How to improve owner care for dogs and cats with diabetes

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus in dogs and cats presents unique challenges for pet owners, often resulting in treatment failure and decreased survival rates. However, there are strategies to enhance compliance with therapy and improve the quality of life for both pets and owners. Rather than focusing on tight glycaemic control, the realistic goals for diabetes therapy are based on owner and pet quality of life, prevention of diabetic ketoacidosis, hypoglycaemia and other diabetic complications and normalisation of body condition score. Selection of insulin should be individualised, with factors such as cost, time-action profile and available form considered. Insulin pens can be a valuable tool for improving accuracy and precision of insulin administration, especially at low doses. Insulin cost can vary greatly between countries, which can also impact treatment decisions. For diabetic dogs with finicky appetites or the ‘miniature’ patient, basal insulin therapy can be an effective solution. Reducing the dietary carbohydrate content in feline patients often reduces their insulin requirements. Sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors offer an exciting new oral option and insulin alternative for newly diagnosed healthy cats in the USA. By tailoring diabetes therapy to the individual pet and owner, veterinarians can improve treatment outcomes, compliance and quality of life.