Understand the Disease. Diagnose with Confidence.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common and challenging endocrine disorders in dogs. This module helps you build a strong foundation in canine diabetes from the ground up. You'll learn how insulin works, why deficiency develops, and how prolonged hyperglycaemia affects different organ systems. We'll walk step by step through:

- The pathophysiology of canine diabetes mellitus
- The different types and causes, including immune-mediated and secondary diabetes
- Breed predispositions and risk factors
- Classic clinical signs like polyuria, polydipsia, weight loss, and cataracts
- The complete diagnostic approach: history, physical exam, laboratory tests, urinalysis, and imaging
- How to interpret persistent hyperglycaemia and glucosuria, distinguish stress hyperglycaemia, and identify concurrent diseases that complicate diagnosis

By the end of this module, you will feel confident in recognising diabetes mellitus in dogs, avoiding common diagnostic pitfalls, and building a clear, stepwise plan for every patient.

Start Smart. Stay Safe. Adjust Confidently.

Successful diabetes management begins with a strong treatment plan and confident client education. In this module, you'll learn how to initiate therapy safely, select the right insulin, and set your patients and their owners up for success. We'll cover:

- How to choose and dose insulin types, including Lente, NPH, PZI, Glargine, and Detemir
- Insulin handling, storage, and administration techniques—including pens and syringes
- Dietary management: low carbohydrate, high fibre, and strategies for weight loss or maintenance
- The role of exercise and how to balance activity with insulin therapy
- Step-by-step protocols for avoiding and treating hypoglycaemia
- How to communicate clearly with owners about treatment routines and early warning signs

By the end of this module, you'll be able to start diabetic dogs safely, stabilise them effectively, and support owners through the first crucial weeks of therapy.

Solve Problems Early.

Once a diabetic dog is on treatment, success depends on consistent monitoring and confident decision-making. This module teaches you how to interpret results, recognise patterns, and make evidence-based adjustments. We'll cover:

- Monitoring strategies: blood glucose curves, fructosamine, and urine glucose
- How to interpret data and decide when to adjust insulin doses
- Identifying and managing common problems: Somogyi effect, insulin resistance, poor owner compliance
- How to assess diabetic control in the real world (not just perfect textbook cases)
- How to coach owners for accurate home monitoring and long-term success

By the end of this module, you'll have a systematic approach to evaluating diabetic control, troubleshooting challenges, and fine-tuning therapy to keep your patients safe and stable.

Recognise. Diagnose. Manage Effectively.

Cushing's disease can present in many ways, from subtle skin changes to dramatic metabolic complications. This module teaches you how to identify canine hyperadrenocorticism with clarity and precision. We'll explore:

- The pathophysiology of pituitary-dependent and adrenal-dependent hyperadrenocorticism in dogs
- Classic clinical presentations, including PU/PD, abdominal distension, alopecia, and muscle weakness
- Uncommon signs like thromboembolic disease and insulin-resistant diabetes
- A structured diagnostic approach: screening tests (LDDST, ACTH stim, UCCR), differentiation protocols (HDDST, eACTH, imaging), and how to interpret results correctly
- Treatment options: medical therapy with trilostane or mitotane, and when to consider adrenalectomy or hypophysectomy
- Monitoring protocols and adjusting therapy over time
- Managing complications and educating owners about realistic expectations

By the end of this module, you will be able to accurately diagnose Cushing's disease, select the most effective treatment approach for each dog, and effectively monitor therapy.

Detect Early. Confirm Accurately. Treat Reliably.

Hypothyroidism is common in dogs but often misunderstood. This module gives you the clarity and structure you need to diagnose confidently and avoid over-treatment. You'll learn:

- The pathophysiology of primary, secondary, and congenital hypothyroidism in dogs
- How to recognise the wide range of clinical signs, including dermatologic, neurologic, metabolic, reproductive, and cardiac presentations
- How to interpret total T4, free T4, TSH, and thyroglobulin autoantibodies—and when additional tests like scintigraphy or TSH stimulation are needed
- Factors that affect thyroid testing, including non-thyroidal illness, medications, and breed variations
- How to design treatment plans with levothyroxine, including dosing strategies, monitoring schedules, and troubleshooting inadequate responses
- When and how to consider a therapeutic trial
- How to avoid and manage iatrogenic hyperthyroidism

By the end of this module, you will be prepared to diagnose canine hypothyroidism with confidence, establish safe treatment plans, and support long-term monitoring for successful outcomes.

Online MCQ Exam

The exam - written by Dr Yi Cui based directly on the course content - can be accessed any time after you complete the course materials. You'll have two attempts to take the test, with each attempt limited to two hours. Your result will appear instantly. Score at least 70%, and you'll receive your personalised certificate signed by Dr Yi Cui.