Posts Tagged ‘cats with diabetes’
Complications of Diabetes In Cats Include Feline Hypoglycemia
Do you have a cat with feline diabetes? If you do, you need to know about feline hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. On first glance, it would seem that low blood glucose levels in a feline diabetic would be a good thing. However, if the cat’s blood sugar levels get too low, your feline companion could go into a coma and die.
Why Does Hypoglycemia Become A Problem For Diabetic Cats?
There can be several reasons for low blood sugar levels in cats with feline diabetes:
- Sometimes a cat owner makes a mistake, and gives the cat too much insulin.
- Two people in the family each gave the cat insulin, so he received a double dose.By choosing one person to be responsible for giving insulin shots, this problem can be avoided.
- The kitty has had an unusually high activity level, which lowers blood sugar.
- The cat owner may have given the insulin before the cat was fed, and then the cat either didn’t eat, or threw the meal up.
- The feline diabetic no longer needs insulin because of dietary changes, or a spontaneous remission.
Symptoms Of Feline Hypoglycemia
The cat owner may notice unusual behavior because low blood sugar affects the brain first. This is because the brain doesn’t store glucose to use later, like other organs in the body.
If a cat with diabetes shows these symptoms, he may have dangerously low blood sugar levels:
- Shaking or shivering
- Becoming uncoordinated, and staggering around
- Acting like he’s blind
- Weakness and lethargy
- Restlessness
- Either very hungry, or not interested in eating
- Tilts his head
- Acts disoriented; he may walk in circles, yowl, or hide
- Glassy eyes
- Drooling
- Seizures
- Coma
What To Do For A Feline Diabetic With Hypoglycemia
If you live with a feline diabetic, keep honey or corn syrup on hand, along with empty syringes (without needles).In the event the cat’s blood sugar levels drop to dangerously low levels, use the syringe to squirt a little honey or corn syrup into Kitty’s mouth. If the cat is unconscious, rub a little honey or syrup on his gums. If doing this, take care to avoid being bitten, especially if the kitty is having seizures.
Wrap the kitty in a blanket, and take him to the vet right away, as this is an emergency.
Regulate Glucose Levels Naturally With Natural Remedies For Cats
Research has shown that natural remedies for cats are safe and effective for cats with diabetes. Herbal pet remedies that contain goat’s rue, fenugreek, and astragalus, along with the mineral chromium, can help to normalize glucose levels in diabetic cats. It’s important to deal only with an established company that formuates high-quality natural pet remedies.
Many vets are quite open to using natural remedies for cats.Before making any changes to a diabetic cat’s medications or diet, it’s always best to check with the vet. By using these natural remedies, you may be able to reduce or eliminate insulin injections for cats with diabetes. Learn more by clicking on any link in this article.