As we know, diabetes is a common disease in humans. But can it occur in our Britts too? Unfortunately, yes, diabetes is a relatively common condition in dogs. 

There are two main types of diabetes: insulin dependent and insulin resistant. Dogs most commonly develop insulin dependent. This means that their pancreas is no longer able to produce insulin, and they will need exogenous insulin for the rest of their lives.  

Let’s walk through symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment to help you spot diabetes quickly and manage it effectively.

What Is Diabetes?

• Insulin is used by all cells in the body to trigger them to open the channels to bring in glucose, their main fuel source.  If insulin is not available, or if the body becomes resistant to it, other cells are no longer able to pull in glucose as fuel.

• When the cells cannot take up glucose it builds in the blood stream leading to high blood sugar values.  High blood sugar can be very dangerous, especially over a long period of time.

Symptoms of Diabetes

Most owners notice when their pet is showing beginning signs of the disease:

• Excessive thirst and urination - they may start asking to go outside more often (and not just to hunt that bird that keeps getting away from them!) and may even have accidents in the house.
• Weight loss with an increased appetite - because their cells are not working properly, they lose weight and their body is telling them they are still hungry.

If blood sugar values are not corrected, the disease will continue to advance and you may see loss of appetite/energy and depression.  Eventually the disease will begin to impact other organs in the body leading to cataracts, liver disease, urinary tract infections, kidney failure, and seizures.

Diagnosis

Your primary veterinarian can diagnose diabetes using simple tests. They will measure glucose levels in both the blood and the urine, as well as discuss with you the symptoms you are seeing at home.

Treatment & Management

• Dialing in to the right dose of insulin for your pet may take some time. New home monitoring devices help this process. The same monitors used in people have been adapted to pets. Your vet may shave a small section of fur to adhere a continuous glucose monitor. This allows you and your vet to monitor glucose levels in real time and help determine the appropriate insulin dose.  
• There are approved and off-label insulins available for dogs.  Your vet may try a few different options to best regulate your Britt’s disease.
• Weight management is another important consideration, and your vet may recommend switching foods to help with either weight loss or weight gain. Just as important is maintaining a strict schedule, feeding a set amount and providing insulin at specified times to allow the treatment plan to work most effectively.

Dogs can live full and happy lives with diabetes, but it is important that you monitor the disease and stick to the treatment regimen.  

Here are some additional resources for more information:

Cornell Vet School- Canine Diabetes

AKC- Diabetes in Dogs: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

We adopted Connery, formerly Limerick, through ABR in 2010. He is now almost 16 years old; mostly blind, mostly deaf, but still full goofball! He did get a bit of arthritis in his later years but that seems to be ebbing with the new monoclonal meds he is on. We now have to be his “guide humans” to keep him from bonking into things. 

None of this has daunted his spirit though; he still tries to chase ducks (when he can see them) and on good days will even play a little fetch! Most of his time is napping in unusual positions so we started an insta for him, of course! (@connaroosleeparoo)

Getting to experience the senior years with him is a blessing I never knew I would love so much. He’s the sweetest snuggler ever, and just full of love and comedy every day. A huge thank you to ABR for trusting us with this dopey loveable doggo.

-Kate E.

I have had Charlie for close to 4 months. It's been great having him come into my life at this time. I want to thank all the people at American Brittany Rescue for the help getting him to me.

-Floyd A.

We're having so much fun celebrating those funny and quirky things our Brittanys do that make us love them extra. More coming next month! Keep us smiling and submit your Quirky Britt photos to: [email protected]

Poppy's dedicated to her yoga practice

"Peek-a-boo, Dad!" - Charlie

Maverick gives himself regular pedicures

Luca

Malia

Jesse

Clark

Sally

Mekos

Ridgeway

Speaking of Dental Health....

Let's See Those Pearly White Brittany Smiles!

Don't forget to include your dog's name!

EMAIL PHOTOS TO: [email protected]

Riley - July 22, 2023

Red - January 5, 2024

Wesley - February 8, 2024

Thank you for your donations. Each and every donation makes a huge difference in ABR providing for the Brittanys in our care. Making a donation towards the end of the year is a popular time for our constituents to support ABR. Every year, however, we receive some donation checks that are dated prior to December 31st but have a postmark in January.  According to the Internal Revenue Service, the date of the contribution is the postmark date on the transmittal envelope. So even though a donation check may have an issue date in December, if the check was not postmarked until January that donation cannot be credited to the prior year, but will be reflected as a donation in the current year.

ABOUT AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE

American Brittany Rescue, Inc. is an organization that was formed in 1991 as a cooperative effort of Brittany owners, breeders, trainers, and fanciers who ABR believes have a responsibility not only for their own dogs and the dogs they produce, but for the breed as a whole.

THE AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE MISSION

ABR's mission is to provide the leadership and expertise via a network of trained volunteers to take in stray, abandoned, surrendered and/or impounded purebred Brittanys, provide them with foster care, health and temperament screening, an opportunity for any necessary rehabilitation and to assure their health and placement into new homes. In order to fulfill this mission, ABR's volunteers remain flexible and adaptable to current and future business environments and they remain dedicated to the organization.  

ABR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Terry Mixdorf, President

Michelle Falkinburg, Vice President

Joe Herslip, Secretary

Terrie Johnson, Treasurer

Sandra Oelschlegel, Chair

Deb Grove

Wendy Boyce

Becca Whitley

AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE E-NEWSLETTER TEAM

Brittany Boler

Jeannine Connors

Judie Cutting

Kristin Davis

Rebecca Sweet

Melissa Tapply DiLello

Debra White