Diabetes mellitus in animals. Diabetes mellitus in cats Diabetes mellitus in a kitten symptoms

Diabetes It occurs much less frequently in cats than in dogs - on average, 1 animal out of 400 is affected. The pathology is quite serious, but is not a death sentence - the pet can and should be helped.

The disease belongs to the group of endocrine diseases and develops against the background of a lack or complete absence of insulin. Against this background, not only carbohydrate metabolism is disrupted, but also the absorption of fats, proteins and minerals.

The essence of the pathology is that even with a complete diet and the animal lacks sufficient nutrition useful substances, because they cannot enter the body's cells. At first, the body makes attempts to compensate for this deficiency, and then, after some time, exhaustion develops.

In other words, the animal’s body needs glucose for full functioning, which is converted into useful energy. This is only possible through interaction with insulin, a kind of conductor to cells. If there is no insulin or there is little of it, glucose is not absorbed - there is an excess of it in the bloodstream, and the cells do not get it. The body begins to literally starve.

Type 3 diabetes is identified in mustachioed patients

• Type I - insulin-dependent pathology - the body does not have enough of its own insulin due to the fact that it is produced little or not at all;
• Type II – non-insulin-dependent pathology – very little insulin is present in the body and/or its production goes “somehow wrong”, so it seems not to be recognized and also does not combine with glucose. 2/3 of all sick animals suffer from this type of diabetes;
• Type III or secondary diabetes - blood glucose levels rise against the background of some other primary disease. It can be cured - everything returns to normal after the main disease is eliminated.

There are no clear causes of diabetes, but there are a number of factors predisposing to this pathology:

• obesity;
• poor nutrition;
• “old” age of the animal;
• against the background of any internal diseases or infections;
• severe therapy affecting the pancreas;
• problems with the pancreas, etc.

How does the disease manifest itself?

It is almost impossible to independently understand that your beloved mustachioed pet has diabetes mellitus (if the owner does not have knowledge in the field of veterinary medicine). There is usually a deterioration general condition cats, the owners contact the animal for advice at the veterinary clinic, take a routine biochemical blood test, and from there it turns out that the glucose level is elevated.

The main symptoms and signs of diabetes in cats that can be noticed are:

• sickly appearance;
• crumpled, sloppy fur;
• apathy, weakness, the cat sleeps more than it is awake; when awake, there is no playfulness;
• change in appetite – most often the appetite borders on gluttony;
• obesity, followed by unexpected weight loss (even if the animal eats a lot - this is exactly one of the facts that should alert you);
• thirst – it seems that the cat drinks constantly;
• when urinating, an increased amount of urine is noted (the puddles become noticeably larger, more often you have to clean the cat litter in the house);
• the skin becomes thinner (on areas of the skin not covered with hair, blood vessels);
• an acetone smell begins to come from the mouth;
• a special “diabetic” gait (peripheral neuropathy) may be observed - unsteadiness due to weakness hind legs when, when walking, the animal does not stand on its toes, but rests on its entire foot.

Diabetes in a cat (symptoms) may go unnoticed if he lives in a private house and has free access to the street, because... the owner will not be able to notice the amount of urine excreted, how much and where the pet drinks and eats, etc.

Treatment

Only type III diabetes can be completely eliminated by neutralizing the primary disease. Those. excess glucose in the blood and urine will disappear simultaneously with the accompanying disease.

A complete cure for diabetes types I and II is impossible. You can only maintain normal blood glucose levels by administering insulin and proper nutrition.

Insulin is administered 1-2 times a day. The veterinarian selects the dosage and type of insulin strictly individually, by administering different doses and monitoring the animal’s condition. It is impossible to say right away how much insulin a cat needs! Type I diabetes requires insulin short acting, Type II – medium and long.

Features of the use of insulin in cats

1. Insulin is administered using pen syringes containing the appropriate type of insulin or regular insulin. insulin syringes. It is important that the minimum division be 0.5 units, because cats are given a very small dosage (compared to humans).
2. The dosage is selected experimentally over several days, starting with the minimum and gradually increasing it. During these days, the pet's condition is closely monitored. Attention: the starting minimum single dose for a cat is 0.25 IU/kg body weight.
3. It is important to learn how to administer insulin subcutaneously (not intradermally or intramuscularly). The most suitable places for this are the withers and the inguinal fold, which is thinner, but the injection into it is more painful. In the area of ​​the withers, the skin is taken with three fingers, forming a pyramid, and the needle is inserted into the base of the so-called pyramid from the side of the thumb.
4. While the insulin dosage is being selected, attention is paid to:
   • animal behavior. The pet must be vigorous, active, and outwardly healthy. If vomiting, nausea, diarrhea or shortness of breath are observed, then the dosage is incorrect and you should additionally consult a veterinarian;
   • amount of fluid consumed. During diabetes, a cat is visibly thirsty. If the animal begins to drink noticeably less, it means that its condition is improving (normally, a cat needs fluid in a volume of 20 ml/kg per day);
   • animal body weight. There should be no sudden weight loss. If, after the start of insulin administration, the cat begins to gradually gain body weight, then the condition is normalized. It is important to prevent obesity.

