How can I Keep my Cats from getting diabetes?
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Learn More...What to do if your cat has diabetes?
Diabetes cannot be prevented, per se, but the risk for cats getting diabetes can be reduced. Do not allow your cat to become obese—encourage exercise, feed cat-appropriate food and avoid long-term use of steroids if possible. If your cat does get diabetes, then the goal is to prevent complications from developing while also trying to reverse ...
How much does it cost to treat diabetes in cats?
What is diabetes?
- Diabetes is often easily diagnosed and controllable. ...
- Diabetes can absolutely be managed and your cat can still lead a long and happy life.
- Routine veterinary care and evaluation are important, as is achieving and maintaining an appropriate weight in your cat and feeding him an appropriate diet.
How does vet determine if cat has diabetes?
The cost of insulin treatment for cats is $25 to $75 per month. In addition to insulin treatment, there are regular diagnostic costs associated with feline diabetes. These costs include glucose monitoring and regular health checks. You can expect to pay $700 to $1,200 per year to adequetly monitor a diabetic cat.
How long do cats with diabetes live?
Cats who are treated effectively for diabetes can live for very prolonged periods after diagnosis. Average length of life after diagnosis is variable dependent on which study is examined, however, average lifespans of up to around three years are reported in some studies.
Is a cat with diabetes in pain?
Affected cats usually develop an odd, crouching gait and have difficulty jumping up but they can have milder nerve pain that doesn't cause clinical lameness. (Human diabetics can suffer from this as well and report pain and tingling in their feet.)
How is a diabetic cat treated?
Treatment for diabetic cats The mainstay of diabetes treatment in cats is insulin therapy. Insulin injections are typically given twice daily, though some cats do well on once-daily injections. The injections are given under the skin.
What happens if a diabetic cat goes untreated?
Untreated, the condition leads to increasingly weak legs in cats, and eventually malnutrition, ketoacidosis and death. Early diagnosis and treatment by a qualified veterinarian can not only help prevent nerve damage, but in some cases even lead to remission so that the cat no longer needs injected insulin.
What are the final stages of diabetes in cats?
In the final stages, the cat starts wasting, with the body breaking down its own fat and muscle to survive. Lethargy/limpness and acetone-smelling breath are acute symptoms of ketoacidosis and/or dehydration and constitute a medical emergency. Untreated, diabetes leads to coma and then death.
What triggers diabetes in cats?
The most important risk factors identified for the development of diabetes in cats include obesity, increasing age, physical inactivity, male gender, and the use of glucocorticoids (steroids) to treat other illnesses such as feline asthma.
Can I treat my diabetic cat without insulin?
“Some diabetic cats can be managed on a low-carb food alone, without insulin,” says Koble. ”This is the only 'natural' treatment that sometimes works by itself. Many cats need a combination of a low-carb food and insulin.”
When should I put my diabetic cat down?
You should only consider putting down a cat if they're resistant to the treatment, which usually includes regular blood tests, insulin injections, and a specific diet, or if the quality of your pet's life is poor.
What are the signs of diabetes in a cat?
4 Possible Signs of Diabetes in Cats: Looking Out for Your Feline FriendIncreased urination. One of the most common cat diabetes symptoms is frequent urination. ... Excessive thirst. A cat that urinates more often will be thirstier and spend more time at the water bowl. ... Increased appetite. ... Unexpected weight loss.
How do I know if my diabetic cat is dying?
You will notice your cat becoming more lethargic, sedentary and refusing to move. Their weakness will be very apparent in their hind legs, and they will also sleep a great deal more than usual.
Do diabetic cats sleep a lot?
Either could mean an imbalance in your cat's glucose levels. Sluggishness. All cats enjoy 20 or so hours of sleep every day, but excessive lethargy may be caused by diabetes. For example, if your cat suddenly no longer runs or jumps, it may be worth a trip to the vet.
What is DKA in diabetes?
DKA is a serious, potentially deadly complication of uncontrolled diabetes that happens because of changes to acid-base, fluid, and electrolyte regulation in the body.
Is canned cat food good for cats?
For cats, this often means a high quality, low-carbohydrate diet. Since canned cat food is usually lower in carbohydrates than dry food, your vet may recommend switching from kibble to cans.
Do you have to go to the vet when your cat is diagnosed?
If it seems like you need to go in for a lot of vet visits when your kitty is first diagnosed, don’t worry — the beginning is usually the most time-consuming and financially demanding stage of treatment. Once the best insulin dose and overall treatment plan for your pet are established, maintenance becomes much simpler and requires less check-ins.
How to prevent diabetes in cats?
