Familial canine diabetes mellitus.

A 10-year-old male Miniature Poodle was found to have clinical diabetes mellitus. The patient's dam had died from diabetes. Two 4-year-old dogs, produced from a mating between the patient and its dam, were examined and an oral glucose tolerance test was performed on each. One dog had striking glucose intolerance and was considered to be prediabetic.     

Pregnancy-related diabetes mellitus in two dogs

CASE SUMMARIES: Two cases of diabetes mellitus occurring in bitches in association with pregnancy are reported. In the first case, a bitch with suspected acromegaly developed diabetes mellitus within 2 weeks of the due date. Despite insulin therapy, euglycaemia was not achieved. Two live, small pups were delivered by elective Caesarean section but died within 2 days. Signs consistent with acromegaly resolved but diabetes mellitus was permanent in the bitch. In the second case, diabetic ketosis with severe gastrointestinal disease was diagnosed 2 days after Caesarean section was performed due to dystocia. The pups delivered all died within 5 days. The bitch recovered fully from diabetes mellitus within 2 weeks and has remained euglycaemic without insulin for a period of at least 18 months. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These two cases demonstrate that diabetes mellitus can occur in association with pregnancy in dogs, that diabetic ketosis can occur during transient diabetes mellitus in dogs, and suggest that acromegaly may occur during pregnancy-related dioestrus in dogs. The scarcity of previous reports of this nature, however, suggests that such cases are unusual. Lack of prompt resolution of hyperglycaemia may result in secondary diabetes mellitus becoming permanent. Management should focus on immediate insulin therapy or ovariohysterectomy to minimise this risk. Even mild hyperglycaemia should not be ignored during pregnancy. The insulin antagonistic effects of pregnancy, stressful illness, surgery and dystocia can be enough to result in diabetic ketosis in the absence of permanent insulin deficiency. Maternal hyperglycaemia may contribute to adverse fetal outcomes in dogs but further study is required regarding the nature of the risk.     

Gestational diabetes mellitus in 13 dogs

Background: There are few reports on the clinical appearance, prognosis, and risk factors for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in dogs. Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics of GDM in dogs. Animals: Thirteen dogs with GDM. Methods: Retrospective study. Medical records were reviewed and owners and referring veterinarians were contacted for follow‐up information. Results: Nordic Spitz breeds (11/13 dogs) were overrepresented in the case material. Diagnosis was established at a median of 50 days after mating (range, 32–64). Median glucose concentration at diagnosis was 340 mg/dL (18.9 mmol/L) (range, 203–587). One dog was euthanized at diagnosis, 5 bitches were treated with insulin until whelping, and in 7 dogs, pregnancy was terminated within 4 days of diagnosis. One dog died after surgery. Tight glycemic control was not achieved in any of the insulin‐treated dogs during pregnancy. Diabetes mellitus (DM) resolved in 7 dogs at a median of 9 days after the end of their pregnancies and DM was permanent in 4 dogs. Puppy mortality was increased compared with offspring of healthy dams. Conclusion: This report suggests that GDM affects mainly middle‐aged bitches in the 2nd half of pregnancy with a breed predisposition toward Nordic Spitz breeds. GDM may resolve within days to weeks after pregnancy has ended. Further research is needed to investigate optimal treatment regimens for dogs with GDM and risk factors for unsuccessful outcome.     

Insulinoma in a dog with pre-existing insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

A 10-year-old golden retriever with a 3-year history of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus was presented with recurring episodes of hypoglycemia and seizures. A presumptive diagnosis of an insulinoma was made based on hypoglycemia with concurrent endogenous hyperinsulinemia and unremarkable radiographic and ultrasonographic images of the chest and abdomen. A beta cell carcinoma of the pancreas with metastasis to the liver and a mesenteric lymph node was confirmed by surgery and histopathology.     