Correction of diet, diet food

A cat with diabetes should eat depending on its general condition and the type of insulin administered. The most optimal nutritional plan is small, frequent feeding (up to 4-5 times), including feeding at the same time as injections or some time after. It is important that meals are taken at approximately the same time, without skipping feedings.

If obesity still exists, the veterinarian will develop strict diet until the weight returns to normal, and then switches to a maintenance diet.

The main rule of feeding a cat with diabetes: food should be high in protein and low in carbohydrates!

When feeding a cat natural products exclude:

• flour products;
• rice and corn porridge;
• soy products.

50% of the total diet should be animal products:

• raw beef;
• pork;
• bird;
• fish;
• offal.

25% should be any fermented milk products:

• cottage cheese;
• sour cream.

25% - thermally processed vegetables

Ready-made food for cats with diabetes

It is very convenient to feed mustachioed pets with ready-made industrially produced diabetic food - dry and wet. It is best to give elderly cats wet food and canned food - they are better digested and absorbed by an already middle-aged body. The dosage and frequency of feeding is indicated on each package or can. All ready-made foods for diabetic cats contain a large number of protein and contain virtually no carbohydrates.

• Young Again Zero Mature Health Cat Food ($32/1.8 kg dry);
• Young Again 50/22 Cat Food ($44/3.6 kg dry);
• Purina Veterinary Diet DM Dietetic Management (about RUB 1,200/1.5 kg dry);
• Purina Pro Plan (about 1,200 rub./1.5 kg dry, 130 rub./195 g dry food, up to 100 rub./85 g wet food);
• Vet Life Cat Diabetic (about RUB 1,900/1.2 kg);
• Prescription Diet™ Feline m/d™ (about 1500 rub./1.5 kg, 140 rub./156 g cons.);
• Royal Canin Diabetic DS46 (RUB 1,300/1.5 kg);
• Royal Canin Diabetic (RUB 75/100 g wet food).

Question answer

How does diabetes manifest itself in cats (main signs)?

Increased appetite and, at the same time, weight loss, as well as obvious thirst with a large amount of urine released when urinating, are the main signs that should attract the attention of owners of mustachioed pets and prompt them to visit a veterinarian.

What is the normal blood sugar level for cats?

A cat's normal blood glucose level should be between 3.5-6 mmol/L. Determined by a conventional human glucometer that works with capillary blood. They take it from the blood vessels of the ears. They do not take from paw pads, because... blood vessels lie much deeper than one might imagine, and attempts to obtain the required volume of material for analysis will be associated not only with difficulties for the owner, but also with pain for the pet.

Are cats given insulin?

Yes, of course, it is insulin treatment regimens that are prescribed to Murka for further fulfilling life with diabetes. Antihyperglycemic tablets are not used in these animals, because they literally “shut down” the pancreas.

Can a cat with diabetes be helped? folk remedies?

Cure diabetes in a cat at home folk recipes This is not possible, but you can give decoctions of some herbs to slightly reduce blood glucose levels. However, it is still worth consulting with a specialist.

• Dandelion
  • 1 tsp add chopped herbs and roots to water (200 ml) and boil slowly for 10-15 minutes, turn off and leave for another 30 minutes. Strain and top up boiled water up to one glass. Drink no more than 50 ml per day.
  • Give your cat crushed grass (1 g) and root (0.5 g) three times a day. To first remove bitterness, pour the plant saline solution for 20-30 minutes.
• Blueberry
  • 1 tbsp. Pour boiling water (250 ml) over soft berries, then boil for no longer than 2 minutes. Leave for 1 hour. Drink 5-15 ml 2-3 times a day, depending on the size of the cat.
  • 6 g blueberry leaves pour 60 ml hot water, bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Cool and strain. Drink in the same way as with a decoction of berries.
• Green beans - add crushed beans to food after preliminary heat treatment.
• Linden - you can brew your cat regular linden tea. Drink 5-15 ml 1-2 times a day.

What to feed a cat with diabetes?

The diet of cats with diabetes is one of the main conditions for successful therapy. First, you need to strictly exclude carbohydrates. Next, from the entire diet there should be: 50% meat products (pork, poultry, beef, offal), 25% fermented milk products (cottage cheese and sour cream are especially good) and 25% vegetables.

