In the 122 case study, most dogs were hyperglycemic at the time of initial examination. Ionized calcium was normal in less than half of the dogs. Hypocalcemia of uncertain cause was found in most dogs with abnormal ionized calcium concentrations. Elevated levels of AST, ALT, and ALP were found in most dogs, and amylase and lipase concentrations were high in more than half of the cases. About half of the dogs had metabolic acidosis.

Urinalysis revealed that 81% of the dogs had concentrated urine, 83% had glucosuria, 52% had proteinuria, 44% had hematuria, and 36% had ketonuria.

Radiographic studies included abdominal ultrasonography on 127 dogs, abdominal radiographs on 46 dogs, and thoracic radiographs on 100 dogs. There were 27 dogs with hepatomegaly, 104 dogs with hyperechoic livers, 48 dogs with hyperechoic renal cortices, 27 dogs with hypoechoic pancreas and hyperechoic mesentery consistent with acute pancreatitis, 23 dogs with peritoneal effusions, 11 dogs with duodenal wall thickening, 15 dogs with pulmonary alveolar pattern, and 9 dogs with cardiomegaly.

Concurrent disorders are common in dogs with DM. Dogs with diabetes that fail to respond appropriately to insulin therapy should be evaluated for a wide variety of disorders which may cause insulin resistance. Many diabetic dogs with concurrent skin disease have a pre-existing allergic condition, history of prior corticosteroid administration, or another endocrinopathy likely causing or aggravating the skin disease.

Many cases of hemolytic anemia with or without thrombocytopenia have been reported in this breed. The cause has been identified as Babesia gibsoni infection. Some dogs have negative B. gibsoni and B. canis antibody titers, but are positive for Babesia spp. on PCR testing.