Diabetes Mellitus in Dogs and Cats
Excerpt : All consumed food is eventually converted to sugar, the energy source for every organ in the body and for every cell in every organ. If too much food is consumed, the extra calories can be stored by
All consumed food is eventually converted to sugar, the energy
source for every organ in the body and for every cell in every
organ. If too much food is consumed, the extra calories can be
stored by the body for later conversion to sugar. Sugar is
carried in the blood to all areas of the body, and any cell that
is in need of sugar simply uses the sugar present in the blood.
How do cells move sugar into their interior from the
bloodstream? A substance called insulin, produced by an organ
located in the abdomen (the pancreas), is the key that allows
cells to obtain sugar from the bloodstream. Insulin is necessary
for life.
People, dogs, and cats who do not have insulin have a disease
called diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus is and extremely
common disease in people, dogs, and cats. There are two common
forms of diabetes. The form in which an individual has
absolutely no insulin has several names: insulin-dependent
diabetes mellitus (IDDM), type I diabetes, and juvenile-type
diabetes.
The other form occurs when an individual has insulin but either
does not have
Buy this Art Print at AllPosters.com
Also see :
Health Problems In Cats
It may come as a surprise, if you're a new cat owner, that many
health problems may befall your feline friend. Some problems are
easily preventable, while others are hereditary.
Hairballs
Hairballs are among the most common of cat health...read more
How To Make Sure Your New Cat Will Be At Home In Your Home
Buying a cat is a big decision. Do you have time to look after
her? Is your home or appartment suitable for a pussy cat? Are
there any health issues you need to think about, and are your
family members ready for a new addition to the family? Find...read more
|
enough or has a condition that interferes with
insulin function. It has several names: non-insulin-dependent
diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), type II diabetes, adult-onset
diabetes.
Approximately 10 per cent of people with diabetes mellitus have
type I disease and 90 per cent have type II. Approximately 60
per cent of diabetic cats have type I and 40 per cent type II.
Virtually 100 per cent of dogs with diabetes mellitus have type
I disease.
What happens when an individual has diabetes mellitus? Without
sugar constantly being removed from the blood by cells
everywhere in the body, the diabetic person, dog, or cat has
more and more sugar accumulates that it begins to "spill over"
into the urine through the kidneys along with water. Therefore,
diabetics urinate large volumes. In dogs and cats, sometimes the
first thing that an owner observes is that the pet is no longer
"housebroken" or the pet cat begins urinating outside the litter
box. Because the volume of fluid lost into the urine of
diabetics is excessive, they make up for these losses by
drinking more and more
Buy this Matted Print at AllPosters.com
Also see :
Training the Cat to Scratch on a Scratching Post
Every wonder why a cat has to scratches everything in site. Your
cat is sharpening claws and ridding the outer layer of old claw
is one reason. After a cat has been declawed, they could
continue to go though the motion of clawing. On the paw pad...read more
What you Need to Know about Cat Food
Cat Food Info #1 Cats Need Protein in their Cat Food
The cat food you feed to your cat should always be rich in protein. This generally should come from meat, poultry or fish. Many cat food brands advertise chicken, beef, and tuna flavored cat...read more
|
water.
Because cells throughout the body have lost their access to
sugar, they begin to "starve." Individual cells do not see the
lack of insulin, they see only a lack of energy (sugar).
Therefore, messages are sent out for energy (sugar) and the
diabetic begins to eat more and more. Cells still have no access
to the sugar, so additional messages for energy are sent out and
the body begins to break down fat and muscle for energy (the
components of fat and muscle can be converted to sugar by the
liver). Although it makes sense to create more energy, the body
still cannot use the sugar resulting from this process. The
symptoms common to all diabetics now become obvious: they drink
excessively, urinate excessively, eat excessively, and lose
weight.
When a dog or cat is brought to a veterinarian for any or all of
the symptoms known to be associated with diabetes, the diagnosis
is quite easily made. Testing is necessary, however, because
there are other diseases that cause all or some of the same
symptoms. However, once the diagnosis is made, the real problems
begin.
Buy this Art Print at AllPosters.com
Also see :
Can You Really Train A Cat? Is It Worth The Trouble?
Cats are notoriously independent and have a mind of their own.
Can you really teach a cat new tricks?
