The diagnosis of "diabetes" in cats: symptoms and treatment, what to feed

Due to poor diet and living in a city apartment with almost no traffic, many cats suffer from diabetes. This is the most common metabolic disorders in the animal body, found it in 2% furry Pets. The difficulty is that the time to determine what started the diabetes in cats. The symptoms and treatment of this disease is known primarily veterinarians, and many owners lose their animal because of delays in seeking medical attention.

What happens in the body in diabetes

The Disease is associated with dysfunction of the pancreas. In normal conditions it produces the insulin required for the assimilation and processing of glucose. This substance is required for proper functioning of the brain and other organs. It is a source of nutrients and energy. If gland function interrupted for some reason, the glucose in the body is not enough. It is not absorbed, and circulates freely in the blood. This affects all organs.

First of all, glucose accumulates in the kidneys, taking with him all the liquid. In this case the body suffers from dehydration, the animal feels a strong thirst and need for frequent urination. In addition, the cells experience a lack of nutrients and energy. The brain starts to use the glycogen stores in the liver to produce energy from proteins and fats. This leads to malfunction of various organs of the animal.

Features of the disease in cats

The Pancreas is functioning in the organism of animals as well as humans. But not all pet owners understand this. So many people are surprised when they receive a positive answer to the question of whether cats have diabetes. Actually forms of the disease are slightly different from the course of the disease in humans. In animals manifested three kinds of diabetes.

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1. In this form of the disease the pancreas of the animal completely stops producing insulin. Most often, however, she collapses. The result is animals in most cases are killed.
2. The Second form resembles diabetes type 2 diabetes in humans. Insulin in the body is produced, but the cells can't learn. To treat this diabetes without insulin. Most often, this form of the disease is manifested by obesity.
3. Diabetes mellitus in cats can develop after infection or as a complication of chronic inflammatory diseases. With proper treatment, this disease is easily cured.

If the time to recognize, it is easy to overcome diabetes in cats. The symptoms and treatment it is almost the same as humans, but it is important to properly care for animals.

Cause of disease

According to statistics, diabetes in cats found in 2 cases out of 1000. Somehow it is more prevalent in males, especially neutered. The risk groups are also sedentary animals with excessive weight. Most often the disease develops in old age. Most cases of diabetes seen in cats after 5-6 years. But ill can even young animals. The reasons for this have not been fully elucidated, but it is believed that the disease develops in such cases:

• If the wrong diet;
• Once the weight of the animal;
• Frequent use of hormonal drugs;
• With a genetic predisposition, for example, from the breed of the Burmese;
• Because of violation of metabolic processes;
• When problems with the immune system;
• The presence of endocrine diseases;
• As a complication of infectious diseases or inflammation of the pancreas.

Diabetes mellitus in cats: symptoms

It is Very important not to miss the first signs of the disease in time to begin treatment. Only the owner, sensitive to the condition of your pet can help him cope with the disease. In recent times increasingly found diabetes in cats. The symptoms and treatment of the disease need to study for all owners of older Pets, and spayed. That the animal does not suffer, it is important to know the measures of prevention and visits to the veterinarian, especially if you feel unwell pet. What are the signs of diabetes in cats are the most characteristic:

• Weight loss with increased appetite;
• Constant thirst;
• Frequent urination;
• Nausea, vomiting, problems with digestion;
• Deterioration of skin and coat;
• The weakness and depression of the animal;
• Sensitivity to infections;
• Violation of hind-limb function;
• Blurred vision or even cataract.

How to treat disease

After confirmation of the diagnosis for a host comes the difficult time. The treatment of this disease is very long, includes a set of measures. Therefore, some owners decide to euthanize the animal. But patient owner, the cat may recover and live for many years. Main thing is to follow all doctor's recommendations. Only a specialist understands how to influence diabetes in cats. The symptoms and treatment it is similar to disease in humans, so were most commonly prescribed injectionsof insulin.

The Difficulty is to find the right dosage of the drug. So after the first administration of approximate dose is necessary every 2 hours to measure the glucose level in blood. Based on these data, the doctor makes conclusions about the features of insulin absorption and adjusts the dosage and time of medication administration.

