AAHA Issues Canine Diabetes Care Guidelines

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has published its 2026 Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs. This comprehensive update covers diagnosis, treatment initiation, ongoing monitoring, troubleshooting, and dietary management for canine patients.

According to AAHA, the care landscape for diabetic dogs has shifted significantly. The new guidelines incorporate advances in technology and pharmacology that have become more accessible to veterinary professionals in recent years.

New Tools for Monitoring and Treatment

Continuous glucose monitors are a central focus of the update. Once considered a specialized tool, these devices are now more affordable. They provide a detailed, continuous picture of a dog's blood sugar levels, offering an advantage over traditional intermittent glucose measurements.

Newer long-acting insulin formulations are also highlighted. The guidelines incorporate insulins like degludec and glargine U-300. These may allow some diabetic dogs to be managed with a single daily injection instead of the standard twice-daily regimen.

"The care of our doggy diabetics has changed dramatically over the last few years," said Audrey K. Cook, a member of the AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines Task Force. She cited the advent of inexpensive continuous glucose monitors and a new understanding of long-acting insulins.

The document includes practical resources for veterinarians. It features charts and algorithms to guide insulin selection, dosing, and the management of hypoglycemia. The guidelines state that all dogs with diabetes require lifelong insulin therapy due to an absolute insulin deficiency. With proper management, most dogs tolerate therapy well and have a good long-term prognosis.

A Canine-Specific Approach

A major change in this edition is its exclusive focus on dogs. For the first time, AAHA has created separate guideline documents for dogs and cats, rather than a single combined resource. This reflects the fundamentally different ways diabetes manifests and is managed in each species.

"We are especially excited to announce that, for the first time, we have divided these into separate canine and feline guidelines," said Jessica Vogelsang, DVM, AAHA's chief medical officer. She noted this recognizes the unique nature of the disease process in each species.

The task force developed the guidelines with support from several animal health companies, including Adapet Medical, Boehringer Ingelheim, Dechra, and Merck Animal Health. The complete 2026 Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs are available for veterinary professionals on the AAHA website.