Inheritance of diabetes mellitus in Keeshond dogs

The genetic aspects of inherited, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus of Keeshond dogs were studied retrospectively and in a prospective mating program. The symbol dm was used to designate the gene that causes hypoplasia of the islets of Langerhans. The retrospective study disclosed 4 diabetic dogs; prospective outcross, backcross, and inbred matings disclosed 49 diabetic dogs. Outcrossing demonstrated that the diabetic phenotype was displayed readily against a genetic background of a breed other than the Keeshond. In dogs with the dm/dm genotype, onset of diabetes was most frequent before the dog was 6 months old, but did occur in some older dogs. The dm genotype was best described as autosomal recessive.     

Corneal sensitivity in dogs with diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE: To compare aesthesiometer-determined corneal sensitivity between diabetic and nondiabetic dogs and to investigate the correlation between corneal sensitivity and duration of diabetes or status of glycemic control, as estimated by use of glycated blood protein concentrations. ANIMALS: 23 diabetic and 29 nondiabetic normoglycemic dogs. PROCEDURE: A Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer was used to measure corneal touch threshold (CTT) in 5 corneal regions of each dog. At the time of ocular examination, duration of diabetes mellitus was estimated from the history, and blood was drawn for assessment of blood glycosylated hemoglobin and serum fructosamine concentrations. RESULTS: Median CTT for central, nasal, dorsal, temporal, and ventral corneal regions in nondiabetic dogs (1.6, 2.3, 2.8, 2.8, and 5.1 g/mm2, respectively) was significantly lower than in diabetic dogs (2.8, 4.0, 5.1, 5.1, and 6.6 g/mm2, respectively). Median regional CTT in diabetic dogs was not significantly correlated with estimated duration of diabetes mellitus or blood glycated protein concentrations. No significant difference was found in regional CTT between eyes of normoglycemic dogs with unilateral cataracts. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Diabetic dogs have significantly reduced corneal sensitivity in all regions, compared with nondiabetic normoglycemic dogs. Regional variation in corneal sensitivity is similar in diabetic and normoglycemic dogs. Neither glycemic control nor duration of diabetes, as estimated, is significantly correlated with corneal hyposensitivity. Corneal nerve dysfunction may be associated with recurrent or nonhealing ulcers in diabetic dogs for which no other underlying cause can be found.     

Serum butyrylcholinesterase activity in dogs with diabetes mellitus

Increased serum butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity is a feature of diabetes mellitus (DM) in humans and rats. The objective of this study was to evaluate serum BChE activity in diabetic dogs. The activity of the enzyme was assessed in three cohorts of animals: (1) dogs with naturally occurring DM (n=74); (2) clinically normal dogs (n=74); and (3) dogs with various other diseases (n=74). A statistically significant increase in BChE activity was found in the diabetic dogs (7.59 ± 2.9 kUI/L) compared with the clinically normal animals (6.12 ± 1.94 kUI/L; P<0.05), and with the dogs with other diseases (5.55 ± 2.06 kUI/L; P<0.01). Such increased activity could be the result of the altered glucose and lipid metabolism that occurs in DM.     

Use of insulin glargine in dogs with diabetes mellitus

The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of insulin glargine in dogs with diabetes mellitus (DM). Twelve client-owned dogs with DM were included. All dogs received insulin glargine every 12 hours for at least six months, re-evaluations were performed after one, two, four, eight, 12 and 24 weeks and included clinical signs, blood glucose curves (BGCs) and measurement of serum fructosamine concentrations. Mean blood glucose concentrations were significantly lower after two weeks of treatment and remained significantly lower for the duration of the study. By week 24, polyuria/polydipsia had improved in 91 per cent of the dogs. No clinical signs that could have been caused by hypoglycaemia were observed. Based on BGCs and remission of the clinical signs for judging the success of the treatment, 58, 33 and 8 per cent of the dogs attained good, moderate and poor glycaemic control by week 24 of the study, respectively. Insulin glargine administered subcutaneously twice daily is a possible and safe method of treatment for dogs with naturally occurring DM. Although only a few studies are available on the use of other types of insulin in dogs, their success rate is somewhat greater than that with insulin glargine.     

