Pets: Diabetic cats

[victoreia]

This past week, I found out my 12-year-old male cat is diabetic. We're starting him on a special diet (gradually), and will most likely have to start insulin injections quite soon.

Does anyone have any experience with diabetic pets?

[RandallS]

This past week, I found out my 12-year-old male cat is diabetic. We're starting him on a special diet (gradually), and will most likely have to start insulin injections quite soon.

One of Lyric's dachshunds was diabetic in his old age (this was before we were married). They never could get his diabetes properly controlled, but he had a lot of other problems by that time so he isn't a very good example.

[Catherine]

Does anyone have any experience with diabetic pets?

 
My grandmother had a diabetic poodle. She had to give her injections and I remember something about a special diet, but once they got it all under control the dog lived a pretty normal life.

[Marilyn/Absentminded]

This past week, I found out my 12-year-old male cat is diabetic. We're starting him on a special diet (gradually), and will most likely have to start insulin injections quite soon.

Does anyone have any experience with diabetic pets?

A friend of mine had a diabetic cat.  She had to inject her either once or twice a day.  She kept the insulin in the fridge and rolled it between her hands to bring the temperature up a bit once it was in the needle.  Her cat got used to the sound of her rings clicking on the needle when she rolled it and would come for her shot.

She had previously left food out for both of her cats, but started feeding Moggie right after her shot, another reason she came running for it.  Moggie was quite overweight and lazy, which meant she could still leave food out for her other cat - she just put it on top of a cabinet that Morris could jump to and Moggie couldn't.

She didn't do glucose testing the way a person would, but she took Moggie in for the cat version of A1Cs every three months and the vet would adjust the insulin amount when necessary.  Moggie was otherwise healthy and lived almost twenty years, so as long as it's treated diabetes isn't a death sentence for cats any more than for humans.  (I am a diabetic who takes both insulin and pills.  It is as treatable in cats as in people.  Diet and medication.)

Absent

[victoreia]

A friend of mine had a diabetic cat.  She had to inject her either once or twice a day.  She kept the insulin in the fridge and rolled it between her hands to bring the temperature up a bit once it was in the needle.  Her cat got used to the sound of her rings clicking on the needle when she rolled it and would come for her shot.

She had previously left food out for both of her cats, but started feeding Moggie right after her shot, another reason she came running for it.  Moggie was quite overweight and lazy, which meant she could still leave food out for her other cat - she just put it on top of a cabinet that Morris could jump to and Moggie couldn't.

She didn't do glucose testing the way a person would, but she took Moggie in for the cat version of A1Cs every three months and the vet would adjust the insulin amount when necessary.  Moggie was otherwise healthy and lived almost twenty years, so as long as it's treated diabetes isn't a death sentence for cats any more than for humans.  (I am a diabetic who takes both insulin and pills.  It is as treatable in cats as in people.  Diet and medication.)

Absent

Thanks. This is what I was wondering about.

And changing feeding times & locations for the two cats is another challenge I'm not looking forward to. Kyuri is definitely the piggie of the two.

[Nyktipolos]

This past week, I found out my 12-year-old male cat is diabetic. We're starting him on a special diet (gradually), and will most likely have to start insulin injections quite soon.

Does anyone have any experience with diabetic pets?

 
Marilyn gave really great advice. Diabetes is treatable and many cats live long and health lives after being diagnosed.

If you want to check out a dedicated and very helpful cat community, http://cat_lovers.livejournal.com is a GREAT one.

[victoreia]

Marilyn gave really great advice. Diabetes is treatable and many cats live long and health lives after being diagnosed.

If you want to check out a dedicated and very helpful cat community, http://cat_lovers.livejournal.com is a GREAT one.

Thanks for the link! I'm checking it out now.

[NatureMade]

This past week, I found out my 12-year-old male cat is diabetic. We're starting him on a special diet (gradually), and will most likely have to start insulin injections quite soon.

Does anyone have any experience with diabetic pets?

