A new nationwide screening campaign to test all cats and dogs for diabetes is taking place this November as part of Pet Diabetes Month. The Great Pet ‘Pee’ Test campaign and its associated online survey is the first of its kind in the UK. The organisers hope to encourage pet owners to collect a free diabetes ‘test strip’ from their local vet practice to check their cat or dog for diabetes.

The Great Pet ‘Pee’ Test initiative was launched to make more owners aware of diabetes in cats and dogs, and to highlight the current under-diagnosis in many pets. With 65 per cent of pets now estimated to be overweight by the RSPCA, diabetes in animals is on the increase, partly as a direct result of ever-increasing levels of obesity – as with the human population. Over the last five years, leading veterinary charity, PDSA, has seen a ten per cent rise in the number of overweight dogs. Given the current canine population, this could be an increase of over half a million overweight dogs.

To join the campaign, pet owners simply need to visit their local vet practice during November to pick up a free Great Pet ‘Pee’ Test information leaflet and test strip. Owners then simply dip the test strip in their cat or dog’s ‘pee’ to indicate a positive or negative result. If a positive result is recorded, owners are advised to bring their pet to the practice for a blood test to confirm the diagnosis.

Owners can log the findings anonymously on www.petdiabetesmonth.co.uk. For each logged result, 10p will be donated to PDSA by the campaign’s organisers, Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health. Findings from the survey will be used to help assess current pet diabetes levels throughout the UK.

The launch of the first ever Great Pet ‘Pee’ Test comes as rising numbers of UK vets believe diabetes to be under-diagnosed. It is currently estimated that up to 1 in 100 cats and dogs develop diabetes, although this figure is expected to rise with the spiralling increase in pet obesity.

As with many diseases, early diagnosis is important. Signs that a pet may be at risk of diabetes include drinking too much water, urinating too much, weight loss despite an increased appetite, and lethargy. However, these signs are not always obvious and can be easy to miss.

Diabetes can cause dogs and cats to become very sick. If diabetes is left untreated, it can sadly lead to coma and death. However, with the correct insulin therapy and diet, diabetic pets can lead a long and healthy life.

For further information and to join The Great Pet ‘Pee’ Test visit your local vet practice this November or visit the website - see link below.