Your Dog — November 2017

R DOGMAGAZINE — FORUM WWW.YOURPETFORUMS.CO.UK — WRITE TO US (SEE PAGE 50 FOR OUR ADDRESS) Your Dog November 2017 53

D

iabetes is one of

the most common

endocrine diseases

affecting dogs, and evidence

suggests that it may be on

the increase. However, early

diagnosis, proper management,

and monitoring of a diabetic

pet can lead to them having

a happy, healthy, and active life.

Having a pet with diabetes

requires love and commitment.

For these reasons, Your Dog

Magazine has teamed up

with global biopharmaceutical

company MSD Animal Health

to fi nd the Diabetic Pet Carer of

the Year.

Dog lovers across the UK

are invited to nominate carers

of diabetic pets. There are two

award categories — one for

pet owners, and another for

veterinary professionals who

have made the extra effort

to support their clients and

patients after a diagnosis

of diabetes.

The awards have been

created to celebrate and

recognise the unique dedication

and commitment it takes to

successfully manage diabetes

in pets in the run-up to Pet

Diabetes Month. The winning

pet owner will receive a photo

shoot for them and their

dog as a reward for their

efforts in helping to manage

their pet’s condition, while

the winning vet professional

will receive free tickets to the

London Vet Show 2018.

Caroline Darouj, product

manager at MSD Animal

Health, explains: “Managing

pet diabetes effectively

demands a high level of

engagement from the owner.

Like human diabetes, the

condition usually requires

regular insulin injections to

be given to control blood

sugar levels — usually twice

a day for dogs with the

condition. However, most

owners consider their dog

worth the commitment, as

it can strengthen the bond

between them.”

Many of the devices that

help human diabetics are also

available to the owners of

diabetic pets. For instance,

95 per cent of human diabetics

use medical delivery devices

to administer their insulin.

A similar device called VetPen,

specifi cally designed to make

it appropriate for dosing pets,

is now becoming increasingly

popular. This makes it easier

for owners to administer insulin

safely and accurately.

● Readers can nominate

a Diabetic Pet Carer of the

Year before the deadline

of November 30, with the

winners being announced

in December. For more

information and to vote, visit

http://www.mypetonline.co.uk

R DOGMAGAZINE — FORUM WWW.YOURPETFORUMS.CO.UK — WRITE TO US (SEE PAGE 46 FOR OUR ADDRESS)DOGMAGAZ Your Dog November 2017 53

Q

I have a Pomeranian

who recently ingested

a lizard. For four days,

he didn’t eat or drink anything

so we took him to the vet’s.

On the fourth day, he had

sudden tremors and urinated

at the same time. The vet

told me he will survive, but

he might have neurological

symptoms and unusual

behaviour. Do you think he will

get back to normal?

Mounika Tirunagari, email address.

A

Roberta says: Eating

a lizard or other reptile

can be dangerous,

but the degree of danger

depends on the lizard

type and whether it

was venomous. In most

cases, eating a lizard

— or something of that

type — causes only

mild symptoms in

most dogs, such as

salivation and mild

nausea, but others are

particularly sensitive

and may have

gastritis (an infl amed

stomach) after

eating a lizard.

Treatment

may involve

supportive

care and medication to

relieve gastric infl ammation.

Intravenous fl uid therapy may

also be needed to prevent

dangerous dehydration in cases

with diarrhoea and/or vomiting.

I’m afraid it’s diffi cult to

know what the outcome will

be without knowing the exact

species of lizard. Hopefully, your

dog will be back to normal very

soon. I’d advise that you try to

prevent your dog from eating

lizards in the future; a Baskerville

muzzle (a basket-type one

which allows panting) may be

benefi cial when your dog is

outside and unattended.

Is swallowing lizard

life-threatening?

The

search

is on!

It’s time to vote for those caring

people who go above and beyond for

diabetic pets.

Severe cases of

dehydration will require

intravenous fl uids.

Do you know someone

who has shown love and

commitment to a diabetic pet?

There are three native

species of lizard in the UK,

including the slow worm.

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