Manage Diabetes in Cats to Protect and Prolong Your Pet's Life

Diabetes in cats is a common cat illness: the lack of a sufficient insulin production in the pancreas leads to an increased blood sugar level in the bloodstream.

Sugar, or glucose, is a large molecule and appears in the urine of a diabetic feline.

Pet owners notice usually that their cat consumes and urinates excessive amounts of water.

Feline patients are urinating vast amounts, because the water gets literally pulled out of the organism through the osmotic effect of the large sugar molecules. So they need to replace this water by drinking a lot.

Weightloss is another specific sign. Fact is, that a diabetic cat eats more than a healthy animal. The high blood sugar level in the blood stream initiates the brain to signal the body to eat even more to be able to get the blood sugar into the body tissues.

If this cat illness is present for a longer time, a cat becomes eventually lethargic and very sick.

Damage occurs in:

• Liver
• Kidneys
• Eye cornea
• Skin
• hindlimb weakness or 'walking on the hock'

If you suspect your pet shows symptoms described above, let your vet do blood- and urine tests.

Treatment equals Disease Management

Feline diabetes requires a regular and thorough feeding schedule, best on a prescription cat food to ensure your pet receives a well balanced diet.

Depending on how severely your cat is affected, she might need a daily dose of insulin, which your vet needs to determine and prescribe especially for your pet.

You will need to follow detailed instructions on how, where and the amount of insulin that needs to be given.

With regular monitoring and a life-long treatment schedule you will be able to help to keep this disease under control and your feline pet will have many years of a quality life to come.

'Walking on the Hock' - Diabetic Polyneuropathy

A fairly common problem in diabetic cats is a hindlimb weakness that may be caused by the increased blood sugar level.

Constantly high glucose in the bloodstream causes conductivity problems in peripheral nerve axons, especially in the tibial nerve of one or both sides.

Typical signs are walking on the hocks or a 'plantigrade stance' and a weakness in the hindlimbs of variable severity.

Treatment consists in controlling the underlying diabetes mellitus through dietary therapy and insulin substitution.

Additionally, acupuncture can help to regain normal functionality of the limbs.

Selected acu-points are tonifying the kidney and lung and regulate spleen and stomach function.

The chances of recovery depend on the grade of the nerval damage. Cats with a less severe weakness may make a full recovery within 6 - 12 months.