Facts about feline diabetes

Most of us may not know that our kittens will also suffer from Feline diabetes. Once you subject your cat to consume high carbohydrate diet such as commercially available pet food, the insulin resistance works against them that lead to FELINE DIABETES.

Due to over-intake of carbohydrate, the blood glucose level shoots up like any thing and they tend to release more and more insulin to control excess glucose. This couldn't control the excess accumulation of glucose and the pet may go for type-2-diabetes mellitus.

Generally the cats are genetically programmed to consume low carbohydrates and high protein (cat loves fish than meat). Due to over-feeding with carbohydrates, your kitty may go for feline diabetes.

Types of Feline Diabetes

The cats also suffer from two types of diabetes- Type-1 and Type-2 unlike humans.

Nearly 50-75% of felids suffer from type-1-diabetes. Type-1-diabetes kittens show emaciated body condition and may go for serious consequences of life threatening also owing to the reason of its poor body condition that finds difficult in burning right type of calories. These cats require insulin therapy.

About 25-50% of kittens are affected with the type-2-diabetes. This type is mainly due to lack of insulin secretion during increase in blood glucose. In this type of diabetes, your felid is overweighed and can easily controlled with change in dieting behavior as well as administering medications to control blood glucose.

Symptoms

Symptoms of feline diabetes include-

• Vomiting
• Walking problems, weakness and depression
• Urinating outside the box
• Decreased appetite and weight loss
• Increased thirst and more frequent urination

Diagnosis

As we know very well the feline diabetes is diagnosed mostly on the blood and urine glucose level. Tests will give results of high cholesterol count along with increased liver enzymes. But the levels of phosphorous, sodium and potassium would also be below normal.

Other diagnostic procedure for the suffering kitties include physical examination and cat's clinical signs.

Treatment

Most of the cats are treated for this condition mainly on the severity of the disorder. Oral hypoglycemic drug (Glipizide) can be given to control excessive blood glucose. If your cat goes for off-feed during diabetes, it is highly recommended to go for insulin injection. Apart from this the feline diabetes therapy includes maintaining electrolyte abnormalities and dehydration by means of fluid therapy.

Dietary restriction should be advocated for the obese kittens (type-2-diabetes). Your vet will help you in formulating better diet for your fatty kitty, which normally includes high complex carbohydrate and high fiber diets. These diets will help a lot to control glucose levels after eating as well as cater the needs of the cat in weight loss.

Prognosis

The prognosis for feline diabetes is not alarming as we think. It is really fair to good. But unattended cases of diabetic cat may succumb to death. Hence a good communication is necessary between you and your vet. Modifying diet and monitoring daily will develop bring back the happy years of your kitty!!!

RELATED ARTICLES (Click the topic below to get an idea about feline diabetes)

Home History of cats Breeds of cats Nutrition of cats Cat names Breeding of cats Cat book store FAQ Ebooks Links News Contact us