Assessment of glucocorticoid and antibiotic exposure as risk factors for diabetes mellitus in selected dog breeds attending UK primary‐care clinics

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an important endocrine disorder in dogs. This study explored prior exposure to glucocorticoids or antibiotic treatment as risk factors for developing DM in dogs attending primary-care VetCompass clinics in the UK. Methods: A breed frequency matched case-control study nested in a cohort of dogs (n = 480,469) aged 3 years or over was used to explore associations between glucocorticoid and antibiotic exposure and the odds of developing DM. Results: A total of 565 cases and 2179 controls were included. Dogs with DM had over four times the odds of exposure to glucocorticoids within 6 weeks prior to diagnosis (odds ratio [OR] 4.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.41-6.89, p < 0.001) compared to controls within 6 weeks prior to a randomly selected quasi-date of diagnosis. Dogs that had only one unique documented antibiotic course had a decreased odds of developing DM (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.46-0.91, p = 0.012) compared to dogs that had no documented courses of antibiotics.Limitations: This study only included selected breeds, so the results may not be generalisable to all dog breeds. Conclusions: Exposure to glucocorticoids is associated with a substantial increase in the risk of developing DM for the dog breeds included in this analysis.

Progesterone-Related Diabetes Mellitus in the Bitch: Current Knowledge, the Role of Pyometra, and Relevance in Practice

“…The ALIVE project of the European Society of Veterinary Endocrinology defines diabetes mellitus as a heterogeneous group of diseases with multiple etiologies characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from inadequate insulin secretion, inadequate insulin action, or both [ 19 ]. The global prevalence of CDM from published literature ranges from 0.15 to 1.33% while sex and gonadal status (entire or desexed) predisposition to CDM varies according to the population studied [ 6 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ]. However, it is generally accepted that entire females are at increased risk for CDM development due to the influence of diestrus [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 11 , 26 ].…”

“…The global prevalence of CDM from published literature ranges from 0.15 to 1.33% while sex and gonadal status (entire or desexed) predisposition to CDM varies according to the population studied [ 6 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ]. However, it is generally accepted that entire females are at increased risk for CDM development due to the influence of diestrus [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 11 , 26 ]. Female dogs have a two-fold higher CDM incidence compared to males, and nearly 75% of the diagnosed dogs with DM are females [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 26 , 27 ]; however, this distribution can show a vast range.…”

“…Diestrus is often associated with canine diabetes mellitus (CDM) [ 1 , 2 ], and this relationship has been recognized since the late 1950s [ 3 , 4 ]. Entire females and diestrus occurrence were identified as potential risk factors for CDM [ 5 , 6 ]. In regions where neutering is not a routine for the majority of the bitches, progesterone-related diabetes mellitus (PRDM) is probably the main form of CDM [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ].…”

“…Entire females and diestrus occurrence were identified as potential risk factors for CDM [ 5 , 6 ]. In regions where neutering is not a routine for the majority of the bitches, progesterone-related diabetes mellitus (PRDM) is probably the main form of CDM [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Less often, pregnancy may also trigger CDM [ 10 , 11 ].…”

Canine diabetes mellitus: assessing risk factors to inform preventive measures

“…The level of evidence provided by this kind of study design is generally considered moderate to weak and, despite a plausible background, any identified risk factor cannot be assumed to be the cause of the outcome. A study by heeley and colleagues, 28 summarised on p 409 of this issue of Vet Record, can be used to illustrate this.…”