A diagnosis of feline diabetes comes as a complete shock for many cat owners. You probably have many questions. What exactly is cat diabetes? What options do you have for feline diabetes treatment? Can natural remedies for cats help in controlling diabetes in cats?
What Is Feline Diabetes?
A kitty with this disease has problems either producing or using insulin, which keeps the levels of glucose in the blood at normal levels. High blood sugar levels cause liver and kidney problems, gastrointestinal troubles, and an increased risk of infections. If left untreated, a diabetic cat can go into a coma and die.
Diabetes may be in your kitty's future, especially if he's a middle-aged male who is carrying too much weight.
Feline Diabetes Treatment
Treatment for feline diabetes often starts with the cat being hospitalized while his blood sugar levels are stabilized.Before bringing Kitty home, you and your vet will need to work together on a long-term treatment plan. It's important that you have a good relationship with your vet, so you can work together to help control your pet's diabetes.
Be aware that caring for a diabetic cat does take a lot of time, especially at first, when you're learning how to check your kitty's blood sugar levels, and how to give him insulin injections.
Many cat owners are able to negotiate the learning curve, and become successful in controlling diabetes in cats. After a while, blood sugar tests and insulin shots will become routine, both for you and your feline conmpanion.
Are Natural Remedies For Cats Helpful In Controlling Feline Diabetes?
Many human diabetics are using herbal remedies and dietary supplements to help control their blood sugar levels.The safety and effectiveness of these remedies for cats has been backed up by researchers.The herbs fenugreek, astragalus, and goat's rue, along with chromium, should be present in this remedy.
Always talk with your vet before you start using natural remedies for cats. Most vets are quite open to the use of these remedies, and will be happy to work with you. Since it may be possible to control diabetes in cats by making dietary changes and using natural remedies, you'll need to check your kitty's blood sugar levels often.Your vet may find it necessary to adjust the insulin dosage your kitty is receiving.
Just click any link in this article to learn how diet, exercise and natural remedies for cats can help to control diabetes in cats.
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Nov 24, 2009 | | cat care tips
Feline diabetes is a health problem that's becoming more and more common among the pet cat population. Unfortunately, there are several myths circulating about diabetes in cats.If you share your home with a diabetic cat, you can provide better care for him by knowing the facts about how to keep him healthy.
Myth #1. The Only Treatment For A Diabetic Feline Is To Put Him Down
This isn't necessarily true.Unless your pet is elderly or has other problems like kidney failure, it's possible to manage this disease quite successfully.
However, it's important for you to realize that it does take time, especially at first, to learn how to check your diabetic cat's blood sugar and then give him an insulin injection, if he needs one.
Myth #2. Feline Diabetes Cannot Be Prevented
Quite a few pet experts believe that this disease is a man-made condition that can be prevented by feeding your kitty a high-quality canned food, not dry cat food.
Why shouldn't you feed your kitty dry food?This food is made mostly from grain, which is too high in carbohydrates for felines. Cats have evolved to eat meat, not grains. Free-feeding dry cat food will more than likely lead to a fat cat, and overweight kitties are predisposed to many health problems, including diabetes in cats.
Myth #3. It's Too Hard To Check Your Kitty's Blood Glucose Levels At Home
It can be challenging at first, but anyone who lives with a feline diabetic should learn how to check their cat's blood sugar levels.Don't give your pet an insulin injection without knowing what his blood sugar levels are. Plus, it's much less expensive for you, and less stressful for your cat, if your vet teaches you how to do this simple test at home.
Myth #4. Your Kitty Will Need Insulin Injections For The Rest Of His Life
This isn't true.It can be surprising to find that simply changing your cat's diet from dry food to canned food may be all that's needed to reverse feline diabetes. Losing weight can help, too. Check with your vet before putting your fat cat on a diet, as losing weight too quickly can cause serious problems for your kitty.
Mild exercise is a natural way to manage blood sugar. The key is to start slowly. Gradually work up to two or three ten-minute exercise sessions every day.
Myth #5. Don't Waste Your Time With Natural Remedies For Cats
On the contrary, researchers have found that the mineral chromium, along with certain herbs, including goat's rue, astragalus, and fenugreek, are all very effective in helping to control blood sugar levels in human diabetics. These remedies are also effective for kitties, as well. Many cat owners have found that a combination of dietary changes, daily exercise, and natural remedies for cats has made it possible to discontinue insulin injections for their pets.
Don't believe any of these myths about feline diabetes. Click on any link in this article to find out how natural remedies for cats can help keep your favorite kitty healthy.
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Nov 24, 2009 | | cat care tips
Does a diabetic cat live with you? If you do, you already know that it's necessary to pay a lot more attention to your kitty's health. Although cat diabetes doesn't cause circulatory problems or blindness like diabetes in people does, there are four dangerous complications of feline diabetes that you need to know about.
