Diabetes in Bernese Mountain Dogs

Increased drinking and urination, a good or ravenous appetite alongside weight loss, and sometimes a dull coat. In a large dog the drinking change is proportional and easy to miss, which is why measuring water into the bowl for a few days is such a useful check.

No. Canine diabetes almost always reflects loss of the cells that produce insulin, so insulin must be replaced. Diet is an important part of the plan because it makes glucose predictable, but it is a supporting measure rather than the treatment.

Easier than most owners fear. The needles are very fine, the injection goes under the loose skin over the shoulders, and most dogs accept it within a few days if it is paired with a reward. Your veterinary team will demonstrate it and watch you do it before you go home.

Follow the specific written instructions your vet gives you, and phone if you are unsure. As a general principle, insulin is given after a meal so that you know food has gone in, and a dog that refuses food should not simply be injected as usual. Never guess at a dose.

Diabetic cataracts form when excess glucose is drawn into the lens, pulling water in with it and clouding the lens rapidly. It can happen within weeks and can occur even in dogs whose diabetes is otherwise well controlled. Surgery is possible in suitable candidates.

It is not among the breed's documented health issues, which centre on joints, bloat, degenerative myelopathy, retinal disease, histiocytosis, bleeding disorder, allergies, arthritis and cancer. It occurs across many breeds, most often in middle-aged and older dogs, and unspayed females are at higher risk.