Plus-Hex CLINICAL
DM is a common endocrine disease currently affecting around 1 in 300 companion animals [ 2 ] . Most veterinary nurses ( VNs ) in general practice are likely to have seen a case of DM in dogs or cats . Although African pygmy hedgehogs are prone to developing DM , there is very little literature on the disease in this species .
Learning outcomes
• Recognise the known clinical signs of DM in African pygmy hedgehogs
Case study
There are a handful of case studies published on the treatment of type 2 DM in hedgehogs [ 5 ] . The case study in this article describes the author ' s own African pygmy hedgehog , named Mable ( Figure 1 and main image ), who was diagnosed with type 1 DM by a veterinary surgeon ( VS ) who specialises in exotic animals . At the time of writing , Mable is the only documented African pygmy hedgehog to be treated with ( off licence ) Caninsulin injections BID for the management of DM .
• Identify the normal blood parameters for an African pygmy hedgehog
• Understand the current treatment options for a newly diagnosed diabetic African pygmy hedgehog .
Physiology
DM can be defined by a lack of insulin being produced in the pancreas ( known as type 1 DM ) or a reduced tissue sensitivity to insulin ( known as type 2 DM ). Insulin is needed to regulate glucose levels in the body . The absence of insulin will cause an animal to become hyperglycaemic [ 3 ] . Clinical signs of DM in dogs and cats include polyuria / polydipsia , polyphagia , weight loss , increased susceptibility to infections ( e . g . urinary tract infections ), severe depression , anorexia , vomiting , dyspnoea , collapse or coma [ 4 ] . Diabetic animals have a decreased resistance to bacterial and fungal infections , and they often develop chronic or recurrent infections , such as cystitis , prostatitis , bronchopneumonia or dermatitis . This increased susceptibility to infection may , in part , be related to impaired chemotactic , phagocytic and antimicrobial activity associated with decreased neutrophil function [ 2 ] . Clinical signs of DM in African pygmy hedgehogs are the same as those in cats and dogs . A good understanding of what is normal and abnormal in an animal is paramount to noticing the early stages of DM ( Table 1 ).
Table 1 . Clinical signs of DM in African pygmy hedgehogs .
Polyuria Polydipsia Lethargy Weight gain ( increasing risk of DM ) Weight loss ( during onset of DM ) Recurrent infections Vomiting Decreased appetite ( when DM is uncontrolled ) Increased appetite ( when DM is controlled ) Dyspnoea
Figure 1 . Mable , the subject of the case study .
Diagnosis
Clinical signs
Prior to displaying any significant clinical signs , Mable presented with polydipsia and polyuria , which prompted the initial visit to the VS . She also presented with anorexia , weight loss and polyphagia . The first sign noted by the author was Mable ' s excessive thirst and frequent passing of a large volume of urine . A free-flow urine sample was retrieved by the author and brought into the veterinary clinic for testing . Ketones and glucose were present in large quantities , which prompted the VS to conduct blood sampling for fructosamine measurement .
Handling
Unless an African pygmy hedgehog is docile and has received regular handling , diagnosing DM can be challenging in this species , as access to the patient is hindered by its quills , particularly given its instinct to ‘ ball up ’ when it feels threatened .
Placing an African pygmy hedgehog in very shallow warm water ( e . g . a part-filled washing-up bowl ) or pushing a blunt probe over the lumbar region may encourage it to unroll [ 6 ] . If the hedgehog is particularly aggressive , it can be placed in an induction chamber and light general anaesthesia induced ( using isoflurane in oxygen at 3 – 5 % initially ) to allow a thorough clinical examination to be conducted .
Volume 38 ( 5 ) • October 2023
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