deb@uiucuxc.CSO.UIUC.EDU (01/27/86)
My 12.5 year-old male (neutered) cat recently was diagnosed as having
diabetes. This was either brought about by a hormone medicine he
recently was given (Ovaban), or it is a condition that he has had for
some time. Apparently, diabetes can be a transitory illness in cats
so eventually it might correct itself. Meanwhile, the insulin
treatments begin immediately.
For any cat-owners who have reason to give Ovaban to his/her cat,
please take note. This medicine is known to possibly induce
diabetes in cats. My vet warned me of this and required a blood
test within one week after i gave the last of the pills to my
cat. The reason we are not sure that this drug caused the
problem in this case is due to the fact that i've noticed no
symptomic changes in his habits since first taking this drug.
I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has owned and treated a
diabetic feline. I've got every reason to have full trust in
my veterinarian, and I will do some research on my own. I'm
mostly interested in hearing about *first-hand* experiences.
(and some moral support wouldn't hurt, either)...
Debbie Hudson
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CSNET: deb%uiucuxc@uiuc.csnetlauran@reed.UUCP (Laura Nepveu) (02/01/86)
In article <26200008@uiucuxc> deb@uiucuxc.CSO.UIUC.EDU writes: > >My 12.5 year-old male (neutered) cat recently was diagnosed as having >diabetes. > >I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has owned and treated a >diabetic feline. > > Debbie Hudson I don't know about diabetic felines, but my family and I have been taking care of a diabetic dog now for three years now. When the dog was diagnosed she was given only two years. I just want to reassure you that this isn't a short term death sentence. Her survival is the result of diligent care. The first thing I would recommend is to be watchful of the cat's reaction to the insulin with regular tests for sugar levels in the urine. I realize this is more dificult with a cat, but it is necessary. You may also have to arrange more time at home at first since your cat may be prone to insulin shock or seizures. After our dog stabilized she didn't have these anymore. The dog got used to the shots rather quickly. After about a year and a half she became quite blind and required more attention, not only to keep her from hurting herself, but also to reassure her. I've found that if I keep a steady stream of conversation going, while saying her name alot, it keeps her happier. Since cats aren't so dependent on human attention as dogs this may not be necessary. I wish you the best of luck and hope. Laura
deb@uiucuxc.CSO.UIUC.EDU (02/06/86)
thanks for the comments ... it turns out that my diabetic cat might no
longer be diabetic -- or wasn't "very diabetic" in the first place --
or who knows?! blood sugar count was over 360 for two weeks in a
row. after only two days of serious diet restrictions (e.g., i took my
dog off self-feed so the cat couldn't munch on the dogfood), the count
was down to 290. after only two days of insulin shots (with the
minimal dosage of only one unit of insulin per shot), the count fell
down within the normal range and hasn't yet increased. my vet had
warned me that cats can be very difficult to regulate on insulin,
but she's never seen or heard of a case where the problem gets resolved
after only two insulin shots. from here, we will do weekly blood
tests; if it stays normal we'll proceed to monthly blood tests for
several months thereafter. meanwhile, the restricted diet is here
to stay, with the exception that i'll stop sacrificing the skin on
the back of my hands in fights over "found food" that occasionally
makes its way to the floor.
Debbie Hudson
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