Cat owners often think that their cat is just too moody to
listen. Some owners feel their cats are un-trainable simply
because they are...read more
The Flea Allergy In Dogs And Cats
Dogs and cats can suffer allergies due to the presence of fleas. The identified cause is the saliva of the fleas, especially when the flea has bitten and penetrated the skin of the dog or cat. Since fleas multiply fast and do not voluntarily...read more
|
Treating diabetes mellitus is not easy. It takes skill by
the veterinarian, commitment by the owner, and some luck.
The cornerstones of treating type II diabetic people include
weight loss, exercise, and changes in diet to increase fiber
content and to decrease simple sugars. If these factors do not
help enough, pills can be given. Use of all these treatments
rarely helps type I diabetic people. Type I diabetic people,
like 100 per cent of diabetic dogs and 80 to 90 per cent of
diabetic cats, require insulin by injection to live. All
diabetic dogs and cats do best with good commercial pet food
given in two equal-sized meals (cats that tend to "graze" all
day should be allowed to continue feeding that way). High-fiber
foods may be of benefit but are not critical.
Unfortunately, although insulin has been available to treat
diabetics for more that 70 years, it must still be given by
injection. Your veterinarian will teach you how to give
injections to your pet. It is understood that this can be quite
intimidating for owners and that your pet will feel the
Buy this Matted Print at AllPosters.com
Also see :
Groom Your Cat To Avoid Hairballs - Kitty Will Love You For It
As loving cat owners we hate to think that our beloved pets are
feeling unwell. That can be the first impression when your cat
starts making hacking noises. Usually this is the first signs of
the cat trying to get rid of a hairball.
If you...read more
Protect Your Cat With Vaccinations
If you want to enjoy the companionship of a healthy and happy
cat, 1 of the most important things you can do is to safeguard
its health. Vaccinations can protect your cat from many common
cat diseases.
Weaned From Mother's Immunity
...read more
|
needles.
However, once you have done this for a few weeks, you will
become quite competent and your pet will accept the tiny
pinpricks. Don't give up! Your pet can live an extremely healthy
life despite requiring insulin.
There are several different kinds of insulin. Regular (R;
crystalline) insulin is the most potent and the shortest acting;
Ultralente (U) is the least potent and the longest acting;
protamine zinc insulin (PZI) is similar to Ultralente; neutral
protamine Hagedorn (NPH;N) insulin is less potent and longer
acting than regular but more potent and shorter acting that
Ultralente; and Lente (L) is 30 per cent regular and 70 per cent
Ultralente and has effects similar to those of NPH.
One insulin may not work satisfactorily in your pet but another
may work well. It takes time to determine which insulin and
which insulin dose are best for an individual cat or dog.
Whereas most cats and dogs respond best to insulin given twice
daily (do not try to give the insulin exactly every 12 hours; it
is not necessary), some do well with only one injection per
Buy this Art Print at AllPosters.com
day.
Remember the most important goal in treating a diabetic dog or
cat: we want the pet to be happy and stable. No diabetic pet
becomes absolutely normal.
Finally, regardless of treatment, virtually 100 per cent of
diabetic dogs (not cats) develop cataracts and become blind
within the first 6 to 24 months; this is inevitable and not a
reflection of the job you have done in treating your pet.
The above is general veterinary information. Do not begin
any course of treatment without consulting your regular
veterinarian. All animals should be examined at least once every
12 months.
About the author:
From the Textbook of Veterinary Internal Information: Client
Information Series. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.
All rights reserved.
Linda Mar Veterinary Hospital and its cat-only affiliate,
Coastal Cat Clinic, are small animal practices located in
Pacifica, California. To find a veterinarian or to learn more
about the vet clinic and our staff,
visit:[http://lindamarvet.com/]
More Cats Articles
Can You Really Train A Cat? Is It Worth The Trouble?
Cats are notoriously independent and have a mind of their own.
Can you really teach a cat new...
Pet Nutrition Basics for Dogs & Cats
Good Nutrition is just as essential for your pet’s health as it is for your own health. Your pet...
