Did you know that diabetes can affect dogs and cats as well as people? In fact, canine diabetes can occur in a variety of dog breeds including Dachshunds. Diabetes comes about when there isn’t enough insulin in a Dachshund’s body, which causes the body to break down fat and protein reserves as an alternative. Ideally, the energy source should come from glucose. As a result your Dachshund may start to lose weight and develop high levels of sugar in the bloodstream. Like humans, most dogs produce insulin in the pancreas and release it into the cells in response to digested proteins turning into glucose in the bloodstream. When insulin is produced correctly it will trigger the liver and muscles in the body to turn the glucose from the blood into energy. When there is a lack of insulin then the glucose remains in the bloodstream. Talk to your vet North Phoenix, AZ for more information.