Dräktighetsdiabetes hos hund
This article presents a retrospective case study combined with a review of the current literature concerning canine gestational diabetes. A total of 14 cases have been collected from six different clinics in Sweden. There are few previously published reports on canine gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes is a disease that rarely occurs in pregnant bitches. The condition is due to the rise of progesterone that occurs during the estrus cycle. The progesterone causes an increase of mammary-derived growth hormone. Together growth hormone and progesterone cause insulin resistance. The insulin resistance, most likely in combination with genetic factors, causes gestational diabetes.
The study shows that gestational diabetes has an earlier onset than other forms of diabetes (median age 6 years compared to 9 years). The breeds seen in this study were mostly breeds that have previously been reported to have a predisposition for diabetes. All dogs affected had an onset of the disease no earlier than week four of the pregnancy, which is also after when progesterone is presumed to have reached its maximum concentration. A genetic factor, influencing which dogs are affected and not, needs to be further investigated as several dogs in the study were reported to have relatives with diabetes.
Seven of the fourteen dogs went into remission after treatment. The chance of remission seems to increase with an early diagnosis, a younger dog and immediate treatment with termination of the pregnancy.