Diabetes in cats and dogs

Your dog or cat has suddenly lost weight, has begun vomiting often, drinks water excessively, and urinates much more often than normal. He/she also is listless and has a poor hair coat. If you notice that your pet has these symptoms, take him/her to the veterinarian immediately. Your animal may have diabetes.

If you have never had a pet with diabetes before, you may have not realized that animals develop the disease the same as people. They have some of the same symptoms, such as excessive thirst, weight loss, and frequent urination. Although diabetes for a dog or a cat is serious and needs to be treated as such, many affected pets live many years happily.

Although your diabetic pet can live a happy life, that isn’t to say that your life won’t change or you won’t need a special commitment. Daily you will have to give him/her the proper food, medication, or an insulin injection and also watch his/her behavior.

If you have to leave for a day or more, someone will have to care for your pet. With the proper care, however, you will still be able to enjoy his/her love and companionship for many years.

Although there are standard treatments for affected animals, each animal responds differently to treatment. Most vets or pet owners will agree that every pet is different. Your animal may need medication or insulin injections, plus a controlled diet. Most owners may prefer the medication. Most vets prefer the shots.

Treatment may be expensive at first although there are ways of managing your costs. It can cost up to $300 for the initial diagnosis and hospitalization for a dog or cat with diabetes, even if the disease is detected early. During the early stages of diabetes, the expenses may be more because of frequent checkups. The costs can be controlled, however, because veterinarians often will allow you to make payments if you ask.

After the disease is controlled, it can cost $40 a month for syringes, insulin, and a prescription diet. It can cost $50 to $100 for a blood glucose curve in the vet’s office, which needs to be done twice a year once the disease is controlled. Home blood glucose monitoring can decrease your expenses and give you immediate results on your pet’s glucose level. Your vet will help you understand the results. Meters cost about $30 each after rebate. Test strips, which last for months, cost about $35. It may cost you $200 annually to care for your diabetic pet although the amount may vary by location.

Some questions to ask your vet about your diabetic pet are:

If there is an emergency at night or on the weekend to whom does the vet refer?

How do I keep records of home glucose monitoring or insulin injections?

Diabetes affects 1 in 400 cats. Males are more likely to be affected than females. Most affected cats are more than seven years old.

Both diet and medication are used to treat diabetes in most cats. Some affected cats receive medication, but most receive insulin injections. To help ensure that your pet doesn’t run, give him/her food rewards. Exercise will control the disease as well.

If you don’t have an animal with diabetes, there are affected dogs and cats awaiting a good home. The animals were not abandoned because of their disease. Their owners, however, have work schedules, school schedules, moves, or other reasons that don’t allow them treat their pets.

If you have a pet with diabetes, there are many books to help you. There are also many websites devoted to the subject, some of which are managed by owners of diabetic animals.

Everyone may have known a person with diabetes who has gone blind or has lost a leg or foot. If you learn that your pet has diabetes, you may be terrified. You don’t need to be. With proper care, your pet can live a long, happy life.