Are there special foods for cats with diabetes?

Yes, and there are a lot of them. In order not to make a mistake in choosing, it is enough to familiarize yourself with the composition of these feeds. Real diabetic food should include only meat meal from any type of meat, ground cellulose (fiber), fats and natural flavors. If the composition contains an excess of carbohydrate components - more than 4% - (for example, flour from cereals) - this food is not worth taking!

How can you be sure that your cat has diabetes?

The diagnosis is made based on an examination by a veterinarian and the results of blood and urine tests, where it will be found increased level glucose. These three factors are enough to confirm assumptions about the disease.

Why did my cat get diabetes?

There are no absolute reasons why we can say for sure that this disease. But there are predisposing factors, the top five of which include:

• excess weight (obesity);
• disturbances in the functioning of the pancreas, pancreatitis;
• long-term therapy with glucocorticoids or pregestogens;
• against the background of diseases of cardio-vascular system, liver, chronic renal failure, various infections;
• parallel endocrine pathologies (disturbances in the work thyroid gland, pituitary gland, etc.)

Genetic predisposition, like in humans, in mustachioed pets has not been scientifically and practically not proven.

If your blood sugar level has dropped, on the contrary, how can you tell? How can I help you?

During insulin therapy, there may be cases when blood glucose levels drop sharply. The animal suddenly becomes lethargic, weak, and unsteady gait, tremors may appear, turning into convulsions, and there is a risk of loss of consciousness. Having noticed such a condition, you need to open an ampoule with a glucose solution (if you have it in the medicine cabinet) or quickly add sweet water (1 tablespoon of sugar per 200 ml of liquid) and lubricate the animal’s tongue and gums with these solutions. After this, it is important to take the cat to a veterinary hospital to provide further qualified assistance.

therapist, endocrinologist,
Neurologist, DVM, BSc

Diabetes dogs, cats and humans have a lot in common. However, the mechanism that leads to the development of diabetes and its manifestations often differ significantly depending on the animal species. And therefore, approaches to treatment are also not the same in everything.

Therefore, we cannot blindly transfer everything we know about diabetes in humans to dogs. For example, it is incorrect to divide diabetes in dogs into type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as is common in humans. In addition, many drugs that work well in humans work poorly or not at all in animals. There are other differences too. So, we will only talk about dogs.

What happens normally

All cells in our body require glucose (“sugar”) as their main source of energy. Glucose enters the body through the intestines from food or from internal reserves (liver glycogen, muscles, etc.). From the intestines or from internal reserves, glucose is carried to places of consumption by the blood. However, for most cells, it is not enough for the blood to bring them glucose; it is also necessary for a hormone called insulin to transmit the corresponding signal to the cell, and the cell is able to perceive this signal. This hormone is produced in the body in the so-called islets of Langerhanz in the pancreas.

So, after eating, glucose from the intestines enters the blood and its level in the blood increases. The pancreas senses this increase and releases insulin into the blood. The cells of the body perceive the insulin signal and transfer glucose from the blood into the cytoplasm (inside the cells). The level of glucose in the blood drops, the cells feel “full”, and the pancreas stops releasing insulin into the blood.

What happens with diabetes

In diabetes, one or both of the following occurs:

• the pancreas loses its ability to produce enough insulin
• body cells lose the ability to perceive the insulin signal

In both cases, the cells “do not understand” that there is already enough glucose in the blood and do not transport it inside. As a result, blood glucose levels remain high while cells starve. Hence, one of the symptoms of diabetes is high blood glucose.

Normally, the kidneys do not pass glucose from the blood into the urine. However, when blood glucose levels rise above a certain limit, the kidneys cannot cope and glucose begins to be excreted in the urine. Thus, another symptom of diabetes mellitus appears - high glucose in the urine.

When there is a lot of glucose in the urine, it then “pulls” water from the blood. As a result, the volume of urine increases and the animal begins to urinate a lot. Water is removed from the body, the body becomes dehydrated, the animal feels thirsty and begins to drink more. Hence the other two symptoms of diabetes: polyuria and polydipsia ( drinking plenty of fluids and urination).

Since cells cannot bring glucose in, this situation is essentially starvation for the body. It includes compensation mechanisms: the animal becomes hungry and begins to eat more than usual (although this is not beneficial, since glucose remains in the blood and then leaves in the urine), and internal energy reserves are also mobilized. When glycogen stores in the liver and muscles are no longer sufficient, the body begins to use protein and fat reserves. Due to protein breakdown, muscle mass decreases. This is another symptom of diabetes mellitus - increased appetite along with weight loss.

