Feline Diabetes — Four Life-Threatening Complications
Hepatic lipidosis in diabetic cats causes jaundice
Cats with feline diabetes can live long, happy lives. But every pet owner who lives with a diabetic cat must be aware of these four problems that often go along with diabetes in cats
Hypoglycemia In Cats Results From Low Blood Sugar Levels
Hypoglycemia in cats can happen any time your cat’s blood sugar levels get too low. This can happen if he skips a meal, or if he gets too much exercise.
Low blood glucose levels affect the brain first, because unlike other organs in the body, it can’t store glucose. Your kitty will be weak and listless. He may be dizzy, or even stagger around. In advanced stages, he may have seizures, or go into a coma.
Feline hypoglycemia can kill a cat very quickly, so you must be prepared for this emergency. Keep some Karo syrup around so you can rub some on his gums and under his tongue. The sugar will be absorbed quickly into his system.
This is a veterinary emergency. Get your pet to the vet as soon as you can.
Ketoacidosis in Cats
Sometimes this is the first symptom of feline diabetes. It’s often seen in cats with diabetes who are not receiving treatment.
Your kitty’s body breaks down glucose to provide energy for bodily processes. If there is no insulin present, the body will start breaking down fat instead. Fat breakdown produces a waste product called ketones.
A build-up of ketones in your cat’s body can lead to:
- Excessive thirst OR avoiding water completely
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy and weakness
- Dehydration
- Vomiting
- Urinating often
- Fast breathing
- Breath smells sweet, or like nail polish remover
Again, this is a veterinary emergency. Your kitty needs immediate treatment, or he’ll die.
Feline Neuropathy
Your pet may walk on his “wrists” on his front legs, or on his hocks (the “elbows”) on his back legs. This strange walk is due to nerve damage caused by high blood glucose levels.
Diabetic neuropathy
Hepatic Lipidosis
This is also known as fatty liver in cats. An overweight cat who suddenly stops eating is at risk for this serious problem. Fat builds up in the liver, which causes swelling. The symptoms are similar to those of ketoacidosis in cats, but you’ll also notice jaundice as well. The whites of his eyes, and the insides of his ears, will develop a yellowish cast.
Hepatic lipidosis can be fatal if it’s not treated. Your kitty may need to be fed by tube if he won’t eat. Most cats do get better after tube feeding.
If you have a diabetic cat, it’s important to monitor his health carefully.
Related articles
- Feline Diabetes And Caring For Your Diabetic Cat (yourcatcareguide.com)
- What Is Feline Hepatic Lipidosis? Facts About Fatty Liver Disease in Cats (brighthub.com)
Tagged with: cat diabetes • diabetes in cats • diabetic cat • feline diabetes • feline diabetic • hepatic lipidosis • hypoglycemia in cats • ketoacidosis in cats
Thank you for this good advice. My 12 year old cat was diagnosed with diabetes 4 weeks ago and I am trying to spread the word that cats need to be fed a 100% raw meat diet – not the Purina pet food that I used to trust
Hi Helen. Thank you for your comment! I used to feed my kitties Purina cat food, and I did for years. I did notice that they would start getting tubby. When I started writing about feline diabetes, I was surprised to find out that dry pet food is NOT the best food for your cats. I agree that raw is most likely the best. But it’s pretty hard for most people to go start feeding raw meat to their pets. I fed my kitty a high-quality natural canned food, and she was always very healthy and full of pep. It’s important for cat owners to make good choices for their pets, because they’re depending on us to feed them a good diet so they can be healthy!