Diabetes in cats

Diabetes in cats is a condition arising from insufficient insulin in the cats body. Insulin is an important hormone produced by the pancreas, which regulates blood and glucose to the proper levels.

When there is not enough insulin blood glucose increases to an unhealthy level and causes characteristic symptoms in the cat.

The cat's symptoms are usually weight-loss, increased thirst and urination, normal or increased appetite, poor coat quality and general signs of ill health.

If uncorrected these cat symptoms progress over days or weeks to include poor appetite, vomiting, dehydration, and in extreme cases, a coma or even death can occur.

Diabetes in cats is usually detected in middle aged to older animals and is slightly more common in males than in female cats. The number one symptom of this ailment is increased thirst and urination, which can be caused by other conditions or sickness.

Diabetic condition in cats

This condition can develop over weeks or months, and in uncomplicated cases is not an urgent condition. At the time of diagnosis many cats will have been living with diabetes for some time and their metabolism has come to adjust somewhat for the elevated glucose.

However, if diabetes in cats is untreated the condition can worsen and can become an emergency or even a life-threatening situation.

In these cases, the cat will have developed severe symptoms and complications arising from the chronic high blood sugar levels.

Death can occur if treatment is not sought out immediately due to damage to internal organs and complications associated with a diabetic condition.

Treatment of diabetes in cats

Never restrict access to water when a cat has increased thirst. Even if the cat is urinating to excess and wetting in the house. The cat is usually unable to control its thirst and depriving the cat water will cause dehydration.

If possible collect a urine sample to take along to the vet. Testing the cats urine can nail down the exact cause of their increased thirst and urination.

If these tests prove that diabetes exists in your pet this does not mean the end of the animal's life. Diabetes in cats can be controlled and treated.

Unfortunately, no tablet or pill treatment is available at this time for the condition. This means that insulin injections will have to be given on a daily basis or at the rate that your veterinarian prescribes.

Problems treating diabetic animals

The most common problems when treating diabetes in cats is missing an injection and then overcompensating that with an overdose of insulin.

A sure sign that a cat has been given too much insulin is you may have found the cat in a trembling or confused state or even collapsed and trembling.

In this situation, it may not be known whether an overdose or under does has occurred. The safest course of action is to treat for an overdose and seek help immediately.

When your veterinarian prescribes insulin, they will supply instructions for both an under does and overdose condition. But another visit to the vet for a blood test to be sure of the current level of glucose in the cats system may also be needed.

Cats adapt well to the daily treatment of the diabetic condition. At first, they will protest but they will get used to the injections and allow you to treat them for this condition.

When the disease is treated properly a normal life span can be expected. My wife had a cat before we met that developed mild diabetes at age 13 and lived to age 17.

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