With the massive breakdown of fats in the body, many ketone bodies are formed. Ketone bodies can also be found in urine. One of the ketone bodies is acetone, so animals that are seriously ill with diabetes may smell acetone in their breath. In addition, the acidity of the blood increases (pH decreases). This situation is called diabetic ketoacidosis and is critical. Without intensive treatment it can lead to death in a matter of days, or even hours.

High blood sugar has a detrimental effect on many systems: due to damage to nerve fibers, weakness of the hind limbs and a plantigrade gait appear, and diabetic cataracts occur (the lens of the eye becomes cloudy; it is rare in cats). The presence of sugar in the urine creates excellent conditions for the growth of bacteria, so cystitis is also a common complication of diabetes.

Who has diabetes

It most often appears in cats between 9 and 11 years of age. Neutered cats are more likely to get sick.

What is the reason

In dogs, the main cause is hereditary predisposition.

Without delving into the mechanism of development of diabetes, we can say that in most cases it is impossible to establish the exact cause of its occurrence. However, there are factors that predispose to diabetes and, together, can lead to it.

These factors are:

• overweight
• treatment with hormonal drugs
• pancreatitis
• the period of the first 1-2 months after estrus or pregnancy
• other hormonal disorders.

How to make a diagnosis

To make a definitive diagnosis of diabetes, it is not enough to detect any one of the above-mentioned signs, since for each of them there can be many other causes besides diabetes. For example, polyuria and polydipsia can be caused by chronic renal failure, blood glucose can rise simply from stress, cataracts can simply be “senile”, and increased appetite along with weight loss can be caused by worms. For this reason, if you or your doctor suspects an animal has diabetes, it is often necessary to carry out a whole range of examinations, which are necessary both to make an accurate diagnosis and to detect associated problems and complications. These examinations may include: blood tests (general, biochemical, acid-base balance, serial glucose measurements, hormone tests), urine tests, assessment of the amount of fluid intake and urine output, X-rays, ultrasound, ECG.

So, we know that our animal has diabetes mellitus, that is, the body’s cells do not take glucose from the blood inside. In most cases, to overcome the lack of insulin or low sensitivity to it, it is necessary to introduce insulin from outside.

It is impossible to predict in advance exactly how much insulin will be needed for any given animal. However, based on the weight of the animal and previous experience, you can start with a certain dose, and then adjust the amount and frequency of insulin administration in accordance with the body’s reaction. For the most accurate and quick dosage selection the best way is to plot a glucose curve. To do this, blood glucose is measured every 1-2 hours after insulin administration for 8-24 hours. Thus, you can find out at what interval after administration insulin begins to act, at what period its action peaks, how long and how strongly it acts.

The next step is to select optimal time feeding the animal. Depending on the type of insulin used (short, intermediate or long acting), on the type of food and on individual characteristics The animal may be recommended to be fed simultaneously with the administration of insulin, some time after the administration, fractional and frequent feeding in small portions, or providing constant access to food.

Further observation is carried out by the owner with regular monitoring by the attending physician. The animal's condition may change, insulin sensitivity may increase or decrease, and accompanying illnesses. For this reason, it is necessary to periodically come for follow-up examinations and carry out laboratory research and sometimes repeat the glucose curve.

It is necessary for the doctor or assistant to explain in detail and show the owner how to store, how to draw and how to administer insulin.

It is important to remember that the effects of too much blood glucose affect the body gradually, while a drop in blood glucose below normal levels (hypoglycemia) can be fatal very quickly. Therefore, when using insulin, the goal is not to bring glucose to normal level, and hold it a little higher upper limit norms. This way we will be sure that we will not get hypoglycemia.

For the same reason, it is not as scary to “under-dose” insulin as to overdose it. Therefore, if you injected insulin, but were not sure that you were in the right place (for example, you felt that the fur became wet at the injection site), or you don’t know whether someone at home injected insulin before you, never do not re-inject insulin. It is better to miss an injection once than to inject twice by mistake.

Since there are often some difficulties with purchasing insulin in pharmacies, it is recommended to always have one spare sealed package of insulin at home. It is usually recommended to throw away an opened package of insulin after 1.5-2 months, even if it is not completely used up.

Feeding

Usually, immediately after a meal, glucose in the blood increases very strongly, and the body of a diabetic animal cannot cope with such a load. Therefore, the point of feeding for diabetes is to ensure that the flow of glucose from food into the blood is as slow as possible. This is usually achieved by selecting special sources dietary fiber in the right proportion. In addition, the food must contain a limited amount of calories and a sufficient amount of protein. The best solution is feeding with special medicinal feeds. If for any reason this is not possible, you should discuss other options with your doctor. As we mentioned above, the frequency and time of feeding are selected individually.

