Diabetes insipidus symptoms in dogs. Diabetes insipidus in animals

Diabetes insipidus in dogs can occur due to hormonal imbalance. Refers to endocrinological diseases. An advanced disease poses a mortal danger to the animal.

Clinical manifestation

Manifests itself against the background of a chronic metabolic disorder. Vasopressin or antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is important for the body. Its deficiency leads to water-salt imbalance. Salt begins to accumulate in the body. The renal tubule stops reabsorbing fluid, and it is excreted through urine. The impaired reabsorption process leads to frequent and intense urination. Therefore, the disease is called differently - diabetes.

If the loss of fluid is not sufficiently compensated, dehydration occurs. This may result in death. It is better not to let an animal become sick.

With central diabetes insipidus, there is a disruption in the production of the hormone by the hypothalamus. An absolute deficiency of ADG appears.

Find the answer

When the pituitary gland produces a normal amount of ADH, and the kidney tissue is unresponsive to the hormone, a relative deficiency occurs. The kidneys stop concentrating urine. The incoming fluid does not nourish the body, but is removed outside. At the same time, the dog may consume a lot of water, but the threat of dehydration does not recede.

The causes of central diabetes insipidus include:

• Pathology of the hypothalamus;
• Failure to release the hormone into the blood.

The central form of the disease can be idiopathic and symptomatic.

The idiopathic variety is hereditary. The reason lies in the congenital incorrect synthesis of adg.

The symptomatic variety appears as a result of another disease. Because of which the brain destroys its departments responsible for the integrity of adg. The disease can be congenital or acquired. The congenital nature of the disease manifests itself in puppies up to six months of age. Diabetes caused by a pituitary tumor occurs in dogs after 5 years of life.

The purpose of antidiuretic hormone is to regulate water-salt balance. Hormonal imbalance leads to disruption of this balance. Improper metabolism causes the kidneys to stop concentrating urine. Urine is frequently and abundantly excreted by the animal. Uncontrollable thirst and dehydration may occur.

The nephrogenic nature of the disease is due to impaired hormonal perception of the nephrotic tubules. The receptors stop being activated under the influence of the hormone. Reabsorption does not occur; fluid entering the kidneys is not recaptured. The cause of nephrogenic disease will be infections and nephrosis. If the kidney was not functioning properly before, the risk of developing diabetes insipidus increases.

Pathology has signs:

• Polyuria;
• Polydipsia;
• Pollakiuria;
• Intoxication;
• Beginning of dehydration;
• Inconstancy of blood pressure;
• Dry mucous membranes;
• Heart failure;
• Loss of body weight.

With polyuria, a lot of urine is produced. Incontinence may occur due to the physical inability to empty the bladder naturally on time.

With polydipsia, a dog drinks a lot of water, but cannot get enough to drink.

Pollakiuria is characterized by repeated urge to defecate urine. The animal often wants to urinate.

Due to intoxication, the temperature may drop. Hypofunction of the kidneys develops joint pain.

Fluid deficiency leads to dehydration. The symptom can develop even with active water consumption.

Blood pressure can change dramatically due to poor receptor sensitivity.

Dry mucous membranes lead to constipation and excessive saliva. The dog stops eating dry food. Dehydration of the body occurs.

The heart muscle begins to function poorly. Myocardial overstrain occurs.

The pet loses weight due to incipient dehydration. The blood changes its composition and is not produced enough.

Diagnosis

To identify the disease, blood and urine are submitted for laboratory testing.

A urine test can detect its low density. Detects hypercalcemia, hypokalemia.

A biochemical blood test can distinguish diabetes mellitus from diabetes insipidus. Determines the amount of antidiuretic hormone. With diabetes insipidus it will be low.

Diagnosis includes ultrasound, computed tomography.

The diagnosis is confirmed with a test. To do this, the dog is not given food for 12 hours. During this time, she is weighed several times. Determine the volume and composition of urine. If there is a significant decrease in body weight, and the urine concentration remains low, then the dog is diagnosed with a pathology.

During testing, dogs with severe illness should not be left alone, even for a short time.

Treatment measures

Therapy consists of alleviating the symptoms of the disease. The treatment regimen is prescribed by a veterinarian; it depends on the form of diabetes insipidus.