Suspected copper deficiency in a group of full sib Samoyed dogs

Extract

During a period of 3 years a series of sudden deaths in young Samoyed pups occurred in a breeding kennel. These pups were full sibs and the deaths commenced only when this particular mating was first used. Six pups out of 20 full sibs died similarly, while the health of the other dogs in the kennel was excellent.     

Renal lesions in spontaneous insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in the nonobese diabetic mouse: acute phase of diabetes

The nonobese diabetic mouse is a model of spontaneous insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The present study made longitudinal observations of renal lesions in the acute-progressive phase of diabetic mice 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 days after onset of diabetes without insulin therapy. Plasma creatinine and blood urea nitrogen concentrations gradually increased after onset of diabetes. Kidney weight increased and plateaued at day 20. Under electron microscopy the glomeruli demonstrated only mild changes on day 40. In the proximal tubules proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive nuclei and nuclear divisions were increased on days 10 and 20. On day 40 of diabetes, increased periodic acid-Schiff-positive granules, confirmed as lysosomal dense bodies, increased neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) positive reaction, and decreased periodic acid-Schiff staining in the brush border were observed in the proximal straight tubules. In the juxtaglomerular apparatus stratified macula densa were decreased with time in diabetes compared with the findings on day 0, and this macula densa positively reacted with nNOS. No changes in renin levels were observed. In addition, apoptotic cells were not detected. In conclusion, this research represents the first thorough characterization of acute changes in nonobese diabetic mouse kidneys. The results demonstrated renal hypertrophy and slight glomerular injury in early stages and structural alteration of the proximal straight tubules at later stages during the acute phase of diabetes. Furthermore, increased nNOS may represent one of the pathogenic factors of diabetic nephropathy.     

Clinical peripheral neuropathy associated with diabetes mellitus in 3 dogs

Clinical and electrodiagnostic findings in 3 spontaneously diabetic dogs with clinical peripheral neuropathy (PN) are reported. Clinical signs of a PN may develop in diabetic dogs with adequate glycemic control. In addition, laryngeal paralysis may develop in association with diabetes mellitus in dogs with clinical PN.     

Evidence of cardiac autonomic neuropathy in dogs with diabetes mellitus

The NeuroScope, a specific and sensitive indicator of cardiac vagal tone, was used to look for differences in autonomic tone between 25 dogs with naturally occurring diabetes mellitus and 23 healthy control dogs, to determine whether there was any correlation between the dogs' cardiac vagal tone, the duration of diabetes and the adequacy of glycaemic control. The cardiac index of parasympathetic activity (cipa) was determined for each dog over a period of 2600 heartbeats. The mean, median and modal cipa values were significantly lower in the diabetic dogs than in the healthy dogs. There was no significant relationship between the cipa values and the duration of disease or the adequacy of recent glycaemic control in the diabetic dogs, but there was a significant inverse relationship between the cipa values and the bodyweight of the diabetic dogs that was not evident in the normal dogs. The conclusions were based on a 500-heartbeat interval selected from the 2600 heartbeats recorded.     

Detection of occult urinary tract infections in dogs with diabetes mellitus

Dogs with diabetes mellitus may develop occult urinary tract infections. In this study, diabetic dogs with negative and positive bacterial urine cultures were compared. Records from 51 dogs with diabetes mellitus were reviewed at the University of Illinois. No difference was identified between the groups in urine specific gravity, pH, glucose, ketones, protein, red blood cells, white blood cells, or epithelial cells. Dogs with occult urinary tract infection did have an increased incidence of bacteriuria, but this was not a consistent finding. Therefore, the urine on all diabetic dogs should be cultured to accurately identify the presence or absence of bacterial urinary tract infections.     