As for the amount of food consumed per day, it is very important to feed the animal in such quantities that it remains thin. Obesity reduces the sensitivity of cells to insulin, which means it worsens diabetes.

When to sound the alarm

If the animal develops weakness, unsteady gait, trembling, loss of consciousness, convulsions, it is necessary to offer the animal to eat (if it is conscious), and if it refuses food, spread honey on the oral mucosa (tongue, gums), sugar syrup or glucose solution and contact your doctor immediately.

If your blood or urine glucose levels rise above what they were before, you should contact your doctor within 1-2 days.

If the blood glucose level drops below 3 mmol/liter, it is necessary to offer the animal to eat (if it is conscious), and if it refuses food, spread honey, sugar syrup or glucose solution on the oral mucosa (tongue, gums) and immediately contact doctor.

If your urine glucose level drops to zero and/or ketones appear in your urine, you should check your blood glucose levels.

Diabetic ketoacidosis

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a critical condition that usually appears after the animal long time suffers from diabetes. However, in some cases, diabetes can lead to ketoacidosis in a matter of days. As mentioned above, in this state the body mobilizes large amounts of fat as an energy source. The liver forms ketone bodies from these fats, one of which is acetone. This leads to acidification of the blood and can lead to death within a short time.

Symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis are: smell of acetone on the breath, lethargy, refusal to eat, vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing, low temperature, coma.

If one or more of these symptoms occur, you should contact your doctor immediately.

Treatment of animals in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis consists primarily of the use of insulin and intensive care. In such cases, insulin is used not so much to lower blood glucose levels as to stop the production of ketone bodies in the liver. For this purpose, short-acting types of insulin are used; the drug is administered very often (every 1-2 hours) and under strict control of blood glucose levels. Droppers are needed in order to restore water, acid-base and electrolyte balance in the body, in order to quickly remove ketone bodies from the body, and also to prevent blood glucose from falling below normal due to the administration of insulin in large quantities. doses

Problem cases

If the patient cannot be stabilized for a long time, the reason may be the following:

• incorrect dialing and/or administration of insulin
• ineffective insulin (expiration date has expired or storage conditions have not been met)
• accelerated insulin metabolism (rapid elimination from the body)
• Somogyi effect (too high a dose of insulin may initially lead to sharp fall, and then to a strong and prolonged rise in glucose levels)
• simultaneous use of other drugs (especially hormones)
• changes in internal hormonal levels (sexual cycle in bitches, hyper- and hypo-adrenocorticism, acromegaly, etc.)
• concomitant infections (in particular, cystitis, periodontal disease, dermatitis) and other diseases
• obesity (see above)
• true insulin resistance
• excess fats in the blood
• antibodies against insulin.

What can you do besides insulin?

In most cases, no drug can replace insulin in the treatment of canine diabetes. However, there are a number of measures that can, if not eliminate, then at least significantly reduce the need for insulin in animals. For female dogs, such an event is, first of all, sterilization (removal of the uterus and ovaries). If diabetes appears during the first two months after estrus or pregnancy, then sometimes spaying or simply ending this period completely relieves the animal of the symptoms of diabetes. However, the predisposition to diabetes remains, and it can reappear at any time.

To others important point, concerning obese animals, is to reduce body weight to normal. It is also important to increase the animals’ physical activity (walk longer and play with dogs).

You should switch to feeding special medicinal foods (Hill's w/d, Royal Canin Diabetic, etc.).

Use of oral hypoglycemic agents

Glipizide(as well as glyburide and glibenclamide) – enhances the production of insulin by the pancreas. This drug is not effective in treating canine diabetes. Metformin - increases tissue sensitivity to insulin, and also reduces the release of glucose from the body's internal reserves and the synthesis of glucose in the body.

Metformin, perhaps could help animals that retained some ability to produce insulin, but side effects(lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting) limit its use. On at this stage Additional research is required to draw conclusions about the advisability of its use.

Vanadium is an element that is present everywhere. It probably has insulin-like properties and is virtually free of side effects, but is nonetheless ineffective on its own. Vanadium was studied in the form of dipicolinate. This form is not available for purchase. Vanadium sulfate is sold as a vitamin supplement, but its effectiveness is unknown.

Chromium– in the form of picolinate enhances the effect of insulin in healthy dogs. However, this effect was not observed in dogs with diabetes.

Acarbose– inhibits digestive enzymes responsible for the breakdown of starches (the main sources of glucose in the intestines). As a result, glucose enters the intestines more gradually and more even glucose levels are maintained in the blood. The drug is expensive, has side effects(diarrhea, weight loss), so in dogs it is only used if insulin alone is not sufficient to control hyperglycemia.

