Cats can be affected by diabetes as well as humans, in fact, Feline Diabetes is one of the most common feline endocrine disease affecting about 1 in 400 cats and it doesn’t have to mean the end for your cat.
What is feline diabetes and what will does it mean for me and my cat?
First of all it doesn’t mean the end of the world! In fact, with a good understanding of the disease and proper comping methods feline diabetes cat diabetes is a treatable and manageable condition. With the right assistance a diabetic cat can live for a long time… Click here to read about Chance who at the time of writing had lived for 6 years with diabetes.
Understanding diabetes is the best place to start. With a good understanding, you’ll find that you’ll be on top of the situation in no time. Head here to get some very good background information on the disease, why is occurs and what it means for your cat. http://www.felinediabetes.com/diabetes-info.htm
Symptoms of diabetes
www.cat-world.com.au has a number of articles to assist in noticing the symptoms of diabetes in your cat and if you notice these things you should visit the vet for a professional diagnosis. Depending on the severity & length of time your cat has been a diabetic you may not see all of these symptoms. It is important to always be observant of your cat’s general well being, eating & toileting habits & if you see anything out of the ordinary seek veterinary advice as soon as possible.
- Increased urination & thirst (PU/PD)
- Weight loss
- Increased (polyphagia) or decreased appetite (anorexia)
- Vomiting
- Dandruff
- Weakness in hind legs
- Bad breath
In the video below, Dr. James R. Talbott, a staff veterinarian at Belle Forest Animal Hospital and Kennel in Nashville, Tenn. discusses some of the signs of feline diabetes.
Causes of feline diabetes
Nobody knows for certain what causes feline diabetes but a leading contributor is a diet high in carbohydrates such those offered by dry cat food can be a major contributor to Feline Diabetes development. For good advice and in depth background research about your cats diet and nutritional needs visit http://www.maxshouse.com/feline_nutrition.htm
Online help and resources
One of the best websites online is http://www.felinediabetes.com/ and with the tagline “Saving diabetic cats since 1996” the site has been around for a long time. There is lots of information and resources on there including insulin schedules and blood glucose concentration converters to assist in the management of feline diabetes.
Lots of support can be found on the Cats of Australia and Cats World forums
http://www.catsofaustralia.com/forums/http://www.cat-world.com.au/forums/
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