Which Dogs Get Diabetes? What a UK Register of 1,072 Cases Shows
Samoyeds had about 23 times the odds of diabetes of crossbreeds in a UK register. One in ten adult cases was an unspayed female.
Written by thecanineledger
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If your dog is drinking and peeing much more than usual, or losing weight while eating well, book a vet appointment. If your dog is also vomiting, weak or off food, contact a vet the same day.
Our note: This advice is ours. The paper is about breed risk and gives no owner advice.
→ Diabetes in Dogs: Insulin, Home Monitoring, and Glucose Sensors
In a UK register of diabetic dogs, Samoyeds had about 23 times the odds of diabetes of crossbreeds (Denyer et al., Companion Animal Health and Genetics 2025). Tibetan Terriers and Dachshunds had about 11 times the odds.
While those odds sound alarming, they compare register cases with a general practice population from a single year. They show which breeds are over-represented, not your own dog’s chance of diabetes.
1. The study
The register. Vets across the UK sent blood samples from diabetic dogs to a national register at the Royal Veterinary College. The study covers 1,072 cases from 2005 to 2019.
The comparison. The authors compared register breeds with dogs aged three and over seen at UK practices in 2016, using a large practice records database.
Funding. A UK research council doctoral programme, a veterinary drug company, a medical research council grant and an award run by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust supported the work. The authors declare no competing interests.
Our note: A veterinary drug company part-funded the lead author.
2. Which breeds
| Breed | Odds of adult-onset diabetes, compared with crossbreeds |
|---|---|
| Samoyed | about 23 times |
| Tibetan Terrier | about 11 times |
| Dachshund | about 11 times |
No cases. The register had no diabetic Boxers, German Shepherds, Pugs or Cockapoos.
Younger onset. Dobermanns, Rottweilers, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Dachshunds and Labradors were diagnosed younger than crossbreeds.
→ Miniature Schnauzers and Pancreatitis: What 2,910 UK Owners Reported
3. Unspayed females
One in ten. 106 of the 1,057 adult cases were unspayed females. The authors grouped them separately, because hormones after a season can trigger diabetes.
Breeds. In that group, Samoyeds, Border Collies and Huskies had the highest odds. The authors say to treat these figures with caution, because the comparison group included males.
Our note: The paper couldn’t tell whether any dogs went into remission after spaying, so we don’t cover spaying and diabetes risk.
→ When to Spay or Neuter: What the Breed Studies Show, and What They Don’t
4. What the study can’t tell you
Who sends samples. Practices sent samples after adverts in the vet press, so the register may not represent all diabetic dogs.
Mismatched years. The comparison dogs are from 2016, but the cases span 14 years. Breed popularity changed in that time.
Other conditions. Practices often didn’t report other illnesses. The most commonly reported were cataracts, pancreatitis, Cushing’s disease and skin conditions.
Small slips. The abstract says Samoyeds and Tibetan Terriers had the highest odds in both adult groups. But in the unspayed female group, the results list Samoyeds, Border Collies and Huskies as highest.
Our note: The register had only 15 cases under a year old, so we don’t cover diabetes in young dogs.
5. What we could not verify
| Commonly said | What we found |
|---|---|
| “Diabetes in dogs is mostly unspayed females” | No. About one in ten adult cases was an unspayed female. |
| “Some breeds never get diabetes” | Not shown. No Boxers, German Shepherds, Pugs or Cockapoos were in the register, but that doesn’t mean none get it. |
| “Diabetes is an old dog’s disease” | Mostly. The median age at diagnosis was about nine, but some breeds were diagnosed younger. |
Sources
- Denyer AL, O’Neill DG, Brodbelt DC, Holder A, Catchpole B, Davison LJ. Epidemiology and clinical management of 1072 dogs with diabetes mellitus in a UK diabetes register. Companion Anim Health Genet 2025: UK Canine Diabetes Register and Archive, 2005–2019, compared with 2016 practice records. Part-funded by a veterinary drug company
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