Archive · 23 Jan 2026
Sedentary Lifestyle Raises Diabetes Risk in Dogs
Dogs are getting diabetes just like people.
This is happening because they don't get enough exercise and eat too many unhealthy foods.
Dogs that live in apartments and eat things like rice and curd are more likely to get sick.
Two dog owners, John Pinto and Lakshman Garud, saw their dogs lose a lot of weight and have very high blood sugar.
Both dogs needed insulin and surgery for their eyes because of the diabetes.
The owners changed their dogs' diets to healthier foods, which helped control the diabetes.
It's important to keep dogs active and feed them the right food to keep them healthy.
Sedentary lifestyle and poor diet are increasing diabetes cases in dogs, especially in urban areas.
Apartment-raised dogs, larger breeds, and those fed carbohydrate-heavy human food are at higher risk.
John Pinto's Yorkshire terrier, Daisy, lost significant weight and had high blood sugar levels, requiring insulin and cataract surgery.
Lakshman Garud's dog also developed diabetes, with blood sugar levels peaking at 824, and required two cataract surgeries.
Dietary changes to boiled chicken, eggs, lentils, and vegetables helped control blood sugar levels in affected dogs.
- Who
- Pet dogs, particularly those in urban settings and larger breeds
- What
- Increased risk of diabetes due to sedentary lifestyle and poor diet
- When
- Current trend, with cases reported in the past few years
- Where
- Hyderabad, India, and globally
- Why
- Lack of exercise, calorie-dense diets, and consumption of carbohydrate-heavy human food
- Location
- Hyderabad, India
- Affected Dogs
- At least one in 100 dogs in India and globally
- High-Risk Groups
- Apartment-raised dogs, larger breeds, and pets fed carbohydrate-heavy human food
- Daisy's Blood Sugar Level
- 490 (far above normal range)
- Daisy's Weight Loss
- From 7-8 kg to 3.5 kg
- Garud's Dog's Blood Sugar Level
- Peaked at 824, reduced to 200 after dietary changes
- Dietary Changes
- Boiled chicken, eggs, lentils, and vegetables