Sandra,
having done some research on the Internet, concluded that her cat may have diabetes because of it has recently increased the frequency of its visits to
the water bowl.
When cats and dogs
increase their water intake and their frequency of urination, diabetes mellitus
is often a primary cause. Although
diabetes is usually the most common cause, it is not the only one, renal
disease is often another common cause of these symptoms. Cats usually do not drink
water for enjoyment, so if there is an increase in their intake there is a
reason. Sandra will need to take her
cat, Chai, to the veterinarian for a blood panel, urinalysis and a spot check
of his blood sugar level.
These results
will enable the doctor to determine whether it is renal disease or diabetes. Diabetes is manageable with insulin therapy,
while treatment for renal disease is completely different, depending on the
severity of the disease at the time it is diagnosed.
Suppose Chai does have diabetes, his blood
work will show an elevated level of sugar because he lacks insulin which drives
sugar from his blood into his cells to be used as a source of energy. The elevated sugar level increases the oncotic
pressure which the brain interprets this and tells the cat to drink more water
in an attempt to dilute the blood. This
increase in fluid is filtered by the kidneys and produces excess urine.
Most treatments involve insulin therapy to
replace the deficiency, although few cats can be treated long term by
monitoring their weight. Insulin is
usually administered by injection twice a day, which usually becomes as routine
as feeding your pet. We like to monitor
the blood sugar levels of the patient throughout the day in order to modify the
dose to fit their specific needs. Some
cats will not allow these injections, which makes it hard to find success in
their treatment. If Chai is not one of
these cats he should maintain a good quality of life.
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