Comparative aspects of diabetes mellitus in dogs and cats.

Diabetes mellitus is a common disease in cats and dogs. Its incidence is increasing, possibly due to an increase in obesity in both species. Different types of diabetes have been identified in pet animals. The classification of diabetic dogs and cats is modeled after the human classification but especially in the diabetic dogs, many aspects are different. The diabetic cat, however, resembles type 2 diabetic human patients more closely. The clinical presentation, pathophysiology, and histologic findings are described for both dog and cat and possible etiological mechanisms are discussed.