Treatment For Weight Loss In Cats
The treatment for weight loss in cats depends on the cause. If you notice your cat is losing weight, your first step should be to schedule a vet appointment. Your vet will do a physical exam first. Next, lab tests and/or x-rays may be needed to determine the problem. Based on the findings, your vet may recommend medication, diet change, surgery, or other treatment.
If your vet gives your cat a clean bill of health, then the weight loss may be caused by inadequate food intake or some unknown or undetectable condition. Ask your vet for advice about feeding and environmental enrichment. If you can determine a for your cat, start by working to reduce that stress. Your vet can also recommend a diet that is right in nutrients and calories, potentially helping your cat gain weight.
If your cat’s weight loss continues despite changes you make, then make sure to follow up with your vet about it. Your vet may refer you to a veterinary specialist for advanced diagnostics.
Glycosuria: What Is It And How Is It Diagnosed
The presence of glucose in the urine is generally obtained from the chemical-physical examination of the urine by reading the dipstick . This way is possible to quantify the presence of glucose in the urine which, compared to the physiological values of the cat, can help us in the diagnosis.
Glucose is normally assimilated by the kidneys unless it exceeds the real absorption threshold . In this case, it will be excreted as it is during urination and we will speak of a diabetic condition.
Treating Your Cat For Diabetes
Treating cats for diabetes involves several steps. Often, the first step is changing your cats diet. There are several prescription diets that can help to stabilize blood sugar. Feeding canned food rather than dry kibble may also be beneficial. However, do not change your cats diet without first consulting with your veterinarian.
In some mild cases, an oral medication like glipizide, can be used to lower blood sugar. However, most cats will require daily insulin injections to control their diabetes. There are several forms of insulin available, and your veterinarian will discuss the best option for your cats condition.
You will also need to treat any concurrent conditions, like urinary tract infections or hepatic lipidosis . These conditions may require medications like antibiotics, or in the case of serious conditions hepatic lipidosis, an esophageal tube to get food in your cats system as soon as possible.
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What Are The Signs Of Diabetes In My Cat
The signs of diabetes can be similar to a number of other diseases and include:
- increased thirst and or appetite
- passing more urine
- vomiting
- being more prone to infections
- some affected cats may have sunken back legs so the cat is standing on its ankles, as a result of nerve damage.
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Diagnosing Diabetes In Cats
Veterinarians perform several diagnostic tests to diagnose diabetes in cats. Some of these tests will measure your cats glucose levels, while others will help rule out other diseases and identify any potentially related conditions. These tests may include a blood glucose test, complete blood count, urinalysis, biochemistry profile, urine culture, and abdominal radiographs. In general, a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus is made if your cat has: high blood sugar , sugar in its urine weight loss despite a good appetite, and increased urination and thirst .
Glucose tests measure the amount of glucose in your cats blood. If the levels are above average, diabetes could be a suspect. However, stressed cats can temporarily raise their blood sugar levels, so expect to repeat testing as needed to confirm the diagnosis. In some cases, a fructosamine test can help differentiate between stress-induced glucose levels and diabetes in cats.
Diabetes can lead to additional diseases, including urinary tract infections. Your veterinarian will perform diagnostics as needed to determine if your cat has any concurrent conditions. He or she may also recommend a thyroid test to rule out hyperthyroidism, which is common in senior cats and presents with similar symptoms.
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Caring For A Diabetic Cat: The Good And The Bad Of Diabetes Care
No, diabetes is not a death sentence for your cat. Heres what you should know, including symptoms, treatment and the cost of insulin for cats.
Many people hear the news their cat is a diabetic, and they think its a death sentence.
This is not true. Dont panic.
Diabetes is a complex condition, so treatment can seem daunting. But take things a step at a time, and the problems shrink down to size.
In this expert guide to caring for a diabetic cat, well discuss:
- The upsides to having a diabetic cat
- The cost of insulin for cats
- Other costs to consider when you have a diabetic cat
- And why diabetic cats need extra care when youre away
Initial Screening And Stabilization
Screening Tests
Recognizing complications at the beginning makes for smoother stabilization.
When you go on a long journey, you check your vehicles tire pressure, the oil level and that theres sufficient gas in the tank. This helps reduce the risk of breakdown en route.
The same goes for the newly diagnosed diabetic cat.
When finances allow, let your vet run a barrage of bloods tests to help identify issues that could make stabilizing the cat difficult.
One example is screening for high levels of growth hormone in the cats bloodstream. The latter is a condition called acromegaly, which afflicts around 25% of cat diabetics and can make their care more difficult.
