Anyone who has done even a minute amount of research into the history of Diabetes is aware that insulin was first discovered in 1921. What some, if not most people are not aware, is that it was first used on a dog called Marjorie in that same year. Marjorie had been diagnosed with Diabetes and had her pancreas removed. It was found that she could survive by receiving daily insulin injections. This discovery led to it being administered to the first human recipient in January of 1922. The rest is history.
There are many animals that can contract Diabetes. For the most part, the reason behind their getting it is similar if not identical to how humans get it. These animals include, but are not limited to dogs, cats, apes, pigs, horses, the occasional cow and some rodents.
For the more “popular” household pets, such as dogs or cats, a diagnoses of Diabetes can mean many of the same effects and complications as a human who has Diabetes. Organ and vision problems, obesity and circulatory issues are prominent in pets with Diabetes. For this reason, it’s important to maintain a good exercise regiment for your pets and feed them a veterinary-approved food that will help control their weight and blood glucose levels.
Administering insulin to your pet can be difficult and even intimidating. But once you’ve gained the knack for it, your pet will certainly be appreciative (Unless it’s a cat! They’ll make your life a living hell for the audacity of giving them an injection) Your pet’s vet should be prescribing the insulin that will best suit your pet and provide instruction on its proper administration. That being said, there are tons of instructional videos online that will show you how.
The interesting challenge when dealing with Diabetes in pets, is that they are mostly unable to explain what symptoms they may be feeling or what may be ailing them. This is why it’s important to learn and recognize some of the physical signs that things may not be going well for your pet and how to deal with them.
For most households, their pet is part of the family. So while the treatment of Diabetes and the administering of insulin in pets may seem daunting, one needs to consider that you would do no less for one of your children. Educate yourself, obtain the necessary medications and learn how to provide for your pet. Even though they may not be able to express it verbally, you can believe that they’ll be grateful. 🐶
The Blogging Buddhist 