What is diabetes mellitus (sugar disease) in rabbits??Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a metabolic disease in rabbits. The pancreas of the rabbit secretes no longer enough insulin off – a hormone that regulates blood glucose levels.
Diabetes mellitus is not uncommon in rabbits, but has long been not as often as for people occur. The disease is similar to diabetes type 2 ("adult-onset diabetes") in humans.
A diabetic rabbit suffers from a long-term elevated blood glucose level, because the sugar (glucose) cannot be absorbed and utilized in the cells due to the lack of insulin.
This mainly leads to Liver and kidney damage. Diabetes in rabbits is usually noticed relatively late, for example, when an animal that is actually clean in the house suddenly leaves more traces of urine.
What are the causes of diabetes mellitus (diabetes) in rabbits??
The causes of diabetes mellitus in rabbits have not yet been conclusively clarified. One suspects hereditary (genetic) predisposition for diabetes meitus.
However, as in humans, also a faulty diet, lack of exercise, obesity and advanced age possible causes of diabetes mellitus.
How does diabetes mellitus (diabetes) manifest itself in rabbits??
Various symptoms indicate diabetes mellitus in rabbits:
What is striking about a rabbit with diabetes mellitus is that it is clearly drinks more and also urinates more frequently than before. This is because the high blood glucose level also causes sugar (glucose) to be excreted in the urine, which automatically increases the volume of urine. Due to the heavy loss of fluid, the rabbit also feels more thirsty.
Diabetic rabbits often emaciate, although they show great appetite. Some even tend to eat things that are actually inedible, such as the litter in the cage. The reason for this is that although glucose is present in large quantities in the body, it cannot be transported to the cells due to a lack of insulin – so the body and also the brain cells lack energy, which in turn causes a regular Cravings triggers.
In the advanced stage of diabetes mellitus, the rabbit often develops a Cataract, which manifests itself by a milky opacity of the eyes. If the diabetes is not treated in time, the rabbit can suffer damage to the kidneys, liver and other organs. Then the symptoms are reversed – it shows a reluctance to eat, becomes lethargic and apathetic.