With this disease, the animal needs constant hormone replacement. Desmopressin is an analogue of the antidiuretic hormone. It is available as eye drops and injection solutions. The drug is administered to the animal in a specific dose. The dosage is calculated by the veterinarian. An overdose of the drug will be fatal. It is possible to stimulate hormone production. This is done with the help of Carbamazepine or Finlepsin.

The dose of the hormonal drug may be adjusted by the veterinarian during treatment. A clinical sign of improvement will be a decrease in the pet’s thirst.

If dehydration is suspected, laboratory tests will be required. Tests will be aimed at detecting hematocrit and determining sodium levels in the blood.

A therapeutic course of Hydrochlorothiazide is prescribed to get rid of polyuria.

Basic treatment is supplemented by the following measures:

• Ensure availability of drinking water;
• Increase the number of walks;
• Additional medications are prescribed for the heart;
• A diet is prescribed.

Your pet needs constant access to clean drinking water. This is necessary to reduce the risk of dehydration.

The number of daily walks is increasing. This way the dog will be able to relieve himself more often. The bladder will be less strained and stretched.

To maintain heart function, medications containing potassium and magnesium are prescribed.

The dog will benefit from a diet that must be constantly maintained. The food should contain little protein. The food must contain the right amount of fats and carbohydrates. The amount of meat in the diet decreases and the share of plant products increases.

The prognosis of the disease is determined by the assistance provided. Without medical intervention, the animal faces death from dehydration. Timely hormonal therapy eliminates signs of the disease. This helps your pet live a full life. Recovery will be one hundred percent if the dog is cured of the causative pathologies. Dogs who have suffered from the disease require careful care and health monitoring.

Prepare before going to the vet

In the office, you may have to provide the veterinarian with all possible assistance (hold the animal while they take blood for analysis, give an injection, extinguish aggression, calm your voice, scratch its ears, stroke it). If you know that you are afraid of blood, IVs, or definitely cannot withstand the type of medical interventions, then perhaps you should ask a friend or relative for help.

Find a veterinary certificate, veterinary passport.

Take:

• Leash;
• Collar;
• Muzzle;
• Carrying;
• A pack of napkins;
• litter;
• Bowl, water (at the veterinarian's discretion)

Prepare answers to possible questions from the veterinarian:

• Are all vaccinations up to date on the animal?
• Pet’s behavior in recent days, appetite;
• His diet;
• What drugs and medicines did you give to the animal;
• Latest test data (if available).

It’s better to make an appointment in advance - you’ll save time and be able to calculate when you’ll have to take time off. This does not apply to life-threatening situations where you will have to take an animal to a veterinary clinic without an appointment.

Be affectionate with your pet, play, talk to him. You can take his favorite toy with you so that while you wait for your turn at the reception, you can distract your friend from the new environment.

Furry, feathered or scaly ones also need to be prepared. No matter how much you want to treat your little one with something tasty, remember: you need an empty stomach. Feeding is prohibited!

You can wash your animal without using detergents. But it is important not to touch your pet if there is nasal discharge, watery eyes, salivation (salivation), dandruff, scratching, rashes, skin scabs, loss of hair/feathers/scales, wounds and other external manifestations of a potential disease.

If the veterinarian has instructed, collect the animal’s urine in a sterile container, and pick up the feces with a stick (no blades of grass, specks, or debris). Transfer the feces into a sterile container. Send to a biochemical laboratory within 6 hours. The feces are examined for eggs of roundworms, pinworms, tapeworms, liver flukes, echinoccus, alvecoccus, pork tapeworm, bovine tapeworm, and gastrointestinal bleeding is detected.

We determine the veterinary clinic where you plan to go. A big PR company does not promise quality. The price is explained by the huge amount of money invested in advertising and “signboarding” of the establishment.

It’s great if you can ask your friends about clinics where their pets were treated “humanely.” If you travel far from them, it may be worth sacrificing time for the health of your pet.

A few more tips on how to spot an unverified veterinary clinic:

1. Refusal to provide certificates and licenses for veterinary activities.
2. Strange and suspicious behavior of the veterinarian (inconsistency, flattery, attempts to intimidate, shouting).
3. Prices are too low (compared to other organizations).
4. Refusal to freely visit the veterinary clinic.

“We have a sanitary day”

Beware of scammers!

When you contact the veterinary clinic, you are informed: “we cannot accept you at this address, sanitary day/repair/inspection.” How much intelligence does a dispatcher have? The client is persuaded to have a veterinarian come to his home. The price does not change.