Buy this Art Print at AllPosters.com
Aigam Webdirectory
@LA - the guide to Greater Los Angeles and Southern California
 Amfibi Web Search
The Cats Place |
sitemap
|
Contact Webmaster
copyright thecatsplace.com 2006-2010
Stephan Lloyd, Webmaster
|
Recently Added Cats Articles
Cat Litter Box Strategies For Special Needs Kitties
You don't often hear about or see information for special needs kitties. These may be blind, very old (with limited mobility), or disabled in some way. Disabled cats may be amputees, or even paralyzed. There are special mobile devices you can...read more
Cat Playing or Fighting
With multi, cats can play rough. Outdoor cats that stay outside
or can go outside will also play rough with other cats. Biting
your ankles or arms can be play for your cat. Cats that have
extra energy to play and have difficulty finding ways to...read more
How To Be A Responsible Cat Owner
Now that you have a cat or several cats in the house, you need to think about how you can be a responsible cat owner and provide for the needs of your cats. This means that you have to think about the cats’ living conditions, feeding, grooming,...read more
Natural Cat Training
Tired of coming home and having puddles all over the house, the
cat meowing as if you have left for a weeks on end.
All of this is natural to a cat, even as it is annoying to us
most the time. Just remember your cat has never learned...read more
Top Toys That Your Cat Will Have A Ball With
Cats need to play, no mater how young or how old they are, they
need to have some toys in order to stay entertained. Cats love
all kinds of different toys and just like people each cat with
have his or her own special preferences. Some of the...read more
Declawing Your Cat
Declawing Your Cat This is a very controversial topic which has a lot of emotion behind but it needs to be looked at. As a cat owner who has experienced difficulty dealing with the cat scratching issue in my home it is difficult not to be biased...read more
Inhalant Allergies In Dogs And Cats
Several objects in the environment can be inhaled by pets and can trigger allergic reactions in dogs and cats. These objects induce the cells of the pets to release substances such as histamine. With histamine, the irritation begins.
The...read more
Life Lessons I Learned from my Cat
Even if you are not a cat person, bear with me, this story goes far beyond cat mania. Our little tabby cat was frightened and highly-sensitive from the day we rescued her from the SPCA, two and a half years ago. No doubt being jailed there for four...read more
Management of Kidney Failure in Dogs and Cats
Your animal has just been diagnosed with kidney problems, and
you may be overwhelmed by just what that means and what needs to
be done to help him/her cope with the disease.
TERMINOLOGY
Kidney disease indicates some degree of kidney...read more
What is a Cat Whisperer?
Similar to a horse or dog whisperer, a Cat Whisperer is a person
who relates particularly well with cats. A Cat Whisperer has
unusual luck and success with cats. Often people bring cats or a
single cat will just "show up" at their home....read more
Some News About Cats
- 'Cats & Dogs' sequel nothing to bark about
The title might be "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore," but you can't really talk about this OK sequel to the best-forgotten 2001 kids movie without addressing another animal namely, the elephant in the room.
- 'Cats & Dogs' sequel is one bad dog
"Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore" is a sequel to "Cats & Dogs," a movie that was released nine years ago. Considering how bad the follow-up film is, they should have waited another nine -- or 90 -- years.
- Cats in Hell
'If all dogs go to heaven, then where do cats go?" Actually, you can make up the answer to this question yourself using this devilish new cartoon kit by Farley Katz, no drawings required.
- Riders, Cats set familiar faces against each other
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats go into Regina on Saturday night hoping to break off a long drought in the southern prairies.
- Cats drop Blake
The Cats have dropped ruckman Mark Blake for Saturday night's clash with Sydney.
- Cats hold onto lead to overcome Sky Sox
Turning point: Catcher Josh Donaldson ended an 0-for-22 slump with a three-run home run to left field in the fourth inning, giving the River Cats a 4-0 lead en route to a 5-1 victory over the Sky Sox. Sacramento remained one game behind Fresno in the Pacific Coast League Pacific South Division.
- Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore [2010] [PG] - 1.3.2
The on-going war between cats and dogs is put aside when both sides realize that evil cat Kitty Galore (voiced by Bette Midler) has plans to take over the world, and make all humans her pets.
- Gary Bogue: Cats that go on walks with the family dogs
The trouble with cats is they've got no tact. I saw the oddest thing today and wonder how "odd" it really is. As I drove through a neighborhood, I saw a man walking two small dogs. About 20 feet behind them was a cat and 5 feet behind it another cat.
- Cats shot by air weapon in Moray
Police condemn the "cruel and senseless" shooting of two cats with an air weapon in Moray.
- Cats, dogs score some laughs in Bond-inspired 'Kitty Galore'
Dogs and cats, living together? Mass hysteria, right? Maybe not so much. Canines and felines were resourceful and well-equipped enemies in the original "Cats & Dogs" from 2001. Now they're forced to band together to fight a common foe in the sequel "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore."
|