Sick Feline

Signs And Symptoms Of Feline Diabetes

Cats are one of the most popular pets in North America, for good reason. They are loving pets, capable of providing you years of companionship. Like other pets, cats can sometimes get sick. There are several different types of ailments that cats can get, one of which is feline diabetes. Feline diabetes is a serious disease, although it can be treated by a veterinarian.

Diabetes is more common with humans than with cats or other animals. The cause of diabetes is actually quite simple. Sugar, or glucose, is found in the blood. The level of blood sugar in the body or the animal is kept under control by hormone insulin, which the pancreas produces. When the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin, diabetes is to blame.

The symptoms of feline diabetes will vary. The most common symptoms include an increase in urine and an increase in thirst. Other symptoms of feline diabetes include an increase in the amount of food consumed, weight loss, and a poor coat. The increase infood consumption and weight loss will occur together because with diabetes, your cat's body will begin breaking his food down into compounds too small to be used by his body. An increase in thirst is easy to detect, as you can easily notice the water dish empty throughout the day.

If you don't get your cat treated for feline diabetes immediately, the cat will eventually become inactive, vomit on a regular basis, and eventually fall into a coma. On the other hand, if you get the diabetes treated in time, the cat will more than likely lead a normal and healthy life. Keep in mind that treatment doesn't happen overnight - it takes time and dedication.

Cats that have feline diabetes will need to be given food at the same time every day. They should be prevented from going outside as well. If your cat has diabetes, you'll need to give him insulin shots once or twice or a day. Once your veterinarian checks your cat, he will tell you how many shots and how much insulin you need to give your cat.

Before you give your cat his insulin shot, you should always make sure that he has some food first. If he hasn't eaten and you give him a shot anyway, he could end up with a hypoglycemic shock. This can also occur from too much insulin as well. A hypo can be really dangerous, and should be avoided at all costs. If your cat gets a hypoglycemic shock and you aren't around, he may end up dying.

If you have to give insulin shots to your cat due to feline diabetes, you should always keep a watchful eye on him after you have administered the shot. After your cat has been on insulin for a period of time, your vet may reduce the amount of feline insulin. Even though he may have to stay on insulin the rest of his life, he will lead an otherwise healthy life.

You will also have to monitor your cat's diet very carefully during this time. If you are giving your cat insulin shots under the guidance of your vet, then it is imperative that if you choose to place your cat on a low carbohydrate diet - TELL YOUR VET FIRST!

It is very important to address the carbohydrate level in a cat's diet but it is 'tunnel vision' nutrition to stop there. We need to address the quality of the ingredients in the foods that we feed to our cats - not just the carb level.

Both issues (carb level and nutrient quality) are important since we are feeding the whole cat, not just the disease of diabetes.

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