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Costs Of Caring For A Diabetic Cat
The costs can vary quite a bit from cat to cat. The variability in cost comes from the type of insulin used, concurrent diseases, if the cats person is able to do follow-up glucose curves at home, the cost of food, and how long a bottle of insulin lasts.
In general, expect to spend the following:
- Insulin: The cost ranges from $35 to $325 a bottle. Again, the more expensive bottle may actually be less expensive in the long run because less is needed and there is a greater chance of remission. A bottle will last anywhere from one to six months.
- Glucose curves: Depending on how the veterinarian elects to do them, the cost can range from $40 to $200 every 2-4 weeks until the cat is well regulated, and then every 1-6 months thereafter. Again, there is a lot of variability between veterinarians choices and individual cats needs. If the cats person elects to do the glucose curves at home, a starter glucometer kit costs about $40 to $50 and this kit will do up to 10 curves as well as some spot glucose checks.
- Concurrent diseases: In cats who have concurrent diseases, the vet may need to do follow-up urinalysis, full blood panels or even specialized endocrine testing.
Important Considerations When Giving A Cat Insulin
No matter which type of insulin is used, it is vital that the cat eats before the insulin is given. It is much more dangerous for a cats blood sugar to drop too low than to stay elevated for an extra day.
The concentration of the insulin being used is also important, because there are different insulin syringes that are calibrated to work with different concentrations of insulin. The syringes are labeled for the concentration of insulin with which they should be used. If the wrong syringe is used, the cat may either be over-dosed or under-dosed.
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How To Treat A Cat With Diabetes
If your cat has been diagnosed with diabetes, it is not the end of the world. Your cat will be fine but only if the disease is caught early.;
Treatment is available for your feline friend although it is usually not cured entirely. The aim is to get your cats blood sugar level under control so that it has a healthier body.;
Some cats’ diabetes may go into remission but that does not mean your cat is entirely cured. Once in a while, it may experience flare ups and will need to be treated again to control their diabetes.;
As a cat owner, it is best to accept that diabetes treatment is for life.;
You can manage your cats treatment in these two ways:-
Considering The Use Of Medication To Treat Diabetes
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Management Of Feline Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common endocrinopathies in cats; what are the best ways to manage it?
by Sarah Caney 14 November 2019, at 9:00am
Diabetes mellitus is estimated to affect around 1 in 200 cats and is the second most common endocrinopathy, after hyperthyroidism. It is believed that the prevalence of this disease is increasing. Risk factors include genetic factors, obesity, gender and neuter status, lifestyle and medication history. A recent UK study reported an increased risk of diabetes in certain breeds including Tonkinese, Burmese and Norwegian Forest . Diagnosis can be made more challenging by the stress hyperglycaemia phenomenon that cats are vulnerable to and presence of concurrent diseases which may make interpretation of laboratory parameters more difficult.
Treatment of diabetes mellitus should aim to achieve diabetic remission
The majority of diabetic cats are non-ketotic, and their diabetes is analogous to human type 2 diabetes mellitus, characterised by insulin resistance, obesity and pancreatic amyloid deposition. Ketoacidotic diabetic cats need to be treated urgently, with attention being paid to electrolyte imbalances, fluid therapy and reversing the hyperglycaemia and ketoacidosis.
Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment increases the chances of diabetic remission. Efforts should therefore be concentrated on:
Do Treated Cats Need To Be Monitored
Yes, it is important to monitor treatment of diabetes mellitus to be sure the cat is doing well. Home monitoring of blood glucose is becoming more popular and more common, although part of treatment monitoring will involve periodic blood samples collected by your veterinarian.
To assist in the care of your cat, it is particularly valuable to keep accurate records of the following information:
Daily record:
- amount and time of food fed and eaten
- amount of water drunk
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Natural Options To Help Manage Diabetes In Cats
While insulin may be necessary to ensure effectiveness in managing diabetes in cats, pet parents can also take a natural approach to diet and lifestyle changes following a diabetes diagnosis.
Raines recommends a low-carb diet without the addition of grains, sweet potatoes, potatoes, and green peas. If you are feeding raw or home cooking your cat’s diet, definitely make sure that it is balanced appropriately, she says, This can be done by purchasing a supplement designed to balance a home prepared diet, or by purchasing commercially prepared complete raw diets.
In addition to natural dietary changes, Raines says diabetic cats may also benefit from a cranberry-based urinary supplement since diabetic cats can be at a higher risk for bladder infections.
When searching for a natural urinary supplement, look for companies that perform independent testing and for products that have the GMP label. Its best to work directly with your veterinarian to ensure safe and proper supplementation for your diabetic cat.