A veterinary clinic can exist purely nominally. And the invited “Aibolit” will not bear responsibility. There is a high probability of running into a person without a veterinary diploma or simply an unprofessional.

It is better to find time to visit the veterinary clinic on your own. This is safer for the animal.

Games on feelings

In real veterinary clinics there will be elements of “divorce”.

Veterinarians say that this is often determined by the client’s wallet. The greater the opportunity to pay for services and the more the owner worries about his pet, the more likely the animal will be prescribed additional immunostimulants, dietary supplements, water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins, and special food. There are cases when this is really necessary (pedigreed, show animals, weakened after a serious illness). But it will be good if you ask your veterinarian in detail about the need for each appointment. Find out in detail about the results of the examination and analysis of your pet’s condition. Be persistent. Do not give in to attempts to intimidate you, be consistent in your questions. Consult a specialist who does not work at this veterinary clinic. If it turns out that half of the prescriptions are prescribed to enrich the veterinarian’s pocket, and not for the health of the animal, feel free to leave. And do not forget to leave a negative review about the organization - other owners may also suffer.

How to find out the truth

Another possible way for veterinarians to make dishonest money is to conceal the diagnosis. Let's say a veterinarian discovers a malignant tumor in a cat. But if he says that the tumor is benign and treatable. A housewife who dotes on her pet will give money for already useless procedures, medications and surgical interventions.

The veterinarian may deliberately “downplay” the diagnosis in order to earn more money. If something doesn't add up, insist on clarification. There is no need to be intimidated by unfamiliar terms - take a short break and try to find information on the Internet.

You are free to leave (or threaten to leave) for another clinic at any time.

Make sure that the veterinary clinic is honest - get tested in an independent laboratory.

Justice

What to do if an animal was injured as a result of unprofessional actions of a veterinarian:

• Write an official complaint addressed to the head of the clinic.
• File a complaint with the city veterinary department.
• You can contact Rospotrebnadzor.
• Contact a lawyer for help

The Law “On the Protection of Consumer Rights” and Article 245 of the Criminal Code “Cruelty to Animals” are the grounds for considering claims regarding the work of veterinary clinics.

Saving

What to do if funds are limited and your pet needs medical care:

If you care what happens to your pet, you should not neglect appointments.

Don't let unverified veterinary clinics endanger your pet and profit from their owner's feelings! If you have time and desire, it is worth trying to achieve justice in case of violation of ethical or legal standards.

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Diabetes insipidus in dogs is an endocrinological disease based on a chronic metabolic disorder. For various reasons, the body develops a deficiency of the so-called antidiuretic hormone (ADH). As a result, the water-salt balance fails. Due to a disruption in the process of reabsorption (reabsorption) of fluid in the renal tubules, all of it is excreted in urine, which for this reason has a very low density. The main symptom of the disease is frequent and copious urination, so the disease has another name - diabetes.

If fluid losses are not fully compensated, severe dehydration occurs - a condition that threatens the life of the animal. To prevent such a situation, you need to know what the causes, characteristic symptoms and methods of treating this disease in dogs are.

Antidiuretic hormone deficiency may have the following features:

• An absolute deficiency of ADH occurs when there is a disruption in its production by the hypothalamus. Diabetes insipidus in this case is called central diabetes.
• With relative deficiency, the posterior pituitary gland produces a sufficient amount of ADH, but the receptors in the kidney tissue are not sensitive to its action. As a result, the kidneys lose the ability to concentrate urine. All fluid entering the body does not nourish its tissues, but is excreted. The animal can drink a lot, but the danger of dehydration does not disappear.

Classification of types and causes of disease

Diabetes insipidus has several varieties, characteristic of absolute or relative deficiency of ADH.

Central diabetes insipidus

The causes of central diabetes insipidus are as follows:

• pathologies of the hypothalamus, leading to disturbances in the secretion of the hormone ADH;
• disruption of the process of hormone release into the bloodstream.

