Is diabetes in cats normal?
An alarming number of cats are developing diabetes mellitus, which is the inability to produce enough insulin to balance blood sugar, or glucose, levels . Left untreated, it can lead to weight loss, loss of appetite, vomiting ,dehydration, severe depression, problems with motor function, coma, and even death.
What can a vet do for a diabetic cat?
Many vets will hospitalise diabetic cats undergoing initial stabilisation. Insulin is given and regular blood tests are used to monitor the effect on blood glucose concentration. This allows adjustments to be made to the insulin dose (and if necessary a change in the type of insulin or frequency of injection) to get good control of the diabetes.
Can a non diabetic cat be diagnosed with diabetes?
Clinical signs are not enough to diagnose a cat with diabetes. This is because these signs can be seen with a number of diseases. This means your vet will need to conduct tests to confirm diabetes before recommending any treatment. This is a requirement, as giving insulin to a non-diabetic cat could be fatal. Urine test.
Can a diabetic cat have high blood sugar?
Diabetes in cats is an increasing common problem, and it is estimated that around 1% of cats in the Australia suffer from this disease. Diabetic cats cannot regulate their blood sugar levels, which results in a very high level of glucose in the blood (known as hyperglycaemia).
How does a veterinarian test a dog for diabetes?
Ideally, your veterinarian will perform a 12-24 hour glucose curve, during which insulin is administered intermittently and blood glucose is measured to establish the type of insulin and dosing frequency that best controls blood glucose while avoiding inappropriately low blood glucose levels (hypoglycemia).
Many vets will hospitalise diabetic cats undergoing initial stabilisation. Insulin is given and regular blood tests are used to monitor the effect on blood glucose concentration. This allows adjustments to be made to the insulin dose (and if necessary a change in the type of insulin or frequency of injection) to get good control of the diabetes.
Is it normal for a cat to be diabetic?
When an older cat is presented to the veterinarian with the common symptoms of drinking lots of water, urinating tons and losing weight, a diagnosis of feline diabetes can actually be good news. It’s often better news than kidney failure or liver failure in many cases. If your cat seems very thirsty, this is not normal.
Ideally, your veterinarian will perform a 12-24 hour glucose curve, during which insulin is administered intermittently and blood glucose is measured to establish the type of insulin and dosing frequency that best controls blood glucose while avoiding inappropriately low blood glucose levels (hypoglycemia).
What are the pros and cons of diabetic cats?
Diabetes is more common in male cats, and the statistics show that males have a slightly better chance of reversing their diabetes. Anywhere from 30–90% of cats will return to normal with early diagnosis and treatment. 3. Better diets are helping diabetic cats live healthier lives.