On the other hand, there is a natural approach to preventing diabetes in cats that is highly effective. Koble recommends pet parents pay close attention to diet and exercise. “The two best things any cat parent can help do to protect from diabetes would be to feed the highest quality canned, low-carb or raw diet that is possible,” she says. ...
Why does my cat have diabetes?
Koble explains that some of the causes include, “genetic predisposition, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, diet (high-carbohydrate, dry kibble), and the deposition of amyloid in the islets of the pancreas. ”.
Why does my cat's blood sugar rise?
Not dissimilar to type 2 diabetes in people, most cases of diabetes in cats occur when a cat’s blood sugar rises because its body is no longer responding to insulin in a normal manner. The pancreas can initially respond by producing more insulin, but the cells that make insulin eventually “wear out.”.
How do you know if your cat has neuropathy?
Raines says that the most common sign of neuropathy is a cat who walks flat on his back legs with his hocks on the ground. A change in eating and drinking routines may also signal the onset of diabetes in cats. “Without insulin, [a cat’s] body can't use glucose.
Can diabetic cats eat low carb food?
Not exactly, says Dr. Tara Koble, DVM of The Cat Doctor Veterinary Hospital, in Boise, Ida. “Some diabetic cats can be managed on a low-carb food alone, without insulin,” says Koble. ”This is the only ‘natural’ treatment that sometimes works by itself. Many cats need a combination of a low-carb food and insulin.”.
Do cats with diabetes need to go to the vet?
Any cat with diabetes will have to maintain visits with their vets based on their diagnosis. “Some [vets] require frequent office visits for blood sugar measurements and some prefer to empower clients to do monitoring at home,” Koble explains.
Can diabetes cause kidney failure in cats?
If you notice any of these signs, take your cat to the veterinarian immediately. If untreated, diabetes in cats can lead to severe issues, including weakness in the legs (diabetic neuropathy), diabetic ketoacidosis, infections, cataracts, nausea, kidney failure, severe dehydration, seizures, coma, and even death, explains Koble.
How to treat diabetic cats?
Most diabetic cats require daily insulin injections to manage the illness, which your vet can train you to provide at home. Schedule regular checkups to monitor your cat's blood sugar and her response to the treatment. If obesity is a factor, you'll also need to make changes to your cat's meals.
What are the signs that diabetic cats are thirsty?
Excessive thirst. Increased urination. Excessive thirst and frequent urination are the signs most likely to be noticed first by cat owners. Often, because they need to go so frequently, diabetic cats will start relieving themselves outside the litter box.
Why does my cat lose weight?
Because diabetes causes the body's cells to process energy from fat and protein instead of glucose, cats with diabetes will typically lose weight in spite of displaying a healthy appetite. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to a number of health complications, the most dangerous of which is a condition known as ketoacidosis. This occurs when the breakdown of fat and protein cells becomes so great that your cat's body is effectively starving even though she's eating regularly. Signs of this condition include appetite loss, weakness or lethargy, abnormal breathing, dehydration, vomiting and diarrhea, and without immediate intensive care to provide fluids and insulin, it could be fatal.
Can diabetes cause diabetes in cats?
While the exact cause of cat diabetes is unknown, obese cats are the most predisposed to developing this disease. Other risk factors include chronic pancreatitis and hormonal disorders such as hyperthyroidism and Cushing's disease. Certain medications, including corticosteroids (such as prednisolone) have also been linked to diabetes.
Is diabetes in cats on the rise?
October 30, 2019. 5 min read. With pet obesity on the rise, it may come as no surprise that cases of diabetes in pets are also on the rise. According to the annual State of Pet Health report released by Banfield Pet Hospital, the prevalence of cat diabetes has risen over 18 percent between 2006 and 2015. Although obesity is the biggest risk factor ...
Can cats be obese?
Even if your cat isn't obese, it's important to be able to recognize the clinical signs of diabetes so that treatment can begin as soon as possible. Keep reading to find out what you need to know about recognizing and managing diabetes in your kitty.
Can cats with diabetes live a happy life?
Talk to your vet about your options if you think you and your kitty might be good candidates for home testing. While cat diabetes is a lifelong condition, it is by no means doesn't mean your cat can't live a fulfilling life. With proper management and treatment, cats with diabetes can live long and happy lives.
How does feline diabetes affect cats?
Learn how feline diabetes affects your cat. When your cat has feline diabetes, the pancreas produces less or no insulin. Your cat's tissues will also be unable to respond to the insulin produced in the body.
How to get a cat to stop insulin?
When your cat is diagnosed with diabetes and starting insulin therapy, your cat will be stabilized at the vet clinic. Your cat may need to board at the vet office for a few days until an appropriate starting dose is found.
What to do if your cat has ketones?
If ketones start to appear, it is an early warning sign that your cat is becoming toxic and a dose adjustment is necessary. If ketones are present, contact your vet immediately for advice on increasing the dose of insulin. ...