Study of 253 dogs in the United Kingdom with diabetes mellitus

Clinical information and blood samples were collected from 253 dogs with naturally occurring diabetes mellitus. Over half of them were labrador retrievers, collies, Yorkshire terriers or crossbred dogs, and approximately 80 per cent of them were diagnosed between the ages of five and 12 years. The majority of the dogs were receiving insulin therapy once a day, but in the dogs receiving insulin injections twice a day there was a trend for lower serum fructosamine concentrations, suggesting better glycaemic control. The proportion of female dogs with diabetes was lower than in previous surveys. The disease was diagnosed more commonly in the winter months, a seasonal pattern also observed in human beings with diabetes, suggesting that similar environmental factors might be involved in the disease.     

Absorption kinetics of regular insulin in dogs with alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus

The absorption kinetics of porcine regular insulin following IV, IM, and SC administration were evaluated in 10 dogs with alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus. Plasma immunoreactive insulin (IRI) concentrations were evaluated immediately prior to and at 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 240 minutes following IV administration; and immediately prior to and every 30 minutes for 2 hours and then every hour for 6 hours following IM and SC administration of 0.55 U of porcine regular insulin/kg of body weight. Model-independent pharmacokinetic analysis was performed on each data set. Plasma IRI concentration declined rapidly after IV administration of regular insulin and then returned to baseline IRI concentration by 3.2 +/- 0.8 hours. The absorption kinetics following IV administration of regular insulin were similar to those found in earlier studies in healthy dogs and human beings. The IM and SC routes of regular insulin administration resulted in a pharmacologic concentration of IRI at 30 minutes. The peak mean (+/- SD) plasma IRI concentration was significantly (P less than 0.05) greater following SC administration than it was following IM administration of regular insulin (263 +/- 185 and 151 +/- 71 I microU/ml, respectively). The time of the peak plasma IRI concentration (68 +/- 31 minutes and 60 +/- 30 minutes) and the time to return to baseline plasma IRI concentration (5.8 +/- 1.2 hours and 5.8 +/- 1.3 hours) were not significantly different following SC and IM administration of regular insulin, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Familial renal disease in dogs

Juvenile renal disease in dogs has been encountered in over 20 breeds but in only nine of these (cocker spaniel, Norwegian elkhound, lhasa apso, shih tzu, samoyed, dobermann, standard poodle, soft-coated wheaten terrier and bull terrier) have familial nephropathies been reported, and in only two (samoyed and cocker spaniel) has the exact mode of inheritance been elucidated. Reasons for this unsatisfactory state of affairs are: 1 Renal failure in young dogs may not be due to a familial nephropathy, and while helpful diagnostic information may be gained from blood and urine analysis, accurate diagnosis of the specific type of renal disease requires examination of renal biopsy or post mortem material by an experienced pathologist. 2 Not all affected animals show clinical signs at the same age, making collection of data, often from widely dispersed animals, both difficult and slow. 3 The disease process in one breed may be very different from that in another, so that each breed has to be investigated separately. 4 There has to be a willing determination to face the problem by individual breed clubs, with the commitment of a large number of breeders, owners and veterinary surgeons. Resistance or inertia at any level will prevent or delay successful investigation and possible prevention of the disease.     

Severe hypophosphatemia associated with diabetes mellitus in six dogs and one cat

Severe hypophosphatemia was found in 6 diabetic dogs and in one diabetic cat. The cat suffered from hemolysis, and one dog had seizures, both apparently as a result of the severe hypophosphatemia. Clinical signs were not determined solely by the serum concentration of phosphorus, as seen in 5 other patients that did not have signs of disease despite similar serum phosphorus concentrations.     

Familial aortic aneurysm in Leonberg dogs

A thoracic aortic aneurysm was diagnosed in a 6-month-old male Leonberg dog by use of radiography, transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, and magnetic resonance imaging. The aneurysm was associated with a twisted ascending aorta and dilatation of several other thoracic arteries (pulmonary trunk, brachiocephalic trunk, and left subclavian artery). Histologic examination of the aorta revealed cystic medial necrosis, with disruption of the elastic network, collagen fibers, and the muscle glycoprotein fibrillin-1. The dam and sire of the dog and 8 littermates were examined by use of transthoracic echocardiography. The sire and 1 male littermate also had an aneurysm of the ascending aorta. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of familial aortic aneurysm in dogs.