Diabetes

Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic endocrine disorder of dogs and cats characterized by hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) resulting from a deficiency of insulin production, The pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to meet the animal's requirements. Insulin is a hormone which is insulin to meet the animal's requirements. Insulin is a hormone which is needed to transport glucose (blood sugar) as well as certain amino acids and minerals into cells which produce energy from that glucose. Without the insulin, glucose cannot move into the cells, and go up in the blood. Diabetes is typially caused by damage to the pancreas, however, there are some predisposing factors. These include obesity, genetics, poor diet, hormonal abnormalities, stress, and drugs.

Signs of diabetes include: increased thirst, frequent urination, weakness, depression, rapid weight loss, or abdominal pain. In cats, there may be abnormal movement of the hind legs. Animals can also show increased hunger or a lack of appetite. In some cases there may be sudden blindness due to cataracts, Your veterinarian can diagnose diabetes though a thorough exam, questions about your pet's history, blood tests, and urinalysis. He or she can also teach you to control your pet's diabetes with insulin injection diet, and exercise management.

Dental Disease

Dental disease is the #1 health problem in all age groups for both cats and dogs. Researchers have found periodontitis in more than 80% of dogs over 6 and in 57.5% of cats studied. Signs of dental disease involved (but are not limited to): loss of appetite, weight loss, bad breath, chattering teeth, abnormal chewing and/or swallowing, decreased grooming, or nasal discharge (from one or both sides). You may notice a yellow-brown crust of tartar at the base of the teeth, and pain or bleeding when eating or when the gums are touched. Oral cavity disease may lead to other physical aliments: kidney problems, liver problems, and possibly heart problems. This happens as the bacteria in the mouth, enter the bloodstream, travelling through the body to the vital organs. Even the lungs and the brain can be effected this way.

Dental disease starts out with the build-up of plaque, a colorless film that hardens into tartar along the gumline . This causes inflammation and the resulting condition of Gingivitis. Gingivitis is a reversible condition which destroys the gums and tissues that support the teeth, resulting in tooth loss. It starts usually around 1 - 2 years of age, and, if not treated, can progress to periodontitis, an irreversible condition, by 4 - 6 years of age.

Your veterinarian may recommend having your pets teeth cleaned professionally. Your pet would be given a general anesthetic so that ultrasonic cleaning may be performed. Once the teeth are thoroughly cleaned and polished, a fluoride treatment is applied to help prevent further tartar build-up. Some of your pets teeth may need to be extracted, depending on the extent of disease. Only your vet can determine which teeth should be extracted and which can be saved, and this is best determined under anesthesia (teeth are never extracted unless there is no alternative).