Diabetes - What are the Symptoms?

[Niki]

Wilbur had 2 UTI's in a short space of time (2nd one started 10 days after his 1st course of antibiotics) & lost a considerable amount of weight. His last course of antibiotics i gave him for 10 days & it cleared up.
Since he's finished his 2nd course his appetite has returned & he's eating all his veg, hay, dry food & is generally looking much much happier.
However, i've noticed the past few days that his water intake has hugely increased-he's drinking approx 200-300mls a day if not more. At first i thought it was because of the heat in the house, before getting ill he was living outside in the shed, now i'm not too sure & altho' he's eating he's lost more weight, surely he should be gaining weight.

Does this sound like diabetes? If so, can this be treated? I don't want to take him to the vet & she say there's nothing they can give him & he'd have to be pts as he's happy & was pinging around the run today with the rest of the boys.

Should i take him regardless? Could it be something else?

Niki x

[gpmum2]

I really don't know the answer Nikki but Chips did drink more than his usual amount after his antibiotics for a short while. He doesn't drink very much at all really, compared to Ranger who drinks loads about 3/4 of a large bottle a day, he also eats well.

(Ranger also wees for England, whereas Chips doesn't - which kinda makes sense).

So I will be interested to see how people help you out on this one.

Karen

[Dawn - Admin]

Hmmm.. the symptoms could suggest Diabetes but I think you should go see a vet to be sure. I think it can be easily treated if he has got it.

Dawn

[Dawn - Admin]

Here are the symptoms to look for if yoou suspect diabetes Niki

The first symptom of diabetes is often excessive thirst (unrelated to exercise, hot weather, or short-term illness)

Excessive hunger (you know they've eaten "enough" but they are still hungry all the time) Mind you if your piggies are anything like mine they are hungry all the time anyway

Frequent urination (often noticed because you have to clean them out more often)

Tiredness and fatigue (sleeping a lot more then usual ), one of the most common symptoms of diabetes.

Rapid and/or sudden weight loss (any dramatic change in weight is a sign to visit a vet).

[Niki]

From that list he's definitely drinking more, he's peeing more because he's drinking more & he's eating tho' not to excess & he's lost weight.

I'm going to monitor his daily water intake/eating/sleeping habits over the weekend & then take him to the vets.
I want to make sure i am armed with some facts so a proper diagnosis can be made.
I'm going to try him with a different food too because it's been said that any food containing artificial colourings can give a false glucose reading - my piggies are on Wilkinsons own food which i think is Gerty (contains artificial colourings).
I don't want the vet to give him insulin if he doesn't need it - the effects of that are deadly
Will keep you posted

Niki x

[Dawn - Admin]

Yes do keep us posted Niki.

Dawn

[josie]

I'm really interested in how you get on Niki. Geri has started drinking loads more recently as well. I'm having to fill her bottle twice a day. Isabella shares it but she doesn't seem to be drinking as much as Geri. Today all the cages got their bottles at 8.00 this morning and at 8.00 tonight they were still half full apart from Geri and Isabellas, so i know its not down to the room temp being too warm. When I refilled it Geri was drinking for a good 5 minutes. It's only a month since she got over a water infection but I treated her with aloe vera not antibiotics so its not that.

[Niki]

I've decided to hold off taking Wilbur for the time being; he's still drinking a lot but his appetite's increased & he's gaining weight (at last) but he's not lethargic or looking ill in anyway & i'm in the process of hopefully changing their food over because of the artificial colourings

I'll keep you posted


Niki x