 
We had a diabetic cat named Lonesome (who also suffered seizures periodically). He was on insulin injections daily from about age 6 or 7 and lived to be about 17. He was very healthy and did quite well. A lot of people seem to think diabetes is an automatic death sentence for some reason, but with proper health care there is no reason to think your cat will not do just as well as ours did.

Incidentally, giving injections is really easy, so no need to be afraid of that part. The needle is so fine (and very short) that most animals don't even notice it after the first few times. Lonesome would even sleep through it sometimes.

[victoreia]

We had a diabetic cat named Lonesome (who also suffered seizures periodically). He was on insulin injections daily from about age 6 or 7 and lived to be about 17. He was very healthy and did quite well. A lot of people seem to think diabetes is an automatic death sentence for some reason, but with proper health care there is no reason to think your cat will not do just as well as ours did.

Incidentally, giving injections is really easy, so no need to be afraid of that part. The needle is so fine (and very short) that most animals don't even notice it after the first few times. Lonesome would even sleep through it sometimes.

I'm actually more worried about how *I'll* handle it, than how Kyuri will handle it. I still have problems dealing with my monthly blood draws...

We will see in a few hours, as today's the day we take him in for his first insulin shot (and the "learn to do this at home" bit). Although the switch to diabetic food seems to have helped a bit. He seems to be a bit perkier.

[victoreia]

 
Well, we gave Kyuri his first insulin shot Saturday evening. I did the "hold the kitty" job. About ten hours later (read: about 4:30 in the morning), I woke up and discovered him very lethargic, glassy-eyed, and walking a bit drunkenly when he followed me to the bathroom.

We didn't give him any insulin yesterday morning, and I took him back to the vet ASAP. Saw a different vet, who said "It sounds like the dose was too much. And good on you for not giving him any more this morning." So we're holding off on the insulin for now, and seeing if we can manage his diabetes just with the diet. (His blood glucose was better than the last time they took it, which was mainly just the diabetic food.)

I'd love it if we can manage things with just the diet, although we just spent $145 on a month's insulin..... :eek:

[Nyktipolos]

I'd love it if we can manage things with just the diet, although we just spent $145 on a month's insulin..... :eek:

 
Do you have any idea on how long it lasts for? If it's possible to wait it out to see if he can manage his diabetes with food (or not), it might be possible to either return the insulin, or donate it to a local cat shelter? The latter I'm not sure on how that would work, but like you said, insulin isn't cheap.

[victoreia]

Do you have any idea on how long it lasts for? If it's possible to wait it out to see if he can manage his diabetes with food (or not), it might be possible to either return the insulin, or donate it to a local cat shelter? The latter I'm not sure on how that would work, but like you said, insulin isn't cheap.

I'm not sure if there's anyplace we could donate it to, but that's a good suggestion. We got it at Costco (it was slightly cheaper than at our local drugstores), and I'm not sure if they would take it back once we used some.....

[Nyktipolos]

I'm not sure if there's anyplace we could donate it to, but that's a good suggestion. We got it at Costco (it was slightly cheaper than at our local drugstores), and I'm not sure if they would take it back once we used some.....

 
Ahh, I see! Well, I'd check out online or in your local phonebook what cat shelters there are in your area (or, er, your island? Just saw your geographic information now and ask if they'll take insulin donations? This might help? http://www.nokillnetwork.org/d/Hawaii

Although of course, assuming your kitty CAN be off insulin injections. This is all just suggestion!

[victoreia]

Update: he had a follow-up this morning, and it looks like we'll be able to forgo the insulin. Now we just need to figure out how to monitor his blood-sugar.

(Well, and the universe needs to get me employed again!)

[victoreia]

Final update: My boy will be going to the Rainbow Bridge tomorrow. He's been slowly getting less steady on his paws, generally staying in one place, and seems to be too uncomfortable to do his usual snuggle.

Tomorrow morning, a vet service will be coming to the house to administer the euthanasia drugs. I'm glad we'll be able to be at home with him when we say goodbye. But I'll need the holiday Monday to get the "bright and happy" façade going.