dog’s pancreas can fail to make enough insulin. Insulin is needed for the cells to take in sugars for producing energy. When there is not enough insulin, the cells of the dog are starving. They then send messages to the hunger centers of the brain that your pet is starving. The animal eats more, becoming obese. But being overweight makes the cell’s response to insulin less effective, so there is a vicious cycle of overeating. Your vet will make a diagnosis with blood work and urinalysis. They will advise you to manage the disease with insulin and high-fibre diets. The dog will lose weight because the appetite will be normalised helping your pet to use energy better.