In addition, the central form of the disease is divided into idiopathic or symptomatic:

• The idiopathic type of the disease is most often hereditary in nature and is characterized by a congenital disorder of ADH synthesis. The cause of the idiopathic form of the disease may be an innate autoimmune reaction of the body to hypothalamic cells that produce ADH.
• Symptomatic diabetes insipidus may appear as a consequence of another serious disease leading to the destruction of parts of the brain responsible for the synthesis of ADH. The disease can be congenital (mutation of the gene responsible for the synthesis of antidiuretic hormone) or acquired (traumatic brain injury, brain tumors, encephalitis, canine distemper).

Violation of the production of the hormone ADH, whose function is the regulation of water-salt metabolism, leads to an imbalance in this balance in the body. Disturbed water-salt metabolism deprives the kidneys of the ability to concentrate urine, which leads to increased excretion, excessive thirst and dehydration of the body.

Renal diabetes insipidus

In diabetes insipidus of a nephrogenic nature, the perception of the hormone by the receptors of the nephrotic tubules is impaired. Tubular receptors must be activated by the hormone ADH and reabsorb (reuptake) fluid entering the kidneys. But, due to the anatomical inferiority of the nephrons, congenital or acquired insensitivity of the receptors, this function is impaired.

The cause of the nephrogenic form is diseases of the excretory system of various etiologies - infectious pathologies, nephrosis. A dog's risk of getting sick increases if kidney function is impaired due to numerous poisonings, intoxications, abuse of diuretics, and heavy exercise.

Symptoms of pathology

In dogs, symptoms of the disease usually increase gradually. There are three main signs of diabetes insipidus:

• polyuria - large volume of urine excreted;
• polydipsia - large volume of water consumed;
• pollakiuria - frequent urge to urinate.

The degree of absolute or relative deficiency of ADH determines how pronounced these symptoms are.

There are some other features of the physical condition that can be used to diagnose the disease:

• Intoxication, decreased body temperature, and joint diseases occur due to hypofunction of the kidneys.
• Dehydration of the body indicates insufficient replenishment of fluid deficiency. This symptom can occur even when the animal is active and drinking large quantities of water.
• Jumps in blood pressure occur due to low receptor sensitivity.
• Dry mucous membranes, constipation, thick saliva, refusal to eat dry food are a consequence of dehydration of the body.
• Heart failure and premature wear of the heart muscle indicate chronic overload of the heart.
• Weight loss, abnormal blood composition, and insufficient blood quantity are evidence of increasing exhaustion and dehydration of the body.

Diagnosis of the disease

A preliminary diagnosis of the animal is made after receiving the results of laboratory tests of blood and urine:

• Based on the results of a urine test, the presence of pathology is determined by recording its low relative density, as well as the presence of hypercalcemia and hypokalemia.
• Analysis of the biochemical composition of the blood allows you to differentiate diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus, as well as determine the amount of the hormone ADH in the blood. In case of pathology, it will be reduced.

The cause of diabetes insipidus is determined by instrumental methods:

• examination of the condition of the kidneys is carried out using ultrasound or radiography using a contrast agent;
• Pathologies of the pituitary gland are detected using magnetic resonance or computed tomography.

Clarifying diagnostics consists of using a special test. It consists in the fact that during a 12-hour dry fast, the dog is weighed several times and the amount and composition of urine excreted is determined. If over time there is a significant decrease in weight while the urine concentration remains low, a conclusion is drawn that the dog has a pathology.

Treatment tactics

During therapy, great importance is attached to symptomatic treatment, alleviating the severity of symptoms. The basic treatment regimen depends on the form of the disease.

Symptomatic treatment

• To avoid severe dehydration, the animal is provided with constant access to fresh filtered water.
• Accordingly, it is necessary to increase the number of walks with such an animal so as not to force its bladder to overstrain and overstretch.
• Supportive therapy is provided for the heart muscle, which consists of prescribing calcium and magnesium supplements.
• Throughout his life, the dog needs a special diet. Food should contain a small amount of protein, with sufficient amounts of fat and carbohydrates. It is necessary to limit meat consumption and increase the percentage of plant foods.

Basic treatment

The main treatment for diabetes insipidus in dogs (its central form) is lifelong hormone replacement therapy. A synthetic analogue of ADH, the drug Desmopressin is produced in the form of eye drops or a solution for subcutaneous injection. It is administered to the animal, strictly ensuring that there is no overdose, which is fatal, as it can cause water intoxication. It is possible to stimulate the synthesis of the hormone ADH by prescribing the drugs Carbamazepine or Finlepsin to the animal.

