National Pet Diabetes Month is Coming Up!
Nationwide, it is estimated that 1 in 300 adult dogs and 1 in 230 adult cats have diabetes. These may seem like staggering statistics, but as the numbers of affected pets rise, more people are becoming aware and educated about the prevalence of the disease. With National Pet Diabetes Month, we hope to help pet owners learn about the ways to prevent and treat this common health condition.
Diabetic Details
Glucose, the body’s main source of energy for cells, is controlled by the hormone insulin. There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 involves a lack of insulin production. Type 2 pet diabetes is the inability to correctly respond to insulin.
When it’s cold, wet, and possibly slippery outside, it’s hard to muster any enthusiasm for daily jaunts around the block. It might not make that much difference to some dog owners, but reducing or restricting outside exercise can negatively affect a pup’s state of mind – and silhouette. Pet weight gain is common during the colder months, but now that spring has sprung, it’s time to address those love handles.
It probably comes as no surprise that the most popular New Year’s resolution is to get healthy or lose weight. Many of us could stand to eat a little better and move more, and the same could probably be said for our animal companions.
When people hear the word diabetes they often associate it with epidemic of type II diabetes among people, but lifestyle and diet related conditions are on the rise among pets as well. And, while there are numerous factors that correlate with the disease in cats and dogs, pet diabetes is most often linked to age and obesity.