| Its scary when you first know your cat has | | | | mistake and give the shot to the fur.. which |
| diabetis but once you start understanding the | | | | isn't helpful at all!) but its always best |
| disease and get more used to the monitoring | | | | for your kitty to skip a dose than have a |
| it becomes easier for you and your kitty. | | | | double shot. |
| | | | |
| Informing yourself of the disease is crucial, | | | | Eating is crucial - and it is equally crucial |
| its not the same as human diabetis and its a | | | | that your cat eats something immediately |
| complex disease that you need to inform | | | | before or after the insulin shot (just like |
| yourself about.Don't feel overwhelemed by the | | | | human diabetics). This can be difficult, as |
| amount of information. Get all the info | | | | cats often don't eat when they don't feel |
| printed and make it a point to read them | | | | well, so start finding all the creative |
| every night until you basically have learned | | | | treats you can find that will entice your |
| the info by heart. | | | | cat.You can probably try home-made (no salt |
| | | | or spices) chicken broth, which gels when |
| First of all, Feline diabetes is extremely | | | | cold; baby food (all meat, NO spices, |
| difficult to regulate. Feline metabolism is | | | | particularly onion powder, which is poisonous |
| simply not designed to be diabetes friendly. | | | | to cats); wet food (from the vet, |
| By "regulate," we mean finding the correct | | | | particularly made for kidney problems); TUNA |
| insulin dosage for steady, healthy blood | | | | (the special favorite.) Experiment, but don't |
| sugar levels.Feline metabolism is built | | | | go overboard, and remember that however |
| specifically for short, fast bursts of power | | | | 'underboard' is more dangerous. |
| and speed, not long chases, unlike dogs. It | | | | |
| can take a very long time to find the right | | | | As the diabetes progresses, be on the watch |
| dose of insulin, and the "right" dose can | | | | for other complications; Joint problems , |
| change on you with little or no notice. | | | | need for heat, blindness. You'll need to |
| Stress, even things that don't appear to us | | | | make environmental changes to accommodate |
| to be stressful, can set off sugar spikes in | | | | such things as they develop. Some cats can |
| cats. | | | | come down with renal failure as a secondary |
| | | | condition to the diabetes. These are all |
| Thus, you MUST monitor your cat at all times. | | | | treatable, but it will add to the adjustments |
| At any sign of trouble,at least call your | | | | you and your cat will need to make. |
| vet. You'll get better over time at | | | | |
| recognizing what needs immediate attention. | | | | Find out where your nearest emergency animal |
| | | | hospital/clinic is NOW before you need that |
| Signs of trouble (over-insulin) include: | | | | information. Because you will need it.Unless |
| | | | you are extremely blessed, there will be at |
| Balance loss, unsteady walking (they'll act | | | | least once or twice that you will need to |
| drunk ...) | | | | rush your cat for immediate care, because he |
| | | | goes into diabetic coma (the warnings I |
| Head shaking | | | | mentioned above.) Keep the number someplace |
| | | | where you can find it at a moment's notice. |
| Sudden craziness - this is different from the | | | | |
| regular feline nightly run around and be | | | | Towels are your friend. They can be used to |
| active craziness. Sometimes, the cat might | | | | wrap a cat who struggles when given shots; |
| let out a horrible witchy yowl at top voice, | | | | they can be used to put under a cat who is |
| spin madly around chasing its own tail 4-5 | | | | retching to catch the vomit (towels, unlike |
| times, jump in the air, fall on the sides, | | | | rugs and floors, are easily thrown into a |
| pant and ultimately even lose consciousness. | | | | washing machine!);they can make emergency |
| | | | beds as the cat's ability to navigate the |
| So, in such instances have a light corn syrup | | | | environment changes. They can be used with |
| handy. If you over-insulin (which is all too | | | | plastic to catch extraneous urine around the |
| easily done) you will need to get come easy | | | | litterbox (again - washable!). |
| sugar into your cat FAST. | | | | |
| | | | Periodically ,talk to your vet about cat's |
| The insulin is given subcutaneaously, that | | | | diet. He may already be on lower-protein |
| is, directly under the top layer of skin, and | | | | food. If not, it may be time to introduce it. |
| NOT into the blood. What you'll do is lift | | | | Kidney problems necessitate lower protein |
| your cat's skin somewhere around the scruff | | | | foods than normal |
| or near that area, just as you would do to | | | | |
| check hydration (something you'll want to do | | | | This can be a harsh statement, but to be |
| daily, by the way ...) You'll then have a | | | | realistic, Diabetes in cats is fatal -- you |
| little tent of skin lifted off from the body. | | | | may have weeks or years, depending on how |
| You'll insert the the needle along the long | | | | well your cat's blood levels regulate. Now is |
| line of the tent (think of a long pole | | | | the time for the two of you to come to an |
| supporting the tent like a roof line) rather | | | | agreement about what constitutes a |
| than from side to side of the tent. Inject | | | | quality-of-life threshold. Only you and your |
| and you're done. You'll get to where you can | | | | cat can decide when that is for the two of |
| do it easily. | | | | you. But it is a conversation you should |
| | | | start, now,while you can still enjoy |
| Never give another shot if you think you | | | | yourselves together as you have it. |
| missed the shot (sometimes you can make a | | | | |