Diagnosis of Canine Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is not the only cause of polyuria/polydipsia and weight loss in dogs. Cases should be investigated fully to rule out other causes before starting insulin treatment.

Differential diagnoses for diabetes mellitus include:

• Cushing’s Disease
• Renal failure
• Fanconi syndrome (rare)

A preliminary diagnosis of diabetes mellitus based on clinical signs must be confirmed by laboratory tests of blood and urine tests.