Why does my cat urinate so much?
Your cat will also urinate more than before the diabetes. This is due to sugar loss in the urine, which drags an increased amount of water with it.
What to do if your cat doesn't want a diet?
If you don't want a prescription diet, talk with your vet about a nutritional plan for your cat. In addition to a diet, your cat should also get more exercise each day as well to help bring the weight off. ...
How often should I give my cat insulin?
Getting shots twice a day is more common than once. A typical day would go like this: Give your cat a small amount of food at breakfast time and make sure your cat eat. Give the morning dose of insulin, Repeat the same process in the evening. Leave any remaining food out for the cat to graze on during the day. ...
Why does my cat have sugar in her blood?
It causes excess of sugar in your cat's blood stream because the pancreas does not work properly, which causes your cat to get sick. If your cat has been diagnosed, there are ways to treat feline diabetes.
What to do if your dog is diabetic?
If your diabetic animal will be in a pet sitter’s or kennel’s care, make sure the caretakers will call your vet if there is any change in behavior, such as:
How many cats will return to normal after a diabetic diagnosis?
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. A poor diet may have brought on your cat’s diabetes in the first place. Now it’s time to get back on the right track.
How to get my cat's blood sugar back on track?
Early intervention with diabetes, as with so many other diseases, gives your cat the best chance of a better life, and possible remission. Daily insulin injections, along with watching what the cat eats, can help get blood sugar levels back on track and allow the cat to act normal. 2.
Can a diabetic cat have insulin?
Newly diagnosed diabetic cats given Lantus as the first insulin have the best chance of remission. This means they may return to being a normal, non-diabetic cat. Lantus means easier control of diabetes, which translates to fewer trips to the vet, which translates to less money spent.
Can a diabetic cat drink water?
Proper diabetes care for a cat allows many patients to lead normal lives. There are certainly exceptions, and some diabetic cats have many problems — no 2 diabetics are the same. If we catch the illness early, a diabetic cat will stop drinking tons of water, have a normal amount of energy and lead a happy life. 8.
Can cats with diabetes get insulin injections?
Insulin injections for cats with diabetes are actually not complicated. Injections are not that difficult to give, even when cat, Mr. Mug, is acting like Mr. Angrypants. Stick the furry face in some food and pop in the tiny amount of insulin, and it’s over.
Is diabetes a death sentence for cats?
Caring for a Diabetic Cat: The Good and The Bad of Diabetes Care. No, diabetes is not a death sentence for your cat. Here’s what you should know, including symptoms, treatment — and the cost of insulin for cats. One of the classic cat diabetes symptoms is when you notice your cat drinking more water than usual.
How to diagnose diabetes in cats?
Diagnosing Diabetes in Cats. After a physical exam and discussion of your cat’s symptoms, your veterinarian will take blood and urine samples for testing. In addition to checking the glucose (sugar) levels in your cat’s blood and urine, your vet will be checking for evidence of other diseases that have symptoms similar to diabetes, ...
Why is my cat's blood sugar high?
Diabetes in cats is most similar to type II diabetes in people: the blood sugar becomes elevated because the cat’s insulin is either ineffective or not produced in sufficient quantity. If not treated accordingly, it can become a life-threatening condition.
What to do if your cat is not eating?
In the meantime, provide plenty of water and keep an eye on the water dish or fountain, because you will have to refill it more often . If your cat is very ill or not eating, they need immediate veterinary attention. By the time a cat with diabetes has lost their appetite, they are very sick.
Can diabetic cats get urinary tract infections?
Infections can interfere with proper glucose regulation, so if your cat has any infections, those will need to be treated first. Urinary tract infections are common in diabetic cats, and your veterinarian may recommend regular screening to prevent complications.
Can diabetic cats go into a coma?
Cats at this stage will not eat or drink and will become dehydrated and more lethargic. Eventually, as ketoacidosis progresses, they will slip into a coma and die if not treated with intensive medical therapy.
Can cats get diabetes?
Indoor, middle-aged, obese cats are most likely to develop diabetes, but it can happen to any cat at almost any age. With the successful introduction of a weight loss plan, it’s possible that your cat will NOT need lifelong insulin therapy, especially if diagnosed early and the blood sugar is stabilized quickly.
Can diabetes shorten a cat's life?
For a cat that is otherwise in good health, diabetes that is well-regulated may not shorten their life. However, some cats are more difficult to regulate or have an interfering disease, so their prognosis may be different depending on the illness.
What happens when a cat has diabetes?
When a cat has diabetes, something’s gone wrong with either insulin production or insulin receptivity. A small percentage of feline patients have type 1 diabetes, which occurs when the immune system destroys the pancreatic beta cells that trigger insulin production.
