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Believe it or not, cats can get diabetes just like people do. It is just as life-threatening and requires just as much care. This is not to say it’s hard to care for a diabetic cat; it isn’t.
You may not notice the symptoms at first but as soon as you do, get him in to see his veterinarian right away. The first thing you may notice is excessive water consumption with frequent urination. He will also have an increased appetite, yet dramatic weight loss. You may also see lethargy.
After time, he may also develop neuropathy. This is a common side effect of diabetes. With neuropathy, a cat will walk on his haunches instead of his paws. This will distort his posture and give him a hunch back. He will also have difficulty making what used to be simple jumps.
Neuropathy is a nervous system problem where signals delivered from the brain do not reach their targets. For example: a signal is sent to the leg muscles to jump. The cat starts his jump. But the signals stop before reaching the muscles. He cannot complete the jump and falls. It is sad to see and can be scary. Call the vet right away!
The good news is that once the diabetes is under control, the neuropathy will correct itself. Controlling diabetes will require giving the cat insulin. Insulin is produced by the pancreas. A failing pancreas raises blood sugar levels. Insulin is usually given via injections twice per day. There are insulin pills available but most cats will not respond to these. There are different types of insulin that use certain types of syringes. Your vet can determine which type is best for your cat.
This is usually determined with a few tests. Initially, the vet will perform a ‘glucose curve.’ Throughout the day, blood is drawn and sugar levels are checked. More of these curves are done a few weeks apart with different doses of insulin. This process is continued until the right dose is found.
Once the right dose is determined, the injections must be given regularly, usually twice a day. Missing a dose is not generally an issue, although several missed doses will cause sugar levels to stay elevated. The most important thing to keep in mind regarding insulin is that too much is even worse than too little. Too much insulin is extremely dangerous. Seizures and even death can occur instantly. Keep a record of shots given to ensure that he is getting his insulin an also that he isn’t inadvertently given shots by two different people.
It is also vital to keep up with scheduled appointments with the doctor. A strange thing about diabetes in cats, unlike dogs or people, is that the pancreas can actually begin to produce insulin by itself again. If the pancreas starts working again and you continue giving your cat insulin, this can be too much total insulin and your cat could die.
Living with a diabetic cat is not complicated. It just takes care and dedication to proper care. In most diabetes cases cats may not even require a special diet. Just stay on top of the situation. A little ear scratching will be appreciated too.
It is important to be aware of what you need to look for regarding diabetes symptoms and the impact on your health. The Diabetes Advice Online services provides you information and details on the steps you need to take when you might have diabetes.
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