Diabetes is when the pancreas cannot produce enough natural insulin to prevent glucose levels from rising in your dog’s system. If the levels of glucose get too high, they will leak into the kidneys and cause infections and eventually lead to other internal problems.

Symptoms of Dog Diabetes

There are a number of symptoms to keep an eye out for when dealing with diabetes. The most obvious symptoms include:

• Frequent urination
• Excessive water consumption
• Lethargy and lack of energy
• Cataract formation
• Weight loss or gain

The most common symptoms are frequent urination and excessive water consumption. This is because excess glucose in the body cannot process normally in the bloodstream. Your dog’s body will then try to rid the glucose through urination. This in turn causes extreme thirst, which starts the vicious process all over again.

Treatment of Dog Diabetes

Treatment for dog diabetes includes:

• Spaying Females. Female dogs are more susceptible to diabetes than males. Lots of owners choose to spay their dogs to help balance hormone levels.
• Insulin shots. When your dog has diabetes, his natural production of insulin from the pancreas is low. Insulin shots are given and need to be monitored properly to avoid a low blood sugar crisis.
• Diet. Diet is extremely important for diabetic dogs. A good diet is beneficial because it decreases your dog’s dependency on insulin, controls sugar and carbohydrate levels, and helps your dog to lose weight.?Exercise. It is important to keep your dog active during diabetes. This will help maintain weight and keep diabetes under control.?Supplements. There are many different supplements available to help along with treatment and diet. Some of these supplements include vinegar, vitamin E, cinnamon and Chromium.

Always take your dog to the veterinarian if you suspect he may have diabetes. Diabetes can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis and organ failure if left untreated. Once diabetes has been diagnosed in your dog, it’s time to begin treatment. It is important to follow a strict treatment plan to best suit your dog’s case of diabetes. Treatments are different for each dog. Talk to your veterinarian about the best options for your dog’s specific case of diabetes.

To learn more about canine diabetes, symptoms, treatment options and more, visit www.dogdiabeteshelp.com

Like humans, dogs are susceptible to dehydration, overheating and sickness due to the sun and heat.  Espree Animal Products encourages pet owners to take the following precautions to ensure the safety of their dogs this summer:

• Dogs, like people, should not be out in the heat of the day without proper shade and adequate water.
• Dogs can get sunburned, especially on the nose, ear tips and any spots with exposed skin.  Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out in the sun with your dog.
• You can trim your dog to be cooler in the summer, but do not expose their skin.  Do not shave your dog’s coat, because it can lead to sunburn and skin cancer.  A dog’s coat actually provides insulation from the sun and heat.
• Paw pads can be sensitive to hot pavement, so try to avoid.  Paw Balm may help soothe and condition burnt or cracked pads.
• Dogs may be bathed monthly in the summer months or up to once a week, if needed.
• If a dog’s face gets dirty between baths, use a facial wash for quick cleaning.
• Dogs should be bathed after swimming in salt water or a swimming pool to avoid drying the skin and coat.
• Dogs with continually growing hair, such as Shih Tzus and Poodles, need to be groomed every four to six weeks.

Choose your dog’s shampoo based on its needs:
o   Tea Tree or Oatmeal Shampoo for irritated skin
o   Bright White Shampoo to brighten up those whites
o   Hypo-Allergenic Shampoo for dogs with sensitive skin and allergies
o   Puppy Shampoo for a gentle tear-free bath

Espree manufactures a blend of natural and organic pet grooming solutions that are both safe and effective. As the preferred product for professional groomers for 22 years, Espree provides a solution-specific line with more than 75 different products created for the well-being of the pet, their devoted human and the professionals who care for them. Espree’s products are distinguished by their contents – natural and organic ingredients that are gentle and safe. The company has grown steadily because of its expertise and innovation in the development of pet grooming products.

Espree serves customers throughout Europe, Asia, Canada and the U.S.  Pet owners and groomers can find Espree Animal Products at PETCO stores nationwide or at www.espree.com.

We take a look into how man’s best friends see and how good their vision really is in comparison to that of a human’s.

Colour myth

First up, let’s visit a common myth circulated about dogs’ vision. Contrary to popular belief, dogs can see in colour; however they can’t see the full range of colour that humans can. Their vision is comparable to red-green color blindness in humans, which is known as deuteranopia. Dogs can’t see as many dull colors as humans can, and may find it hard to distinguish between grey and pastel shades.

Sight as a sense

Dogs rely more on their hearing and sense of smell than they do their eyesight, which is why they can’t see the full range of colour. This is because sight isn’t as imporant in hunting. And, in fact, dogs that lose their sight during their life will usually adapt quite well as they rely on their sense of smell and hearing even more.

Distance and range

Dogs can see more of the world than humans can, as their peripheral vision is better. This is due to the position and function of their eyes. However, dogs can’t judge distance as well as we humans can. Dogs can, however, recognise their owners at an impressive distance of anything up to 900 meters.

Night vision and hunting

Dogs can see really well at night as they are great hunters and years ago would hunt in low light levels, so their vision has evolved in order to help them hunt. Our canine companions have incredibly large pupils, and the size of the overall eye is determined by breed. For example, the eyesight or a poodle is said to be the worst due to their eye size and position.

Dogs are incredibly intelligent creatures, and many of us who don’t have the gift of eyesight rely on them to see on our behalf and let us get on with everyday life as best we can. Our canine friends have vision that is totally different to ours, but they key is use; dogs don’t need the detail that us humans do, but they need the peripheral vision they have for running in the park and seeing the world around them.

Author bio: Amy loves to write about animals’ eyesight for Direct Sight, a leading provider of glasses online.