Have you ever had a diabetic pet?
By Laura
@lwelizabeth (288)
United States
March 1, 2010 8:07pm CST
The last couple of months my cat has been losing weight and this past weekend we finally figured out that she was having hard time eating her food unless it was soggy. My dad then went and bought some softer cat food for her to eat, and she seemed to be fine until last night and this morning when she didn't eat or drink anything--she was laying in the shower this morning completely lethargic. She didn't fight whenever you went to pick her up or anything--and my cats all HATE being held for more than a second or two. Over the weekend my dad also made a vet appointment for earlier this morning, and did we ever get there in time! He ran some tests and came back with the diagnosis-diabetes. He also said something along the lines of if we had waited any longer, even a few hours, she would've slipped into a coma and died. She is at the vets now getting IV fluids and whatnot, but I'm still a little scared. How does one go about treating a pet for diabetes? I'm sure the vet will give us some instructions when we pick her up in a few days, and it won't be easy but I had no idea that pets could even get diabetes. (If you have any resources as far as caring for a diabetic pet, that'd be awesome!)
1 person likes this
4 responses
@kaylachan (71520)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
4 Mar 10
Treating a diabetic pet isn't very easy. They are going to have periods of highs and periods of lows just like humans do. Your vet will recommend food for her to eat and you may have to by insoline which you refergerate. Now the tricky part is knowing when something is wrong. Just make sure she eats, and if she does receive insoline, then be sure to stick to the schedule your vet gives you. Unlike humans you can't check her blood sugar, so you have to play it by ear.
If she doesn't seem that interested in her food, you may have to force feed her to bring her blood sugar levels up, because unlike humans they can't tell you if they may be experancing a high or low.
From the discription, sounds like your cat had a hypoglycemic attack (low blood sugar) and you're lucky you got her to the vet in time. He will give her sugar, and will determine how severe the diabetes is to test and determine the best form of treatment that's best for her.
@lwelizabeth (288)
• United States
4 Mar 10
Yeah, I definitely don't expect it to be easy but I love her so I will do what I have to. I'm very confused about putting my cat on a diet though; we have always just had a cat bowl on the floor for them (we have three cats) to eat out of at their leisure.
I dunno about the hypoglycemic attack--he said her blood sugar was 600 or something and that that was high for a cat? I don't really know as I understand very little about diabetes myself so it could have been a hypoglycemic attack like you said.
@kaylachan (71520)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
4 Mar 10
Yeah 600 is very high. Its deadly to humans to have one that high, pets its not that much better. And, highs and lows are to be dxpected in diabetics. Humans and cats alike. I've had a few of them. I know it will be hard putting your cat on a diet, but just like human food processed cat food can raise sugar levels. And, in diabetic animals they can't get rid of that sugar. So then you're faced with the problem of what to do.
You are going to have a long and expencive road ahead of you. Don't be afraid, because pets can live a long time with diabetes.
Just keep an eye on her, and make sure she eats and don't divi from the medication schedule your vet gives you. In the long run it'll be good.
And, like I said the vet will probably recomend diabetic-safe cat food. And, it won't hurt your other pets. It may actually help prevent them from getting it too.
@jugsjugs (12967)
•
4 Mar 10
Hi my cat was just like yours and we had to give my cat an injection in the neck every day without fail.Dont worry it is very easy to do as the vet will show you as well as give you the chance to show them how to inject.We had to feed that cat on its own away from the other cats as it was only allowed a certain amount of food,aswell to ensure it did not eat more than it needed to.Please do not worry about giving your cat an injection as they do not really feel it and after a few weeks they come to except that is what they have to have aswell and it is easy to do.Good luck.
@lwelizabeth (288)
• United States
5 Mar 10
Yeah, we're not sure if we're going to feed the cat in another room or how that's going to work out but I know we'll figure it out. Thanks for the response!
@ElicBxn (63638)
• United States
2 Mar 10
I had a cat who had diabetes - he was a rather sick cat - you can see his picture in my profile - he's in a "wanted" poster...
Hobo had a lot of disadvantages, not the least was he was very insulin resistant.
Now my friend had a diabetic cat and Pixie lived almost 10 years with her diabetes and you can with proper treatment keep your cat going for years, but you will be looking forward twice daily shots most likely.
@lwelizabeth (288)
• United States
4 Mar 10
Aw, Hobo is such a cute kitty! And how comforting to know that a cat can live for another 10 yrs with diabetes! I'm worried my cat won't live that long but I still have hope that she will. Thanks for the response!
1 person likes this
@mcat19 (1357)
• United States
4 Mar 10
My daughter's cat Boris was diabetic. He was switched to canned kitten food at specific times -- breakfast and dinner. He had insulin for a while, but when he lost weight, he stopped being diabetic. He had seizures from low sugar 2 times. The vet gave him Karo syrup. The second time they treated him at home. His levels are now fine. As long as he eats at specific times and only canned kitten food, he is fine.
@lwelizabeth (288)
• United States
5 Mar 10
Yeah, that's probably what we'll end up doing. It's gonna be difficult though we have always just had a cat bowl on the floor for the cats to eat out of at their leisure so it'll be a bit of a chore getting used to feeding them at certain times and only certain foods. I don't think losing weight will make our cats diabetes go away; we took her in because she lost so much weight and then found out it was from the diabetes. Glad to hear that Boris is doing well now and thanks for the response!
