Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Spontaneous remission and relapse of diabetes mellitus in a male dog.
- Journal:
- Journal of veterinary internal medicine
- Year:
- 2024
- Authors:
- Rak, Mariola B et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine · United States
Plain-English summary
An 8-year-old male Miniature Schnauzer was diagnosed with diabetes after showing signs of drinking and urinating a lot. He started treatment with insulin and a special diet, and over time, his insulin dose was lowered until it was stopped completely because his blood sugar levels were normal. For a whole year, he showed no signs of diabetes, but then he started drinking and urinating a lot again, and tests showed high blood sugar. Insulin treatment was restarted and continued for the rest of his life. This case shows that, while it's rare, dogs can sometimes go into remission from diabetes even without a clear reason.
Abstract
An 8-year-old male neutered Miniature Schnauzer was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus based on fasting hyperglycemia and glucosuria after a 2-week history of polydipsia and periuria, in line with the Agreeing Language in Veterinary Endocrinology consensus definition. Treatment of insulin and dietary management was initiated. The insulin dose was gradually reduced and eventually discontinued over the next year based on spot blood glucose concentrations that revealed euglycemia or hypoglycemia. After discontinuation, the dog remained free of clinical signs for 1 year until it was again presented for polyuria/polydipsia with fasting hyperglycemia and glucosuria. Insulin therapy was resumed and continued for the remainder of the dog's life. Although diabetic remission often occurs in cats and humans, the presumed etiopathogenesis of pancreatic beta cell loss makes remission rare in dogs, except for cases occurring with diestrus or pregnancy. This case demonstrates that diabetic remission is possible in dogs, even in cases without an identifiable reversible trigger.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38240130/