Diabetes mellitus is a manageable but demanding condition in dogs. With proper care, diabetic dogs can maintain excellent quality of life, but the welfare burden of unmanaged or poorly managed diabetes is significant.
Unmanaged or poorly controlled diabetes causes significant suffering: chronic hyperglycaemia leads to weakness, weight loss, urinary discomfort, and susceptibility to infection. The development of cataracts — a near-universal complication in diabetic dogs — causes rapid vision loss and the disorientation that accompanies it. Dogs in ketoacidosis experience acute vomiting, weakness, and collapse. Conversely, well-managed diabetic dogs can be active and comfortable for years. The welfare challenge is the management burden: twice-daily injections require owner commitment and consistency, and accidental hypoglycaemia (too much insulin) causes acute distress. Quality of life assessment should include mobility, appetite, engagement with the environment, and freedom from pain as ongoing welfare indicators.