Canine Diabetes due to Primary Pancreatic Disease

Diabetes mellitus is caused by inadequate synthesis or secretion of insulin.

Disease of the endocrinepancreas

The endocrinepancreas may not produce and secrete sufficient insulin. The main cause of diabetes in dogs is immune-mediated destruction of the islets of Langerhans.

Vacuolar degeneration of islets of Langerhans in a dog, HE staining, 10X ((Dept. of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht).

Disease of the exocrinepancreas

Severe inflammation (e.g. pancreatitis) or neoplasia of the exocrine pancreatic tissue can also lead to loss of islet function. In these cases canine diabetes is usually complicated by exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.