Most importantly, never change your cats insulin dose or diet without first talking to your veterinarian. Oftentimes, a cats insulin needs will change when they start eating a different food. A mismatch between diet and insulin can result in serious and even fatal complications.
Think Of It As A Bonding Experience With Your Cat
Caring for a diabetic cat is both a challenge and something to be proud of.
Tons of information is available, and someone with a diabetic cat should become as knowledgeable as possible.
If your friends hear the news and tell you horror stories about other diabetic cats, or think youre crazy to give injections to Mr. Mug, heres our advice: Stay calm. Smile serenely. And move on.
You wont know how this is going to go until you try. Remember, more and more diabetic cats are getting early treatment and going into remission.
If your cat is not a diabetic yet, get on the healthy bandwagon:
- Keep them at a normal weight
- Feed them a good-quality canned food.
- Theres also a place for you raw-food and home-cooking fans out there. It just takes more work.
Obesity in cats, just like in Americans, is a huge problem.
Feeding;Meow Mix is like tearing into a big bag of Doritos.;They both stain your fingers, too theres something not right about that.
So stay healthy. Eat right. And do the same for Mr. Mug.
Healthy diets, proper weight management, diabetic monitoring and treatment of concurrent conditions are all imperative to a successful outcome for a diabetic cat.
Getting your cat on the right track early can save you a lot of money and add years to their life.
Next, lets talk about the cost of insulin for cats. Keep reading!
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Weight Loss Tips For Owners Of Obese Cats
;Have your cats weight checked regularly at a pet slimmers clinic or by a veterinary nurse. Regular contact with the pet slimmers nurse can dramatically help with your pets weight loss. Feeding quantities may need adjusting in order to find the correct amount for your pet.
;Weigh out the daily food allowance in the morning, and place it in a container to divide between the allocated meals. This way you are less likely;to overfeed your cat. You can take out a few kibbles to give as treats throughout the day.
;It is important that no extras are added to your cats daily allocated allowance. This includes milk and cat milk.
;Increase your cats exercise levels gently in collaboration with the pet;slimmers nurse, who can help to design an exercise programme. Cats can exercise by use of toys, light torches, etc. Remember, little and often is generally more beneficial for weight loss.
;Place the food in different areas or hide kibbles around the house/room to encourage your cat to exercise more. A food ball or puzzle feeder is also ideal in these situations making the cat work a little to get its food.
;If you have more than one cat, it important to feed them separately and to watch over them when they eat. If just one of the cats is obese, try feeding the others on a high surface that the obese cat cannot jump on to, or perhaps feed them in a box with only a small entry hole that an obese cat cannot squeeze through!
Oral drugs to control diabetes
Treating Other Medical Conditions
To help with diabetes control, any other disease conditions should be diagnosed and treated. Infections can lead to insulin resistance, as can other systemic diseases such as kidney disease, heart disease or overactive adrenal glands. Some of the most common interfering conditions include urinary tract infections and dental disease.
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Oral Diabetes Drugs For Cats
Oral diabetes medication, such as Glipizide, can be used, but most veterinarians prefer that cats be treated with injectable insulins. The oral medications do not work as well in cats, and its often easier for people to give a cat injections rather than pills. However, there are some circumstances in which oral medication may be used. Some people are very uncomfortable around needles, and some cats will not allow injections, but will eat the oral medication in food.
Natural Support For Feline Diabetes
Exercise Simple, consistent exercise will reduce insulin requirements. It also helps to prevent secondary conditions related to feline diabetes.
Glandular therapy A promising therapy that uses animal tissues and pancreas extracts. Basically, glandular therapy can repair damage to organs and glands, improve hormone production, as well as supplementing nutrients.
Homeopathic treatments for diabetic cats Natural treatment of feline diabetes with homeopathy may include Belladonna 30C, Thuja 30C, Natrum muriaticum 6C, and Phosphorus 6C.
Natural Diet Both dogs and cats respond to a specially formulated, homemade diet. Recommendations vary, but generally dogs are fed a diet of 50-55% premium complex carbohydrate , up to 30% protein and less than 20% fat. Naturally, no simple sugars are allowed. A similar diet is often recommended for cats, but an increasing number of professionals acknowledge that cats are obligate carnivores who need a diet that is primarily meat protein regardless of what condition theyre suffering from. They recommend a high protein diet with as much fiber added as the cat will tolerate.
Example diet for diabetic cats
You may want to begin with just the meat and supplements in the following recipe. Once everything has stabilized, you can slowly add the rest.
With the guidance of a holistic vet or other professional, you could add some of the herbs or supplements listed below.
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