OT.. Did you all know that your PET can become diabetic?

oramar · Feb 1, 2004

She died from it at age 12. That was 16 years ago and they were not treating with insulin back then. My present cat is 16 now and has not had a problem. I wonder why some of them get it and others do not? Does look like age and obesity and genetics play a role just like in humans.

Editorial Team / Admin · Feb 1, 2004

Our elderly obese cat developed diabetes too. I noticed her drinking a lot of water, and the pee spots in the clumping litter were large, so we took her in and her sugar was around 4 - 500! We gave her 2units of Novolin twice a day. The vet gave us little chemstrips to toss in the catbox when she peed, so we could at least check to be sure she wasn't spilling sugar in her urine. She kind of rallied after about a year and didn't seem to need insulin anymore (I kept watching, to see if she was going thru the "honeymoon period" of diabetes). That was about three years ago. She steadily lost weight these last six months and became a tottery, frail little old lady. She died last week, the dear thing, at age 18.

Thanks for the reminder about the diabetes; it is something to be aware of. -- D

Rapheal · Feb 1, 2004

dianah,

Sorry about your kitty. My sympathies.

I am surprised that cat's can be treated with insulin. Something I just never thought about. Thanks for the info.

shape0fmyheart · Feb 1, 2004

My grandparents' dog has diabetes. She was also drinking and urinating a lot more than usual, and not eating well. My grandmom took her to the vet and sure enough, she's got it. She gets 2 shots of some type of insulin a day. What was weird about the whole thing was that my grandmom found out like a week after the dog's was discovered, that she also has diabetes... bringing pet devotion to a new extreme :chuckle .

Fuzzy · Feb 1, 2004

I've had 3 cats with diabetes mellitus over the years. All lived long lives due to insulin injections, drugs, and diet. One of my cats was diagnosed with diabetes type II and his was controlled with glucophage. Yep same drug that is used in people. The other two cats were on ultra lente insulin given once daily. Dogs are usually maintained using NPH insulin twice daily. Ferrets are treated much like cats only sometimes they have to be maintain on PZI insulin which has to be specially compounded. Like in humans, diabetes in animals can be caused from obesity, tumors, genetics, drugs and any other damage to the islet cells in the pancreas. Diabetes also causes neuropathy, renal failure, hypertension, cataracts, increased chance of infection, and heart failure. Usually animals are first seen while they are in crisis as in diabetic ketoacidosis because our pets can't tell us that they don't feel good. Other signs of diabetes include PUPD, polyphagia, lethargy, emaciation, dehydration, acetone breath, weakness, and cataracts. If you see these signs in your pet, get him to the veterinarian for a check up. Although pets get many of the same diseases as people sometimes the treatment is different. You wouldn't want your neighborhood vet. treating people for the same reason.:chuckle Believe me I can tell you some stories about people even human medical professionals treating their undiagnosed pets. Sometimes the outcome is very bad. :crying2:

kimtab · Feb 1, 2004

Yep. I had a cat with DM. She got an insulin injection with each meal of her special diet cat food and lived quite contentedly for another 3-4 years after she was diagnosed. She was obese as well. It was rapid weight loss that led us to take her to the vet.

Kim

LydiaGreen · Feb 1, 2004

We had a little poodle with diabetes when I was child. It wasn't due to obesity... no idea what the pathology was for him... he just had it. They didn't treat with insulin in those days and the poor little fella died of kidney failure at about two and a half. He was an angel dog too... way too intelligent to be a dog - even used to play peek-a-boo... I am not kidding here.

Oh, and it isn't just things like diabetes. My uncle had a chihuahua with epilepsy.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Feb 1, 2004

I also had a cat with diabetes. He was about 10 years old when he was diagnosed, and his max weight was 25 pounds. Funny - when we got him from the humane society, they were planning on putting this little runt down because he was so tiny and sick, and they told us he'd never survive! Hmph!

He lost about 10 pounds over a matter of months, and was drinking and peeing constantly. We also noticed that he was often on his "knees" and was often shaking. The first blood sugar the vet obtained was over 450! He ended up getting insulin 2 times a day, anywhere from 2 to 4 units. We didn't test his sugars or urine - we just gave 2 units each time, but if we noticed him drinking and peeing more, we'd up it to 3-4 units. His weight stabilized, and we didn't put him on any special diet. He lived about 3 years after diagnosis, and then his kidneys just were shot I think, and we put the poor baby down. He was like a skinny, angry, senile old man at that point. The one thing that surprised us is that he never minded his shots! He would see us at the fridge with his insulin, and he'd go sit by the sink. Then he liked to sniff the syringe, and he'd automatically put his head down so we could inject into his neck scruff. And after the shot, he'd go right for a snack! Amazing, considering that he was normally pretty dumb for a cat, god love him!

Our current male is 18 pounds and heading in the same direction. You'd think he'd be skinny, seeing as he had all his teeth removed due to infections stemming from his FIV. But no, he even gums dry food if he's hungry enough, which is always! We figure with FIV he probably won't live forever anyways, and if eating makes him happy, so be it.

FYI- keep Caro syrup and a small oral or needle-less syringe in your kitchen. The vet said that if there was any sign of hypoglycemia, to squirt about 1cc of syrup under the tongue.

nursemary9, BSN, RN · Feb 1, 2004

Hi

We had a wonderful Miniature Pincher named Ranger a few years back. He became diabetic when he was 4 yrs. old. He was on a doggy diabetic food for the rest of his life. He was on NPH insulin twice a day. He took his "shots" like a little trooper.

He was the sweetest dispositioned little guy we ever had.

He was, however, rather sickly; he had CHF & asthma besides his DM. He was on many meds his whole life.

He died when he was 12 yrs. old.

CarolineRn · Feb 2, 2004

All of these stories make me sad. I absolutely love animals, the elderly, children, and the mentally disabled. This compassion could have had something to do with me wanting to be a nurse, ya think? Nothing in this life feels better than helping a soul in need, regardless of its species. Sometimes, I have to stand back and congratulate myself. In my opinion, having a compassionate, helping spirit IS the ultimate meaning of life. Here's to all us nurses, docs, vets, and caregivers. We define the word "heart." I am so proud of who I am, and so proud of the people I call my colleauges.

Editorial Team / Admin · Feb 2, 2004

:) :) :) Kind words, and true.