Canine diabetes mellitus is a manageable but demanding chronic condition that, without proper treatment, causes significant suffering, while well-managed diabetic dogs can enjoy good quality of life for years.
Uncontrolled diabetes is a state of significant suffering: the osmotic diuresis causes constant thirst and urination; the cellular glucose starvation causes progressive weakness and weight loss; and DKA causes acute nausea, pain, and metabolic crisis. Well-controlled diabetes, by contrast, is compatible with excellent quality of life. The welfare trajectory hinges on owner commitment to twice-daily injection and feeding schedules, and willingness to engage with the monitoring required for dose optimisation. Diabetic cataracts represent a significant welfare complication in dogs: rapid-onset blindness is often distressing, though most dogs adapt reasonably well. Surgical cataract extraction restores vision and is recommended for dogs whose diabetes is otherwise well-controlled and who are good anaesthetic candidates. CGM devices are transforming glucose management by allowing continuous monitoring without multiple blood sampling events.