Troglitazone– increases tissue sensitivity to insulin

Some pet owners have the opinion that diabetes is an exclusively “human” disease, and our little brothers are not familiar with this disease.

This opinion is fundamentally wrong: all mammals, including representatives of the cat family, suffer from diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus is a disease that is a direct consequence of disturbances in the functioning of the pancreas and its inflammation.

This organ consists of several types cellular structures, the functions and purposes of which are different.

The former are responsible for the production of digestive enzymes, and the latter synthesize the hormone that controls blood sugar levels - insulin.

Due to inflammation of the pancreas, these cells completely or partially stop working, producing insufficient insulin to neutralize sugars.

Diabetes in cats symptoms: signs of diabetes in cats may be vague due to the specific reaction of the body. The disease is asymptomatic for some time, after which it becomes more frequent Clinical signs appear quickly and colorfully.

Often the presence of this disease in a pet is indicated by:

1. General malaise, changes in behavior and taste preferences. Complete or partial refusal of food in the initial stages.
2. Strong thirst, the pet drinks a lot and actively.
3. Frequent urination as a consequence of thirst.
4. The pet suddenly gains or loses weight.
5. In the later stages, disturbances in work are observed nervous system, muscle twitching, cramps.
6. Laboratory findings: increased blood glucose.
7. Laboratory findings: glucosuria (excretion of large amounts of sugar in the urine).

The causes of this disease have not been fully elucidated.

There are many theories according to which the following are considered a predisposing factor to the onset of the disease:

1. Hereditary or genetic predisposition.
2. Overweight.
3. Application hormonal drugs for the treatment of certain diseases.
4. Pancreatitis.
5. Rarely - pre-estrus period or pregnancy.
6. Hormonal imbalances, excess or deficiency of certain hormones.
7. Incorrect, unbalanced feeding.

All animals are at risk. Mostly old cats, as well as pets over 5 years of age, are affected. Kittens and young representatives of the cat family rarely get sick, only in the case of hereditary transmission of the disease.

Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus is simple: to confirm the diagnosis, blood is taken for analysis and a conclusion is made based on the presence of glucose in it.

Diabetes insipidus is rare in cats. It manifests itself as a complex congenital anomalies, underdeveloped pituitary gland or its tumor.

Clinical symptoms are often similar to regular diabetes, the production of insulin and antidiuretic hormone completely or partially stops, the body suffers due to high level blood sugar.

Treatment: drugs and medications

For the treatment of diabetes mellitus it is used exclusively intravenous administration insulin in a dosage determined by the attending veterinarian.

At first, several visits are made to the clinic to adjust the dosage in accordance with laboratory and clinical diagnostic data.

In the future, when the functioning of the pancreas normalizes, the dose of insulin is reduced.

Vitamin preparations are also prescribed.

Without insulin, treatment is considered incomplete and in 80% of cases there is no improvement, and all the prerequisites for death appear.

How to treat diabetes in cats should be determined solely by the employee. veterinary clinic. Self-medication can be detrimental to your pet’s health and cause disturbances in the functioning of the body’s organs and systems.

Treatment of diabetes mellitus in cats with folk remedies at home does not give a positive result.

Nutrition for diabetes

So, what to feed your pet? As maintenance therapy, sick animals are prescribed a special diet prepared by a veterinary nutritionist.

It should not contain food that is difficult to digest, hot spices, or other irritants. digestive system substances.

The diet should include dairy products without sugar with a low percentage of liquid.

Also, sick animals are often switched to feeding premium food.

Some of them (Hill's, Proplan, Royal Canin, Purina) have specially formulated product lines for diabetic cats.

It is better to choose food for cats with diabetes by carefully studying its composition.

How long do diabetic cats live?

The life expectancy of sick pets is determined solely by the quality and quantity of treatment prescribed, as well as the specific individual and species characteristics of the cat’s body.

In the absence of treatment, sick animals die 15-30 days after the clear manifestation of symptoms and clinical signs.

This applies primarily to the symptomatic manifestation of the disease, expressed by damage to the nervous system and convulsions.

More “quiet” and latent forms of this disease can be asymptomatic for 2 to 5 years, without showing obvious symptoms.

To prevent the development of this form of diabetes mellitus or detect it early stages, you must visit at least once a year veterinarian to take blood for analysis.

This allows us to identify not only diabetes, but also a whole complex serious illnesses internal organs, which are difficult to treat in the later, final stages.

It should be remembered that this disease is not a death sentence. Insulin injections into correct dosage prolong the life of the pet without affecting the overall duration. Cats with diabetes can live, like all healthy animals, 10 to 14 years.

