Canine diabetes mellitus risk factors: A matched case-control study

Different subtypes of canine diabetes mellitus (CDM) have been described based on their aetiopathogenesis. Therefore, manifold risk factors may be involved in CDM development. This study aims to investigate canine diabetes mellitus risk factors. Owners of 110 diabetic dogs and 136 healthy controls matched by breed, sex, and age were interviewed concerning aspects related to diet, weight, physical activity, oral health, reproductive history, pancreatitis, and exposure to exogenous glucocorticoids. Two multivariate multivariable statistical models were created: The UMod included males and females without variables related to oestrous cycle, while the FMod included only females with all analysed variables. In the UMod, “Not exclusively commercial diet” (OR 4.86, 95%CI 2.2-10.7, P < 0.001) and “Overweight” (OR 3.51, 95%CI 1.6-7.5, P = 0.001) were statistically significant, while in the FMod, “Not exclusively commercial diet” (OR 4.14, 95%CI 1.3-12.7, P = 0.01), “Table scraps abuse” (OR 3.62, 95%CI 1.1-12.2, P = 0.03), “Overweight” (OR 3.91, 95%CI 1.2-12.6, P = 0.02), and “Dioestrus” (OR 5.53, 95%CI 1.9-16.3, P = 0.002) were statistically significant. The findings in this study support feeding not exclusively balanced commercial dog food, overweight, treats abuse, and diestrus, as main CDM risk factors. Moreover, those results give subside for preventive care studies against CDM development.