The renal form of diabetes insipidus has a different treatment strategy. It consists of giving the dog a treatment course of the diuretic drug Hydrochlorothiazide to control polyuria.

Treatment of the symptomatic form of diabetes insipidus consists of eliminating the cause that causes it.

Forecast

The prognosis of the disease is cautious. Without medical help, a pet with diabetes insipidus is doomed to quick death from dehydration. Hormone replacement therapy started in a timely manner can stop the manifestations of the disease and give the animal several years of a full life. Complete recovery is possible only if the animal is completely cured of the pathologies that led to the symptomatic form of diabetes insipidus.

Sick animals must have careful lifelong care and health monitoring.

Prevention of the disease

Prevention of the disease involves professional pet care. The main activities are recording all changes in behavior and well-being, monitoring the quality of the diet, ensuring safe living conditions, maintaining hygiene, and periodic scheduled examinations by a veterinarian.

Diabetes insipidus ( DiabetesInsibidus– diabetes insipidus) – a disease caused by an absolute or relative deficiency of vasopressin and manifested by thirst and the excretion of large amounts of urine with low relative density.

The name of the disease comes from the words diabetes - leaking and insipidus - tasteless.

The disease primarily occurs in horses and dogs. Based on their origin, diabetes insipidus is divided into absolute or relative deficiency of antidiuretic hormone and nephrogenic or tubular diabetes insipidus. Depending on the pattern of disease development, central diabetes insipidus is divided into idiopathic (familial, hereditary) and symptomatic forms. In the idiopathic genetically determined form, it is not possible to detect morphological changes that would cause a decrease in the synthesis of pituitrin.

The symptomatic (secondary, acquired) form is characterized by damage to the hypothalamus or pituitary gland by a tumor or injury.

Etiology . There is true or hypothalamic and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. (ND)

Istinal or central diabetes insipidus is caused by insufficient secretion of the antidiuretic hormone, vasopressin. The causes of true diabetes insipidus are heredity, infectious diseases (canine distemper, viral hepatitis, meningoencephalitis, etc.), skull injuries, tumors and other lesions of the hypothalamic-pituitary system. The author observed diabetes insipidus in a horse that had suffered severe poisoning from a poison of unknown origin. Idiopathic central forms of ND include genetic, inherited, including diseases of autoimmune origin.

The causes of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus are considered to be diseases leading to degeneration of the renal tubules (nephrosclerosis, hydronephritis, etc.), to the development of cellular resistance to vasopressin, or to its increased inactivation in the liver and kidneys. The specific cause of this pathology is very diverse and insufficiently studied.

Pathogenesis . The development of the disease is caused by an absolute or relative deficiency of the diuretic hormone vasopressin. The target organ of vasopressin is the cells of the distal renal tubules. This hormone is the main substance that regulates the excretion of water by the kidneys, osmolarity and osmotic pressure within the cellular intravascular fluid.

Insufficient secretion of vasopressin by the cells of the hypothalamus leads to the development of true (central) diabetes insipidus, accompanied by a decrease in the concentrating ability of the kidneys, reabsorption (reabsorption) of fluid in the distal parts of the renal tubules, and copious urine output. Polyuria entails dehydration with loss of intracellular and intravascular fluid and the development of hyperosmolarity. Loss of water and hyperosmolarity are accompanied by the appearance of increased thirst with a relative deficiency of vasopressin, when this hormone is inhibited in the liver and other organs, the disease develops according to the same principle as central DI, but with less pronounced symptoms.

The development of the disease in nephrogenic diabetes insipidus differs little from that described above. Since the receptors of the cells of the renal tubules do not perceive vasopressin, its reabsorption effect is absent or sharply reduced, primary urine is not concentrated and is excreted in large quantities by the kidneys.

Symptoms

The severity of the disease depends on the degree of vasopressin deficiency or inhibition. The onset of the disease is usually acute; if the etiological factor is not eliminated in a timely manner and effective treatment is not carried out, it becomes chronic.

With a significant deficiency of vasopressin, characteristic signs appear clearly. Frequent copious urination (in horses up to 30-100 liters per day, in dogs - more than 60 ml/kg). Increased thirst (polydipsia), a horse drinks up to 100 liters of water, a dog – up to 5-10 liters. The skin is dry, hair is dull, falls out easily, urine is watery, low relative density (1.001 -1.002). Sugar is not detected in the urine. Appetite is reduced, gastrointestinal (GIT) disorders and constipation are possible. General weakness, nausea, vomiting (in dogs) are noted. If a tumor of the hypothalamus or pituitary gland is present, visual and behavioral disturbances may occur. Diagnostic criteria

. Thirst, polyuria, polydipsia, low relative density of urine, lack of glucose in it.

