Symptoms of Cat Diabetes Mellitus and Treatment
Cat Diabetes mellitus is a complex and complicated disorder of the endocrine of the cat. This diabetes can be due to insufficient secretion of hormone called insulin. This hormone is secreted by pancreas. This type of diabetes is called type 1 diabetes. Cat Diabetes mellitus can also be due to improper or insufficient response to the hormone insulin by the cells of the cat body. This type of diabetes is called as type 2 diabetes.
Cat diabetes symptoms
Whatever may be the cause of the diabetes, the affected cats can`t utilize the sugar [glucose] in proper way. As the result there will be accumulation of glucose in the blood leading to a condition called hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia will subsequently lead to a condition called glucosuria. This glucosuria will result in polyuria.
Poly urea is nothing but excessive urination, which is the early symptom of feline type 1 diabetes. Polyuria may be accompanied by polydipsia. Polydipsia is nothing but excessive thirst. The cats that have diabetes will loose weight gradually in spite of the normal food intake. This is because the glucose produced as explained earlier cannot be utilized properly due to lack of insulin hormone. As the result the tissues are deprived of glucose. As the diabetes progress, the cats will have vomiting, dehydration, and loss of appetite, weakness and so many other metabolic disturbances.
The feline diabetes can affect the cat irrespective of breed, age or sex. But in most cases the older cats are more prone for cat diabetes mellitus than the young cats and the obese cats are more prone for cat diabetes than the normal cats. Male cats are more susceptible to cat diabetes than the female cats. The exact triggering factor for diabetes in cats is not clear. Any one of the following can be the one. They are hormonal imbalance, pancreatic disease, obesity, genetic predisposition, and certain medication used for long duration.
Treatment
There is no permanent cure for feline diabetes. The treatment for the cat diabetes mellitus is based on the severity of the disorder. In case of ketoacidosis intensive care is must. The line of treatment is fluid administration to counter dehydration and electrolyte imbalance and insulin injection. The insulin injection must be administered once or twice in a day preferably through subcutaneous route.
Oral hypoglycemic drugs can also be tried as an alternative to insulin. There are so many hypoglycemic drugs are available in the market for veterinary use which can be purchased and used as per the direction of the veterinarian. In addition to the medication, the diet for feline diabetes must be less in simple sugar.
Glossary
Hyperglycemia- excess glucose in the blood.
Glucosuria- presence of sugar in urine