Remember! If the animal exhibits general malaise, which is expressed by refusal to feed, depression, refusal to play, decreased motor mobility, cloudy eyes, you should immediately consult a veterinarian.

Even if your animal is simply unwell, without any specific reason, a visit to a specialist will not be superfluous.

Discussion: there is 1 comment

Wow. I haven't heard of cats getting diabetes. Very useful article and timely. I'm going to buy a cat and some advice would be helpful. I will definitely return to this article and write down everything I need for myself.

Answer

Blood sugar (more precisely, glucose) is the main source of energy in the animal’s body. A sharp decrease in it relative to the norm is called hypoglycemia - in cats this pathological condition is severe, it is fraught with the development of a hypoglycemic coma, from which the animal can rarely be brought out. This phenomenon is very often associated with diabetes, as well as an unintentional overdose of insulin.

What are the reasons pathological condition? As a rule, they are associated with, as well as with the drugs that are used to treat it. Insulin is especially dangerous. If you introduce too much of it, the body will begin to very actively utilize the glucose present in the blood. When the overdose is small and the animal is well-fed, severe consequences, as a rule, can be avoided. Otherwise, in just a few minutes the pet may fall into a state of depression, from which the chances of getting out are slim.

However, there are many pathological conditions that are in no way related to diabetes, but significantly reduce blood glucose levels. It should be taken into account that in more than 90% of cases, hypoglycemia is not an independent disease, but only a sign of a serious metabolic pathology already existing in the cat.

It's especially hard Lack of glucose affects the brain, since the tissues of the nervous system are not able to store it, but at the same time they need replenishment constantly. When the amount of carbohydrates in the blood drops to a critical level low level, the most “harmless” consequence - fainting. So hypoglycemia should be eliminated urgently; this condition is extremely dangerous for your health and even your life. pet. If your pet has at least once experienced the symptoms described below, it is better to immediately show it to an experienced veterinarian. It is possible that by doing this you will save the animal’s health and even life. So, The clinical picture is as follows:

• Loss of appetite(anorexia) at first.
• Constantly increased hunger develops a little later.
• Often vision is impaired– in severe cases, the cat can no longer see anything literally under its nose.
• In the same situations it develops quickly disorientation– the cat begins to bump into objects, people, furniture, etc.
• Weakness, loss of consciousness.
• Sometimes observed seizures, similar to .
• Restlessness, restlessness.
• Strong muscular tremor(shiver).
• Rapid heartbeat.

Read also: Pneumonia in cats - signs, diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia

These signs are very characteristic of hypoglycemia, but still do not directly indicate it, since there are many other pathologies, the clinical picture of which manifests itself in exactly the same way. However, the diagnosis is quite simple in any case - any blood test will reveal a low glucose content.

Diagnostics and therapy

We warn you once again - If any of the above symptoms appear, you should immediately notify your veterinarian. In the case when the cat has already fainted, or is in a pre-fainting state (disorientation in space, inappropriate behavior), you cannot hesitate for a minute - immediately take him to the clinic, since you need to stop the pathological condition as quickly as possible.

As we have already noted, hypoglycemia is diagnosed based on blood test results, and the specialist also takes into account accompanying clinical signs. In addition, it is very important to conduct a urine test, since it can help identify other pathologies (alkalosis, ketosis) that can lead to low blood sugar levels. It is very important to tell the veterinarian exactly why your cat felt unwell, what contributed to this, etc.

What treatment is prescribed? Firstly, it is urgent stabilize glucose levels in blood. Secondly, the root cause of the pathological condition should be found. If there is such a possibility, it must be eliminated immediately.

The approach depends on the severity of the symptoms. Mild symptoms are successfully treated with immediate oral dacha glucose solution or regular sugar. However, to reliably prevent the development of hypoglycemic coma, glucose must be urgently administered intravenously. This should be done only after a rapid blood test, since otherwise the animal can be “treated” until a hyperglycemic coma develops.

Pets often suffer from the same diseases as people. Thus, cats can develop various endocrinological diseases, including diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus.

As is known, the development of diabetes mellitus is based on dysfunction of the pancreas, which loses the ability to produce insulin necessary for the utilization of glucose. In this case, the animal develops hyperglycemia - an increase in blood glucose levels, giving corresponding symptoms.

The disease can develop in an animal of any gender and age, but in most cases it affects adult cats, especially those who are overweight. The disease can occur in various forms. The treatment of so-called type 1 diabetes requires the use of insulin, which is regularly administered through subcutaneous injections. The second form - type 2 diabetes - is usually corrected by following a diet, although there are more serious situations. requiring pills or injections. Finally, another type is called secondary diabetes and occurs against the background of some other disease. For example, it may be preceded by pancreatitis. The relative advantage of this form is that in many cases, when the cause is eliminated, the manifestations of diabetes mellitus also disappear.

