Important information about diabetes for cat owners
Feline diabetes which is the name given to the disease when it affects cats has been reported by many cat owners as one of the leading diseases that their pets suffer from. The disease which is simply the body’s inability to adequately produce enough insulin that is needed to balance the levels of blood and urine sugar is also referred to as diabetes mellitus. Although there are cat owners who take care of their cats very well, this does not prevent them from getting affected by the disease even though their risk factors may have been lower. Therefore, it is important for cat owners to have information on the disease so that they are able to manage it in case their cat is diagnosed with diabetes.
Diabetes in cats can be easily identified as long as the owner has an idea of what to look out for, because early detection can be the determining factor as to whether the animal will survive or not. There are a number of symptoms that when seen by cat owners should be indicator that their cat is likely to be suffering from diabetes mellitus. Some of these well known symptoms are excess urination and at regular intervals because of the blood sugar levels that have increased in the body. Cats suffering from diabetes also become very thirsty and can be noted in increased intake of fluids to be able to quench the thirst. Furthermore, cats that are obese also lose weight when affected by diabetes and most times the reasons for the weight loss cannot be pinpointed. In case any of these symptoms are observed in felines, it is important to have them checked out by a qualified veterinarian.
Although all the symptoms that a cat is exhibiting may point towards diabetes, it is important to confirm the same through laboratory tests that will be done on the animal by a veterinarian, with the main one being the observation of the levels of blood and urine sugar. In the event that the results confirm that the cat is diabetic, treatment should begin immediately because any delay will be putting the animal’s life in danger as they can develop serious conditions such as ketoacidosis and diabetic neuropathy. However, it is good to note that the treatment provided to diabetic cats is dependent on the stage at which the disease has reached when it is diagnosed.
Treating cats that are diagnosed with feline diabetes at an early stage usually involves the use various types of treatments that include oral medications or the more popular insulin injections which are combined with changes in the diet. The diet that is recommended is one which is low in carbohydrates to prevent weight gain which hinders the effectiveness of the treatment. Nevertheless, if the diabetes is at an advanced stage then the treatment will be insulin shots and fluid therapy in intensive care. All in all, cats that are diagnosed with diabetes can still lead healthy and long lives.