Why are cats at risk for diabetes?
These include obesity, a high-carbohydrate diet, inactivity, and genetic factors. Male cats, indoor cats, and those middle- to older-aged cats are also at increased risk of developing diabetes. Diabetes is more common among some populations of Burmese and Siamese cats around the world.
How much remission does a cat have?
In one report, cats on a strict glycemic control protocol experienced an 84% remission rate, compared to 35% remission rates among cats whose blood glucose levels weren’t tightly regulated. As soon as you learn that your cat has diabetes, pick up a good glucometer.
Why is my cat blurry?
The situation is particularly blurry among cats, who usually have a combination of insulin resistance and poor insulin production. To make things more interesting, prolonged insulin resistance and consequently high blood glucose damages the pancreas.
How often should I give my cat glargine?
“In general, the best glycemic control is obtained in the majority of cats by using PZI or glargine twice daily combined with a low carbohydrate-high protein diet.” – Therapeutic Goals for Otherwise Healthy Diabetic Cats
How much glucose does a cat have in urine?
Your veterinarian will also perform regular bloodwork and analyze your cat’s urine. Persistent blood glucose values between 180 and 288 mg (milligrams) per dl (deciliter) and persistent glucose in the urine (‘glucosuria’) are indicative of diabetes. Blood glucose values in diabetic cats can reach as high as 400 mg/dl.
What does a cat's pancreas do?
Normally, each time your cat eats a meal, beta cells in his pancreas trigger the release of insulin, which streams into your cat’s blood and attaches to and unlocks cells, allowing them to absorb energy-giving sugar.
How to help diabetic cats?
1. Feed your cat the proper diet. Most people know that human diabetics have to be careful what they eat, and this is also the case with cats. The ideal cat diet is rich in protein and low in carbohydrates. Unfortunately, most cat foods you find at the supermarket will be high in carbs and low in protein.
What type of diabetes does a cat have?
The first type is type 1 diabetes. This type usually requires insulin injections as the pancreas cannot produce the insulin needed to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. The second type is called type 2 diabetes. If your cat has this type of diabetes they may or may not need insulin injections.
What is the normal blood sugar level for a diabetic cat?
The normal glucose range for cats is around 80 to 120 mg/dl. After a meal the sugar levels in normal cats may rise between 250 to 300 mg/dl. Since the blood sugar of a diabetic cat is maintained by insulin injections, the glucose levels in the blood should be within the normal range.
How to tell if a cat is diabetic?
If you notice a diabetic cat is more thirsty than usual, it could be a sign their blood glucose is not adequately controlled. Take your cat to the vet if this happens.
What is the best cat food for diabetic cats?
Some of the best brands for high protein cat food are Purina, Hills, and Royal Canin.
How long does it take for a cat to become hungry after insulin?
However, scientists now recognize that insulin levels will peak 3 to 6 hours after injection, which causes your cat to become hungry. The principle is to match the main meal to the peak insulin activity, which happens around 3 hours after you give them an insulin injection.
Can a diabetic cat reverse diabetes?
Although it might be overwhelming at first, taking care of a diabetic cat is completely manageable. If you catch the disease early enough, you may even be able to reverse it with proper care. If your cat has diabetes there are several steps you can take.
Treatment
Prevention
- On the other hand, there is a natural approach to preventing diabetes in cats that is highly effective. Koble recommends pet parents pay close attention to diet and exercise. The two best things any cat parent can help do to protect from diabetes would be to feed the highest quality canned, low-carb or raw diet that is possible, she says. The secon...
Symptoms
- Not dissimilar to type 2 diabetes in people, most cases of diabetes in cats occur when a cats blood sugar rises because its body is no longer responding to insulin in a normal manner. The pancreas can initially respond by producing more insulin, but the cells that make insulin eventually wear out. A change in eating and drinking routines may also signal the onset of diabetes in cats…
Other animals
- While diabetes is more likely to happen in obese, middle-aged, indoor cats, it can affect any feline at any age and weight.
Causes
- If your cat has been diagnosed with diabetes, there are several factors that could have led to the development of the disease. Koble explains that some of the causes include, genetic predisposition, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, diet (high-carbohydrate, dry kibble), and the deposition of amyloid in the islets of the pancreas.
Health
- While lifestyle and dietary changes may assist a cat in managing diabetes, Koble notes that many cats will need to receive insulin shots before going into remission.
Mechanism
- Insulin, as Koble explains, is a hormone that is made in the pancreas that regulates blood sugar (glucose) levels. The more insulin secreted, the lower the blood sugar will drop. The less insulin that is secreted, the higher the blood sugar will remain. When there is not enough insulin, blood sugar remains high, resulting in diabetes.