The Importance of Spaying Your Diabetic Female Dog

We get multiple new members in the group each month that have unspayed diabetic females, so I want to talk about just why it is so important to spay your diabetic gal.

Intact females go into heat typically two times per year, small dogs can go into heat three times per year and large dogs can go into heat every 12 months. During that time their body produces a hormone called progesterone. This hormone is produced during pregnancy and after a heat cycle, in a phase called diestrus. This lasts for about two months.

Progesterone causes insulin resistance, so even if your dog is not diabetic she can be insulin resistant and have higher blood glucose levels during this time. The problem with an unspayed diabetic dog is that insulin resistance causes elevated blood glucose levels, which in turn can cause toxins called ketones.

Ketones are a type of acid that the liver produces from fat when there is not enough insulin to properly use glucose. Ketones build up in the bloodstream and are toxic, causing diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). DKA in diabetic dogs is an extremely serious, painful, and possibly fatal illness, not to mention the expense it costs to treat DKA.

Once the dog is out of diestrus, insulin requirements can drastically change due to progesterone levels dropping back to normal. If constant monitoring of blood glucose levels is not performed, BG can drop to dangerously low levels, causing hypoglycemia; and as you may or may not know, hypoglycemia can kill.

I personally have not had to deal with Lucy and progesterone levels since she was spayed long before she became diabetic. But I have worked with people that have intact diabetic females and let me tell you it is an extremely stressful and emotional period for all involved. The sugar mama or papa is very worried, sometimes overwhelmed, continually monitoring blood glucose levels and ketone levels, pushing water, adjusting meals, etc. Most of the time vet intervention is necessary for regular acting insulin and IV or SC fluids, which can include the dog having to stay multiple days at the vet's office or in the hospital.

We always highly suggest the spay of intact diabetic females, to save your pup from the complications of insulin resistance due to increased progesterone levels. Financially, it costs much less to spay your dog than a hospital stay, and treatment for DKA. Emotionally, the stress of surgery only lasts for a few short weeks, while heat cycles and increased progesterone levels (remember, 60 days) will last for the lifespan of your gal.

If you have a newly diagnosed diabetic that has not been spayed, testing blood glucose and testing for ketones is crucial. Please purchase a meter kit and ketone urine strips.

Here is a quick link to the PetTest Meter Kit: https://shoppettest.com/pettest-meter-kit/

PetTest Ketone Urine Test Strips: https://shoppettest.com/ketone-strips-for-pets/

If you have any questions or comments please start a conversation below. We would love to hear from you!

For more conversations, photos, and giveaways check out PetTest on Facebook and Instagram.

If you are looking for a community to join for support, Diabetic Dog Owners and Canine Diabetes Support and Information can be found on Facebook as well.