Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Juvenile diabetes mellitus accompanied by exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in a dog.
- Journal:
- The Journal of veterinary medical science
- Year:
- 2008
- Authors:
- Kang, Ji-Houn et al.
- Affiliation:
- College of Veterinary Medicine · South Korea
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 6-month-old male crossbred dog, weighing just under 1.8 pounds, was brought to the vet with some serious health issues. He had cloudy eyes due to immature cataracts, was having diarrhea from time to time, and wasn't growing as he should. Tests showed he had juvenile diabetes mellitus (a type of diabetes that starts in young animals) and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (a condition where the pancreas doesn't produce enough digestive enzymes). The dog's diabetes was linked to low levels of a growth factor, and a closer look at his pancreas revealed fewer cells than normal. This case highlights that juvenile diabetes can happen alongside pancreatic issues, leading to problems like stunted growth and cataracts.
Abstract
A 6-month-old male crossbred dog weighing 0.78 kg was presented with acute bilateral immature cataracts, intermittent diarrhea and growth retardation. The clinical manifestations and laboratory findings were suggestive of concurrent juvenile diabetes mellitus (DM) and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). Moreover, the DM was associated with a decreased level of serum insulin-like growth factor I. Histological examination revealed a markedly lower number of pancreatic islets and acinar cells. This case shows that juvenile-onset DM can occur simultaneously with EPI and result in growth retardation, acute cataract formation and a high cortisol concentration.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19122401/