Causes of Canine Diabetes: Understanding Risk Factors

Understanding the Causes of Diabetes in Dogs

One: Influencing Factors

1. The likelihood of purebred dogs developing diabetes is relatively lower compared to mixed breeds. Within purebred dogs, certain breeds such as the Shih Tzu, Golden Retriever, and Samoyed have a higher predisposition to the disease. This is due to breedspecific factors.

2. Female dogs are more prone to diabetes than males. The onset of diabetes in females often coincides with estrus or pregnancy, as the disease is linked to endocrine disorders and hyperfunction in female dogs, leading to increased blood sugar levels. This is a genderrelated factor.

3. Excessive weight in dogs can lead to insulin resistance in cells, which can result in diabetes. This is a common issue in dogs, similar to humans, highlighting the obesity factor.

4. Sudden stress symptoms in some dogs can disrupt the endocrine systems, such as the adrenal and pituitary glands, leading to hyperactivity and elevated blood sugar levels, thus causing diabetes. This is a stress responserelated factor.

5. Complications from certain diseases, such as pancreatitis, can lead to secondary diabetes. It's important to note that many diseases in dogs are interconnected, necessitating comprehensive prevention. For diabetes caused by pancreatitis complications, maintaining a healthy diet for the dog is crucial to avoid pancreatitis and its complications due to highfat and highoil diets. This is a factor related to disease complications leading to diabetes.

Two: Pathological Causes

1. The direct cause of diabetes in dogs is a deficiency in insulin secretion from the pancreas's endocrine substances.

2. Liver issues in dogs can hinder the accumulation of glycogen.

3. Stimulation of the sugar center in the dog's medulla oblongata can lead to elevated blood sugar levels.

4. Abnormalities in the dog's adrenal glands, thyroid, or pituitary can cause increased blood sugar levels during hyperfunction.

These are some of the reasons for diabetes in dogs listed by Oxygen Pet Doctor. Understanding these causes can help pet owners take appropriate preventive measures.