Feline Neuropathy
The cat owner will notice weakness in the pet's legs. A cat who walks on her "wrists" on her front legs, or on her "elbows" on the back legs, may have feline diabetes. The nerves are damaged by blood sugar levels that are too high. When cat diabetes is treated, sometimes this problem goes away.
Feline Ketoacidosis
This problem is often seen in an untreated feline diabetic. Usually glucose is broken down by the cat's body for energy. But in cat diabetes, the body can't break down this glucose, so the body starts breaking down fat instead. This process produces ketones, which are a waste product. When ketones accumulate in the cat's body, it causes ketoacidosis, which is fatal without immediate veterinary care.
Symptoms of ketoacidosis in cats include:
- Breath either smells sweet, or like nail polish remover
- Dehydration
- Either excessive thirst, or not drinking any water at all
- Not eating for more than twelve hours
- Fast breathing
- Vomiting
- Weakness and lethargy
- Frequent urination
Feline Hypoglycemia
If a diabetic cat is given too much insulin, or doesn't eat on schedule, her blood sugar levels may drop to dangerously low levels. The pet may be dizzy and uncoordinated, or have seizures. A fatal coma may follow.
Treat feline hypoglycemia by rubbing a little corn syrup or honey on the cat's gums. Don't wait to take the cat to the vet, as this is an emergency.
Hepatic Lipidosis
Don't ignore an overweight cat who suddenly stops eating, this problem may result.Fat builds up in the cat's liver when her body attempts to break down fat for energy, in place of glucose. Symptoms are similar to ketoacidosis, and also include jaundice, or a yellowing of the cat's eyes and gums. Again, get Kitty to the vet right away, as this is an emergency.
Avoid These Four Complications of Diabetes in Cats
Avoiding these complications of feline diabetes is possible by normalizing the kitty's blood sugar levels. Research shows that natural remedies for cats, which include the herbs astragalus, fenugreek, and goat's rue, along with chromium, are very effective for regulating blood sugar levels in kitties.
Don't wait for your feline diabetic to fall victim to these complications. Click on any link above to learn more.
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Nov 24, 2009 | | cat care tips
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.
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Nov 19, 2009 | | cat care tips
Do you have a cat with feline diabetes? If you do, you need to know about feline hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar.It's natural to assume that a feline diabetic is better off with low blood glucose levels. However, if the cat's blood sugar levels get too low, your feline companion could go into a coma and die.
Why Do Diabetic Cats Develop Hypoglycemia?
There can be several reasons for low blood sugar levels in cats with feline diabetes:
- Sometimes a cat owner makes a mistake, and gives the cat too much insulin.
- Two people in the family each gave the cat insulin, so he received a double dose.By choosing one person to be responsible for giving insulin shots, this problem can be avoided.
- The cat has been exercising more than he usually does.
- If the insulin was given before a meal, the cat may have either not eaten, or he threw up the meal.
- The feline diabetic no longer needs insulin because of dietary changes, or a spontaneous remission.
Symptoms Of Feline Hypoglycemia
The cat may behave strangely, because low blood sugar levels affect the brain first. This is because the brain doesn't store glucose to use later, like other organs in the body.
If a cat with diabetes shows these symptoms, he may have dangerously low blood sugar levels:
- Shaking or shivering
- Becoming uncoordinated, and staggering around
- Acting like he's blind
- Weakness and lethargy
- Restlessness
- Either very hungry, or not interested in eating
- Tilts his head
- Acts disoriented; he may walk in circles, yowl, or hide
- Glassy eyes
- Drooling
- Seizures
- Coma
What To Do For A Feline Diabetic With Hypoglycemia
Keep honey or corn syrup on hand, along with empty syringes (without needles), if you have a feline diabetic.Use the syringe to squirt some honey or corn syrup in the cat's mouth if his blood glucose levels drop too low. If the cat is unconscious, rub a little honey or syrup on his gums. If doing this, take care to avoid being bitten, especially if the kitty is having seizures.
Wrap the kitty in a blanket, and take him to the vet right away, as this is an emergency.
Regulate Glucose Levels Naturally With Natural Remedies For Cats
Research has shown that natural remedies for cats are safe and effective for cats with diabetes. Herbal pet remedies that contain goat's rue, fenugreek, and astragalus, along with the mineral chromium, can help to normalize glucose levels in diabetic cats.Purchase high-quality natural pet remedies for your kitty from an established company.
Many vets are quite open to using natural remedies for cats.Before making any changes to a diabetic cat's medications or diet, it's always best to check with the vet. By using these natural remedies, you may be able to reduce or eliminate insulin injections for cats with diabetes. Learn more by clicking on any link in this article.
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Nov 14, 2009 | | cat care tips