A combination of diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus is possible; in this case, the density of urine is not so significantly reduced. With compensatory azotemic polyuria, diuresis is insignificant. There is an increased level of creatinine and urea in the blood, and red blood cells, protein, and casts in the urine.

Verification (certainty of authenticity) of the diagnosis is carried out, if necessary, using a fluid deprivation test and a test injection of antidiuretic hormone. After a test with or without fluid deprivation, the dog is injected subcutaneously or intramuscularly with 3-5 IU of a combination of lysine-vasopressin=lycrossin (Postacton R) and urine is collected over the next 2-3 hours. An increase in the relative density of urine indicates the central origin of diabetes insipidus. If the relative density of urine has not increased, then after 6-8 hours a new sample is taken. If the results remain the same, it means renal diabetes insipidus, renal tubular damage, or psychogenic polydipsia.

Treatment . Therapy is advisable only if the cause of the disease is eliminated. Adiurecrine powder is prescribed for intranasal use, containing the vasopressin activity of an extract of the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland of cattle and pigs. Inhalation of adiurecrin gives an antidiuretic effect lasting 6-8 hours, therefore it is used 2-3 times daily. A 0.3% solution of pituitrin is injected subcutaneously (a water-soluble extract of the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland of slaughter cattle, contains vasopressin and oxytocin): horses in a dose of 3.0-5, ml _30-50 units), dogs -0.2-0.4 (20- 40IU) two to three times a day (effect 4-5 hours). Instead of adiurecrine, a synthetic analogue of vasopressin is used - adiuretin, a drug with a pronounced antidiuretic effect.

Adiurethrin (Desmopressin) has antidiuretic properties. Available in 5 ml bottles with a dropper. Place 1-5 drops in the nose or on the conjunctiva of the eyes 2-3 times a day. The number of drops is adjusted by gently pressing the dropper. Hypothiazide is used orally, which reduces glomerular filtration and sodium excretion with a decrease in the amount of urine excreted. In case of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, the underlying disease is treated in combination with the prescription of replacement therapy with vasopressin drugs.

Prevention. Animals with a hereditary predisposition to central idiopathic diabetes insipidus are not allowed to mate. Appropriate preventive measures are taken to prevent infectious diseases, skull injuries, and kidney damage.

It is characterized by a serious malfunction in the body’s water-electrolyte system, which is manifested by polydipsia and polyuria. The pathology develops slowly, clinical signs are not obvious, which makes diagnosis difficult.

Causes of development in dogs:

Symptoms of nephrological, central diabetes:

• Polyuria. This increases both the volume of urine and the frequency of urges. The color of the urine becomes very light. The dog asks to go outside more and more often, and often cannot resist.
• Polydipsia. The animal is constantly thirsty and drinks a lot and often.
• Gastrointestinal disorders - constipation due to dehydration.
• Decreased appetite. The dog often refuses dry food and is reluctant to eat wet food.
• Against the background of anorexia, the weight of the animal decreases.
• The skin and mucous membranes are dehydrated. There is anemia of the gums and mucous membranes of the eyes. The skin loses turgor. Dandruff and itching may occur.
• Problems with the cardiovascular system: changes in blood pressure (hypotension), heart failure, bradycardia.
• Lethargy, apathy, lack of interest in games, walks, reluctance to follow commands.
• In advanced cases, the four-legged patient experiences muscle tremors and convulsions. The dog may fall into a coma.

Death occurs 1-2 years after the development of the disease due to exhaustion.

Lymphadenitis (enlarged lymph nodes) is not a symptom characteristic of endocrine pathology. A slight increase in regional lymph nodes, as a rule, can be associated with the presence of an inflammatory process in the body.

Diagnostics include:

• taking anamnesis;
• elucidation of factors provoking polydipsia and polyuria;
• clinical examination of the animal;
• general urinalysis, biochemical blood test;
• analysis of vasopressin levels;
• X-ray examination of the brain, MRI, CT.