In diabetes insipidus, the disorder occurs in the pituitary gland. Due to hormonal disorders, the body of a sick cat begins to actively remove water and electrolytes. The disease is several times less common than diabetes mellitus. The disease can be congenital, with signs appearing in the first six months of the animal’s life. If other reasons lead to it, for example, a brain tumor, it appears in cats older than 5-6 years.

Signs and symptoms of diabetes in cats

• Diabetes mellitus in cats can sometimes be very difficult to diagnose, not only for the owner of the animal, but even for an experienced veterinarian. The disease can occur with vivid symptoms, or it can be almost invisible. Moreover, there is no single clinical picture for all forms of the disease.
• In type 1 diabetes, the cat is usually thin and shows obvious symptoms of the disease. Type 2 usually occurs in normal weight or obese animals. Their signs of illness are usually minimal.
• Typical symptoms of diabetes include thirst and increased urine output. Some cats exhibit increased appetite, along with which there is a decrease in weight and volume. muscle mass, hair loss and deterioration in its quality. The animal's physical activity decreases.
• Type 1 diabetes can be complicated by a condition called ketoacidosis. At the same time, a large number of ketone bodies accumulate in the blood, causing toxic effect on the body. Over a short period of time, the cat becomes increasingly weak, nausea and vomiting appear, general health deteriorates significantly, and the animal looks unhealthy from the outside. Breathing becomes more frequent, a large amount of fluid is lost in the urine, and the cat becomes extremely thirsty. If you don't take action emergency measures, she may die.
• To diagnose diabetes mellitus, a cat must undergo a clinical and biochemical blood test, as well as a urine test. IN biochemical analysis and urine will be detected high content glucose.
• The symptoms of diabetes insipidus in kittens are very similar to the symptoms of the disease described above. These include thirst, increased volume of urine and increased number of urinations. Possible severe weakness, decreased physical activity, sometimes - cramps due to dehydration. Important diagnostic sign disease - colorless urine. The diagnosis is made by detecting an increased amount of sodium in a biochemical blood test and a decrease in the specific gravity of urine.

Treatment of diabetes in cats

For type 1 diabetes in cats, short-acting insulin injections are given. It is recommended to administer it 2 times a day, immediately before feeding. The dosage is determined by the veterinarian based on test results. With mild type 2 diabetes, the condition is corrected by following a diet. If necessary, the animal is given tableted glucose-lowering drugs, and less often it is necessary to administer small doses of insulin.

If you have diabetes insipidus, your cat should drink a lot. As a means of correction, the drug desmopressin is prescribed, which is available in the form eye drops(drop 1-2 drops under the eyelid 1-2 times a day) or in the form of an injection solution. In the latter case, the product is injected under the skin in a dose of 2 to 5 mcg 1-2 times a day.

In a rare form of diabetes insipidus, associated with impaired susceptibility of renal receptors to the hormone vasopressin, chlorothiazide is used for treatment from 10 to 40 mg per 1 kg of animal weight. The drug is given in tablets 2 times a day.

Nutrition and diet

Diabetes mellitus requires significant changes in a cat's diet. If the animal shows signs excess weight, it is necessary to limit daily caloric intake and promote increased physical activity, which can lead to weight loss. Already under the influence of this simple measure, the cat’s condition can significantly improve.

If a cat suffers from type 1 diabetes, then the diet, on the contrary, should be enhanced. Along with this, you cannot force an animal to eat if it does not want to.

The cat should eat small portions, since a large meal causes a sharp jump in blood glucose levels, and drink enough fluids. It is better to feed a sick animal with type 2 diabetes 4-5 times a day, little by little. Carbohydrates should be excluded from the diet. High-protein foods with the addition of a small amount of boiled vegetables are recommended. Exist special types ready-made food that contains everything necessary for a sick animal.

For diabetes insipidus, staying hydrated is key. The diet should contain vegetables and semi-liquid dishes - puree soups, fermented milk products, etc.

Reviews and comments

Margarita Pavlovna- 31 Mar 2020, 18:29

I have type 2 diabetes - non-insulin dependent. A friend advised me to lower my blood sugar levels with DiabeNot. I ordered it online. Started the appointment. I follow a relaxed diet and started walking 2-3 kilometers every morning. Within two last weeks I notice a gradual decrease in sugar on the glucometer in the morning before breakfast from 9.3 to 7.1, and yesterday even to 6.1! I continue the preventative course. I'll write about my successes.