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Tips for Caring for Diabetic Cats

Tips for Caring for Diabetic Cats

If you thought that diabetes mellitus was found only in humans, you thought wrong. Millions of cats end up with diabetes each year and the number is rising. The care of felines with diabetes and the symptoms are largely the same as in humans. There’s one caveat, cats can’t speak so looking for symptoms may not be as easy as you may think. The most noticeable signs are decreased weight, increased appetite, frequent urination, and increased thirst. The treatment can vary, but a vet-prescribed dibetic diet with insulin shots is typical for cats suffering from this condition.

Here are a few tips for caring for your diabetic cat:

1. Extra special care
Expect that they’ll be ongoing expenses related to the care of your diabetic cat. Refills of monthly medication, as well as more frequent visits to the veterinarian, will be on the schedule. Hiring a cat sitter if you aren’t going to be home overnight is a must. They need to be fed on a regular schedule to keep their blood glucose stable. When you adopt a cat, and they’re already diabetic, make sure you can afford the test strips, as well as insulin.

2. Choose a good veterinarian
Choose a vet that you feel comfortable in dealing with. Make sure they take the time to listen to you when you have questions. Your cat’s personality can change when their health is affected by a chronic condition and you’ll have to check in with the vet whenever necessary.

3. Don’t be afraid of the shots
Yes, you’ll have to administer medication via an injection to your beloved pet at least once a day. Insulin injections are typically given between the loose skin between the shoulders, and approximately 2 inches from the base of the skull. This is an ideal area to give the shot. Don’t worry, your vet will show you just how to do this safely so your pet doesn’t feel it, and so they’ll get used to it over time.

4. Testing your cat’s glucose
The same test-strips that you buy at a store or order online for a human can be used on the cat. The glucometer is the same, but in this case specifically intended for feline patients and so it’s personally calibrated for your cat. Your vet will determine how often to test your pet. The ear or the leg are typically the best spots to get sufficient blood samples.

5. Proper diet and weight control
Sometimes a cat develops feline diabetes from being overweight. It is possible for the issue to become less chronic if the cat returns to a healthy weight while adhering to a strict diet and feeding/exercise schedule. Dry food is the most dangerous thing to be fed to a diabetic cat. Don’t be fooled by grain-free products that use all kinds of fillers that are also high-carb. Wet food that is high in protein is your best option. Most top brands will carry special food for diabetic cats. Ask you vets to recommend a diabetic feline food that can be ordered and shipped to your home monthly.

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