How else can affect diabetes in cats? The treatment is also on special diet and nutrition. Sometimes used glucose-lowering drugs in pill form, but they often have side effects. Cats prescribed the same medication as men, but the dosage. Most often it is "Acarbose", "Metformin", "Glipizide".

Control

It is Very important to have constant nalyudenii doctor. After the appearance of the first symptoms of the disease is a comprehensive survey of the animal: in addition to blood and urine tests have to do hormone tests, the level of acid-alkaline balance, ultrasound and electrocardiogram. But even after the establishment of diagnosis and prescription of therapeutic measures, it is necessary to see your doctor regularly to monitor the effectiveness of treatment. You need to constantly take blood and urine tests to check how the changes in the body of a cat. Owner must get a special journal where you regularly need to put all information about the injections of insulin, the volume of fluid used aft, of the weight of the cat.

Why the treatment does not work

Many cat owners do their best, but the animal's condition is not improving. This can happen for several reasons:

• Use the medication that was improperly stored or it has expired;
• Owner improperly injects;
• Some medications, such as hormonal may reduce the susceptibility to insulin;
• Cats have a very fast metabolism, or the blood contains antibodies to the drug;
• Improper feeding of the animal, leading to increased concentration in the blood fat;
• Concomitant infectious or chronic diseases.

Diabetes mellitus in cats: a diet

When the disease 2 and 3 of the form may not require insulin and other medicines. Sometimes it is enough only to change the regime and diet of the animal, his condition has improved. The diet of cats with diabetes must obey these rules:

• Feed the pet need at the same time, in small portions;
• Pet should not overeat, as excess weight will aggravate his condition;
• Food should be chosen such that it contains less carbs and calories, but more protein.

Foods for diabetes

Often the cause of diabetes is improper diet of the animal. Cheap low-quality forage cause of metabolic disturbances in cats. Therefore, the first step towards the cure of the animal should be on a special diet. The diet should be low in carbs, but high in protein. Now there are special food for cats with diabetes. They belong to the super-premium or holistic class.

• Best choice is a therapeutic food from Purina, which normalizes the metabolism and provides the animal nutrition;
• Food for cats diabetics from Royal Canin contains a lot of protein and cereal has added those that have a low glycemic index;
• Diet food from the Hils fit for an animal with diabetes, and to prevent obesity of a pet, as it contains large amount of protein and very little carbohydrates.

Caring for sick animals

If a cat diagnosed, it requires special attention. Often the treatment and special care continues throughout her life. First of all, it regular insulin injections. It must be administered subcutaneously twice a day after meals. The animal quietly endured the injections, you need to learn how to do them safely and quickly. It is very important to observe the dosage, because excess insulin can lead to hypoglycemia, which is dangerous for animal life.

For the proper care of a sick cat will need, except medication, buy insulin syringes, test strips, glucometer. Need to learn how to alternate the different types of insulin, for that matter three times a day to measure glucose levels. It is recommended to maintain it at the level of 11-16 units. Threat to the life of the animal state is reducing its level to 1 unit or up to 30 units.

Complications of the disease

Diabetes mellitus leads to impaired functioning of all organs and systems of the animal. The most serious complication is ketoacidosis. If not properly treated and ongoing glucose the body cat processes fats from the liver stores. This leads to the formation of ketone bodies, which poison the blood. With an overdose of insulin may develop hypoglycemia. These two conditions require immediate medical attention, otherwise the animal will die.

In addition, diabetes causes changes in the liver, frequent infections. Patients cats deteriorating coat condition, diseases of the skin.

Prevention of diabetes

Modern cats get a lotcarbohydrates, especially those fed a cheap dry food such as "Whiskas". Constant feeding this food disrupts the pancreas of the animal. Therefore, to prevent the development of diabetes need to change the diet of the cats: go to a higher quality dog food or natural meat. If the cat eats a normal diet, should more carefully choose what to give her. The animal must be boiled lean meat, cereals, dairy products, vegetables. In any case, you can't give your pet sweets. And for the prevention of obesity cat needs to move more.

Diabetes in cats it is possible to get rid of, if treatment is started in time. But the owner will need patience, perseverance and considerable financial expenses. But with proper care and adherence to doctor's recommendations pet can live for a long time.