You may be surprised to learn that one of the symptoms of feline diabetes is weakness in your cat's legs. If you notice your kitty walking on her "elbows" on her back legs instead of her feet, or on her "wrists" on her front legs, you may have a diabetic cat.A short walk may tire her out, which indicates weakness. She may be clumsy, too, with her legs going out from under her unexpectedly. This problem is called "feline neuropathy."
Why Does Diabetes In Cats Cause Weak Legs?
Many cat owners are shocked to learn that a cat with feline neuropathy often has feline diabetes. This condition is a result of nerve damage caused by high blood sugar levels. It's very important that a diabetic cat receives veterinary treatment to lower blood glucose levels as soon as possible to prevent any further damage to her nerves.
What Is The Connection Between Feline Diabetes And Nerve Damage?
When the body is unable to regulate blood sugar levels, diabetes in the result, both in pets and humans. Either your kitty's body isn't producing enough insulin (type 1 feline diabetes), or her body isn't able to use the insulin being produced (type 2 feline diabetes).
High blood sugar levels are especially dangerous for nerve, kidney, and eye cells. Why?These cells can absorb so much glucose from the bloodstream that they're damaged by it. This is because they don't need insulin in order to absorb glucose.This is why it's important that owners of feline diabetics keep the cat's blood glucose at normal levels.
Can Feline Neuropathy Be Reversed?
Sometimes the nerve damage is reversed when the high blood sugar levels are brought under control, and the cat is able to walk normally again.
It's also possible that the weakness in the cat's legs is due to muscle wasting, which is a result of untreated feline diabetes. Once the blood sugar levels are controlled, the cat owner may wish to gently exercise the feline to rebuild the muscle.
Some owners have had some success in reversing feline neuropathy by treating their cats with methylcobalamin, also known as methyl B-12. This product is available at natural food stores.
The Best Treatment Is Prevention
The best way to avoid complications of diabetes in cats is to prevent the disease in the first place. Avoid letting your feline friend get too heavy.An obese kitty is not a healthy kitty, and she'll be prone to many serious health issues.Don't overfeed your kitty. She should be eating a high-quality canned food, not dry cat food that's high in carbs and calories.
Regular exercise is a natural way to control blood sugar levels, besides keeping your pet slim and in good condition.
Can Natural Remedies For Cats Help A Feline Diabetic?
Herbs, including fenugreek, goat's rue, and astragalus, along with the trace mineral chromium, are used to control blood sugar levels naturally in human diabetics. Would these herbs work in cats, too? The answer is yes.
Many cat owners have been successful in using a combination of diet, exercise, and herbal remedies to regulate their pets' blood sugar levels naturally. You can learn more about natural remedies for cats with diabetes by clicking on any link in this article.
Leave a reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.