Patient: Smithers a 10-year old neutered male cat.
History: Smithers’ owner noticed he was losing weight and
drinking more water than usual. As a matter of fact she did
not recall seeing him drink much water at all until recently.
She made an appointment to take him to the veterinarian.
He had not been to the doctor for a check up in over three years.
Exam: The veterinarian gave Smithers a thorough physical exam.
He found Smithers to be thin, weighing only 7.5 pounds.
The exam was otherwise normal. The doctor looked back in
Smithers medical chart to compare his weight and found that
he was ten pounds for all of his adult years.
Smithers lost 2.5 pounds which was 25% of his body weight, equivalent to a 100 pound
person losing 25 pounds. Smithers had the following tests to evaluate his health; blood
tests to check his liver, kidneys, sugar, red blood cells and white blood cells and a
urinalysis to check for infections, sugar and protein.
Test results: Smithers blood sugar was very high and he had sugar in his urine. This
indicated that he had diabetes.
Outcome: Smithers was started on insulin injections to control his blood sugar. His
owner was given instruction and demonstration on how to administer the injections to
her cat. Smithers was also started on a prescription diet which helps control blood sugar.
He returned one week later for blood tests to determine if his dosage of insulin needed
adjustment. Smithers needed a small adjustment to his insulin dosage. Additional blood
tests were scheduled again in two weeks.
It is normal for the patient to need blood tests a few times within the first two months of
starting insulin and then occasionally as directed by the veterinarian.
Discussion: Diabetes occurs when an abdominal organ called the pancreas does not
produce enough insulin or the body's cells do not respond to the insulin. Insulin is a
hormone that is necessary for the cells in the body to utilize glucose (sugar).
When there is not enough insulin the blood sugar goes up. The pet’s body responds with
increased thirst and appetite, however the pet loses weight because their body is not
using sugars (from carbohydrates) they ingest normally.
If diabetes is left untreated a pet will become dehydrated and very sick. Treatment for
diabetes in cats usually involves giving insulin injections. Most cat owners can do this
easily after they receive instruction on how to give the injections.
Occasionally diabetic cats may achieve some control of their blood sugar with an oral
medication; however most cats eventually require the insulin injections.
Pharmaceutical companies are working to make insulin administration easier in pets
and people and there may be new products on the horizon such as insulin that can be
given with an inhaler.
Cats are unusual in that they may have transient diabetes. This means that a cat can be
diabetic, then return to normal and then become diabetic again in the future.
Overweight cats may have increased risk for developing diabetes; therefore it is
important to prevent obesity when cats are young with proper diet, exercise and portion
control.
Ask the Vet is not intended to be a substitute for the regular veterinary care a licensed veterinarian
provides through routine physical exams, and should only be used for personal, educational and
informational purposes only. Responses do not establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship,
and are not intended as veterinary medical advice.
History: Smithers’ owner noticed he was losing weight and
drinking more water than usual. As a matter of fact she did
not recall seeing him drink much water at all until recently.
She made an appointment to take him to the veterinarian.
He had not been to the doctor for a check up in over three years.
Exam: The veterinarian gave Smithers a thorough physical exam.
He found Smithers to be thin, weighing only 7.5 pounds.
The exam was otherwise normal. The doctor looked back in
Smithers medical chart to compare his weight and found that
he was ten pounds for all of his adult years.
Smithers lost 2.5 pounds which was 25% of his body weight, equivalent to a 100 pound
person losing 25 pounds. Smithers had the following tests to evaluate his health; blood
tests to check his liver, kidneys, sugar, red blood cells and white blood cells and a
urinalysis to check for infections, sugar and protein.
Test results: Smithers blood sugar was very high and he had sugar in his urine. This
indicated that he had diabetes.
Outcome: Smithers was started on insulin injections to control his blood sugar. His
owner was given instruction and demonstration on how to administer the injections to
her cat. Smithers was also started on a prescription diet which helps control blood sugar.
He returned one week later for blood tests to determine if his dosage of insulin needed
adjustment. Smithers needed a small adjustment to his insulin dosage. Additional blood
tests were scheduled again in two weeks.
It is normal for the patient to need blood tests a few times within the first two months of
starting insulin and then occasionally as directed by the veterinarian.
Discussion: Diabetes occurs when an abdominal organ called the pancreas does not
produce enough insulin or the body's cells do not respond to the insulin. Insulin is a
hormone that is necessary for the cells in the body to utilize glucose (sugar).
When there is not enough insulin the blood sugar goes up. The pet’s body responds with
increased thirst and appetite, however the pet loses weight because their body is not
using sugars (from carbohydrates) they ingest normally.
If diabetes is left untreated a pet will become dehydrated and very sick. Treatment for
diabetes in cats usually involves giving insulin injections. Most cat owners can do this
easily after they receive instruction on how to give the injections.
Occasionally diabetic cats may achieve some control of their blood sugar with an oral
medication; however most cats eventually require the insulin injections.
Pharmaceutical companies are working to make insulin administration easier in pets
and people and there may be new products on the horizon such as insulin that can be
given with an inhaler.
Cats are unusual in that they may have transient diabetes. This means that a cat can be
diabetic, then return to normal and then become diabetic again in the future.
Overweight cats may have increased risk for developing diabetes; therefore it is
important to prevent obesity when cats are young with proper diet, exercise and portion
control.
Ask the Vet is not intended to be a substitute for the regular veterinary care a licensed veterinarian
provides through routine physical exams, and should only be used for personal, educational and
informational purposes only. Responses do not establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship,
and are not intended as veterinary medical advice.
| Case Study - My Cat Is Always Drinking |
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| Dr. Karen Zelinski works at Animal General Veterinary Hospital at 725 River Road, Edgewater, N.J. She graduated from Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine in 1993; she has two Dalmatians and three cats. |