Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Owner experiences in treating dogs and cats diagnosed with diabetes mellitus in the United States.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association
- Year:
- 2014
- Authors:
- Aptekmann, Karina P et al.
- Affiliation:
- Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department · Brazil
Plain-English summary
This study looked at how pet owners in the United States feel about treating their dogs and cats with diabetes mellitus, a condition where pets have high blood sugar. Out of 834 owners who took part in an online survey, most dogs (97%) were treated with insulin injections, usually given twice a day, while a smaller number of cats (82%) received the same treatment. Many owners did not follow a special diet for their pets, and while more cat owners (66%) felt satisfied with how well their pets' diabetes was managed compared to dog owners (50%), most found the treatment to be quite expensive. The findings aim to help veterinarians better inform pet owners about managing diabetes and what to expect for their pets' quality of life. Overall, the study highlights the importance of owner experiences in managing diabetic pets.
Abstract
The objective of this study was to report owner experiences and satisfaction in treating a pet with diabetes mellitus using a descriptive report from an Internet-based survey. Descriptive analysis of results was performed, χ(2) tests were used to detect differences in responses between dog and cat owners, and correlations were assessed using the nonparametric Spearman rank correlation. A total of 834 owners participated in the survey. More diabetic dogs (97%) than cats (82%) were treated with insulin injections. Insulin was administered twice daily in 87% of dogs and 73% of cats. Porcine lente and neutral protamine Hagedorn were the most commonly administered insulins in dogs. In cats, glargine and protamine zinc insulin were the most commonly used insulins. Most pets were not fed a prescribed diabetes diet. More cat (66%) than dog (50%) owners were satisfied with the diabetic control achieved. Cat owners were more likely to use home blood glucose monitoring. Treatment was considered expensive by the majority of owners. Few published reports follow diabetic pets after diagnosis or report owner satisfaction. The results of this study provide useful information that may help veterinarians better educate owners and set expectations regarding diabetes treatment and quality of life for diabetic pets.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24855090/