Differential diagnosis carried out in relation to diabetes mellitus, renal failure, hyperadrenocorticism, polydipsia due to nervousness.

If the disease is caused by a violation of vasopressin production, then the treatment is of a replacement nature - an analogue of the antidiuretic hormone (Desmopressin) is prescribed.

Relieve the condition a sick pet is helped by cleansing the blood through intravenous injections and removing sodium from the body. In the case of a nephrogenic type of disease, diuretics have a good effect.

Into complex therapy includes drugs to maintain kidney function and the cardiovascular system.

Read more in our article about diabetes insipidus in dogs and its treatment.

Owners of four-legged pets rarely encounter a disease such as diabetes insipidus in dogs. The disease is characterized by a serious malfunction in the body's water-electrolyte system, which is manifested by polydipsia and polyuria.

According to the observation of veterinary specialists, the pathology develops slowly, the clinical signs are not obvious, which makes diagnosis difficult. Owners usually contact us when the disease is advanced and irreversible processes have developed in the body.

Endocrine disease is caused by the fact that a part of the brain (hypothalamus) produces insufficient amounts of the hormone vasopressin. This leads to dysfunction of the renal tubules and an increase in the volume of urine excreted.

This type of diabetes insipidus is considered to be the central etiological factor. Polydipsia inevitably leads to dehydration of the animal and disruption of all body systems.

The pathogenetic mechanism of the development of the disease may be associated with impaired renal function. The nephrogenic type of disease develops when the kidney tubules malfunction. Renal structures do not respond to the action of antidiuretic hormone, which is accompanied by impaired water reabsorption and, as a consequence, the development of polyuria, intoxication and disturbance of water-salt balance.

Causes of development in dogs

According to veterinary therapists, the causes of central diabetes insipidus in dogs include, first of all, injuries and concussions of the brain and neoplasms (tumors, cysts). Often, congenital pathologies in the structure of the hypothalamic-pituitary part of the brain lead to the development of the disease.

Experienced dog breeders note that most often congenital pathology of the hypothalamus with the subsequent development of diabetes insipidus is characteristic of the Afghan hound. Underdevelopment of the pituitary system (nanism) is characteristic of the German Shorthaired Pointer.

The nephrogenic type of disease, according to veterinary experts, is usually a consequence of severe intoxication and an inflammatory process in the kidneys. The cause of diabetes insipidus of renal origin is often nephrosis. The disease is characterized not only by inhibition of kidney function, but also by a decrease in the sensitivity of the renal tubules to the action of the antidiuretic hormone produced by the hypothalamus.

Symptoms of nephrological, central diabetes

Veterinary experts advise owners to watch out for the following symptoms of diabetes insipidus in dogs:

Death occurs 1-2 years after the development of the disease due to exhaustion.

Watch this video about the causes of polydipsia and polyuria in dogs:

Are the lymph nodes enlarged?

Many owners, concerned about the health of their furry friends, ask veterinarians whether lymph nodes become enlarged during diabetes insipidus in dogs. Lymphadenitis is not a characteristic symptom of endocrine pathology. A slight increase in regional lymph nodes, as a rule, can be associated with the presence of an inflammatory process in the pet’s body.

Analyzes and instrumental diagnostics

A veterinary therapist has a number of tests available to diagnose diabetes insipidus in dogs. First of all, a professional will collect anamnesis, find out the factors that provoke polydipsia and polyuria, and conduct a clinical examination of the animal.

A general urine test will help to suspect pathology, which will show a decrease in the specific gravity of urine. A biochemical blood test for illness may show excess sodium caused by dehydration.

To make a final diagnosis, a veterinarian performs tests for diabetes insipidus in a dog, which determines the level of vasopressin. If the doctor suspects that the synthesizing function of the hypothalamus is impaired, then the animal is administered an antidiuretic hormone against the background of fluid restriction, and then control blood tests are performed.

Differential diagnosis is carried out in relation to diabetes mellitus, renal failure, hyperadrenocorticism, and polydipsia due to nervousness.

Treatment of diabetes insipidus

The therapeutic strategy depends mainly on the cause of the endocrine disorder. In the event that the disease is caused by a violation of the production of vasopressin, then treatment is of a replacement nature.

