Nov 13 2008
Awareness of Pet Diabetes Promoted Through World Diabetes Day
Friday November 14 is World Diabetes Day. It’s a reminder to pet owners that not only can children and adults get diabetes, pets can as well. In face, approximately one out of every 400 cats and dogs suffers with diabetes.
According to Cat Channel, while certain breeds of dogs as well as females get diabetes more often than other dogs, all cats, no matter what gender or breed are equally at risk for developing the condition. While the disease tends to affect pets in middle age, it can affect younger and older cats and dogs as well.
Pet diabetes is on the rise, and no one is sure why, but the rise is obesity is one hypothesis. Today 25% of cats and dogs are considered to be clinically obese, according to Cat Channel.
I have already discussed the signs, symptoms, and treatment options for diabetes in this blog; however, as a quick review, here are some early signs to watch for in a cat that may have diabetes:
-Drinking water excessively
-Wounds that are not healing or do not heal well
-Increases in appetite, eating more than usual
-Increases in urination, urinating more than usual, and/or urinating outside of the box
-Weight loss
Treatment options include:
-A balanced diet, divided between morning and evening feeding times
-Regular visits to your vet to have your cat’s blood glucose tested regularly
-Checking your cat’s urine glucose on a daily basis
-Insulin injections
-Oral medication
-Weight management
-Exercise
To read more about signs and symptoms of feline diabetes, please visit my post on Feline Diabetes Signs and Symptoms. Please visit Feline Diabetes Treatment to learn more about treatment options for cat suffering with diabetes.
What do you think? Please tell me in the comments section below!
Source
Cat Channel: World Diabetes Day Promotes Awareness of Diabetes
