Dogs can get diabetes too

DOES my dog have diabetes? I have a Labrador retriever who is a year old. He drinks a lot of water and urinates frequently. Is this normal for a puppy or could he have diabetes?

You have not specified here how often you think is a lot - is he going to the water bowl often and taking only a few mouthfuls, or is he drinking one litre ... 2ltr ... 3ltr ... daily?

How many times is he urinating daily - 10? 20? It is normal for a male dog to urinate twice when he goes out to relieve himself. However, if his environment includes other animals outside, he will urinate on all their scents each time he goes out, in order to re-establish his territory and his own scent. Chances are that your Labrador is normal, but doing a urine test is easy and inexpensive; so if there is any worry do consult your veterinarian.

A fresh urine sample, collected in a clean, dry container, can be taken to your vet for an initial test. If the urine tests positive for glucose (sugar), then further tests will be done to determine whether your dog has diabetes mellitus. Juvenile onset diabetes mellitus is rare in dogs, but it can occur.

Another rare but possible cause of glucose in the urine is Fanconi Syndrome, a disorder of the kidney. Diabetes insipidus is another cause of excessive water drinking. This is a rare and complicated endocrine disorder caused by a lack of antidiuretic hormone (ADH).

Psychogenic water drinking can occur with hyperactive or bored dogs, including puppies. In this case, you may want to restrict water intake - after you check that your dog is otherwise healthy.

There are hundreds of other causes of abnormal thirst, but most will be accompanied by other symptoms. - Dr Jim

Home cooking to tempt fussy canines

THE following recipes are excellent for the dog who is putting on a little too much weight and needs to eat a little less of everything.

Heart with rice
200g ox or pig heart
180g cooked rice
80g vegetables
2 cloves garlic
Boil the heart. Cut into small pieces and add cooked rice. Add vegetables - these are better raw and can be grated if your dog picks out and leaves larger pieces of raw vegetable. They can be lightly cooked if preferred. Mix all together with the water you cooked the heart in. Add a dash of cayenne pepper and a teaspoon of kelp powder and mix all together.

Health mix
Half cup lean meat
Quarter cup cottage cheese
1 cup cooked oatmeal
2 cloves garlic
Half cup grated or chopped vegetables
1 teaspoon kelp powder
Mix together and serve while still warm. Meat can be cooked or raw as preferred.

Meat and vegetables
230g tripe
200g pasta
60g vegetables
10g lard
Put hot cooked pasta in a bowl and stir in melted lard, then tripe and vegetables. Pour a little stock over the mixture and serve.

Biscuits
4 cups ground chicken (or cereal)
2 cups soy flour
Half cup whole wheat flour
Half cup oil
4 eggs
1 tablespoon each kelp powder, yeast, and bone meal
Half teaspoon cod liver oil
400 IU Vitamin E
Soak grains overnight. Mix in blender until smooth, then mix in the rest of the ingredients. Bake at 180-200degC for about 30 mins. Break in to bite-sized pieces.

To keep worms at bay feed daily: Half to two cloves of garlic, chopped or grated in to food; half to two teaspoons bran added to food; or grated raw carrot, turnip or beet added to the evening meal.