A sick dog is prescribed an antidiuretic hormone analogue. Desmopressin is a synthetic substitute for vasopressin that enhances water reabsorption in the kidneys and increases urine density. The drug is used in the form of drops subconjunctivally, as well as in the form of subcutaneous injections. Desmopressin is used under the strict supervision of a veterinarian, since an overdose leads to serious intoxication of the body.

To alleviate the condition of a sick pet, blood purification through intravenous injections and sodium removal from the body helps. In the case of a nephrogenic type of disease, diuretics have a good effect.

Complex therapy for endocrine disease includes drugs to maintain kidney function and the cardiovascular system.

Diabetes insipidus in dogs does not have pronounced symptoms, so treatment does not always bring tangible results. The prognosis for cancer of the brain is unfavorable. As a rule, with caution, a veterinarian makes a prognosis for an animal with a nephrogenic form of the disease. Replacement and symptomatic therapy helps maintain the physiological functions of the body, but does not lead to a complete cure for the furry patient.

Jade in a dog. From the article you will learn about the causes and symptoms of nephritis in dogs, classification of pathology, methods of diagnosis and treatment.

And more about congenital and acquired heart failure in dogs.

Diabetes insipidus in dogs is a rare endocrine disease. The complexity of the pathology lies in the fact that the owner notices pronounced symptoms when the pet has developed severe dehydration and cachexia. Replacement therapy improves the pet's condition when an oncological cause of the disease is excluded. For the nephrogenic type of disease, treatment is based on the use of diuretics, drugs that improve kidney and heart function.

Diabetes insipidus(diabetes insipidus) is an endocrine disease characterized by the formation of excessive amounts of low-density urine. It occurs as a result of a decrease in the production of vasopressin (the so-called antidiuretic hormone (ADH)) in the hypothalamus (part of the brain) or when the perception of this hormone by the cells of the kidney tubules is impaired.

Antidiuretic hormone synthesized in the hypothalamus accumulates in the pituitary gland, from where it is released into the blood. The hormone (as its name implies) is responsible for regulating the reabsorption of water in the kidneys, or more precisely, for reducing the amount of urine excreted (diuresis).

Depending on the location of the lesion, diabetes insipidus of central and renal origin is distinguished
With central ND, due to structural changes in the brain (with traumatic brain injuries, neoplasms, some infectious diseases), the production of the brain itself is disrupted.

ADH and a decrease in its concentration in the blood.

With renal DI, the concentration of ADH does not decrease, and polyuria develops due to a violation of the sensitivity of the receptors of the renal tubules to it, as a result of which reabsorption (reabsorption) of water into the blood does not occur in them.

In the absence of the effect of ADH on the kidneys, the amount of urine increases several times (polyuria), and its density decreases significantly. The consequence of this is increased thirst (polydipsia). The moment an animal becomes unable to replenish fluid loss by consuming water, signs of dehydration appear (skin loses elasticity, oral mucosa becomes dry).

Similar symptoms are observed with (but glucose is present in the urine), renal failure, Cushing's syndrome, etc. Therefore, for the differential diagnosis of the disease, data from clinical and biochemical blood tests, urine and blood gas analysis are used.

A specific study uses a fluid restriction test to determine whether vasopressin is released in response to dehydration.

1. The animal is kept on a starvation diet for 12 hours.
2. Catheterization of the bladder is carried out and a general urine test is taken. The specific gravity (density) of urine is recorded.
3. Measure the weight of the animal.
4. Over the next 12-18 hours, the animal is not given food or water, a urethral catheter is installed, and a urine sample is taken every 2 hours, recording its specific gravity.

The test is stopped when urine density increases to more than 1.030 (diabetes insipidus is not confirmed) or when there is a 5% loss of animal weight. If the urine specific gravity is less than 1.010, diabetes insipidus is suspected; if the urine specific gravity is less than 1.020, the result is considered doubtful. In any case, the test is performed three times to confirm the diagnosis.

The test is contraindicated in animals with signs of dehydration, elevated levels of urea and calcium in the blood.

For the treatment of diabetes insipidus of central etiology, fluid restriction is used, and for renal diabetes insipidus, treatment is aimed at normalizing the excretory function of the kidneys. In both cases, it is necessary to restore the water-salt balance, prevent dehydration, and improve the animal’s quality of life. For this, depending on the clinical manifestations of the disease, diuretics (thiazide diuretics), symptomatic drugs, electrolyte solutions, and vitamins are used.