Cats, like humans, can become diabetic.   The approach to treating the symptoms is not that different than treating diabetes in humans.  Feline diabetes is treatable and only requires a cat owner to take a little more time and effort with his or her kitten.  The cause of diabetes is actually when sugar, or glucose, is found in the blood.  The level of blood sugar in the body or the animal is kept under control by hormone insulin, which the pancreas produces.  When the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, diabetes is to blame.

Symptoms of Feline diabetes

The symptoms of feline diabetes will vary.  The most common symptoms include an increase in urine and an increase in thirst.  Other symptoms of feline diabetes include a loss of appetite, weight loss, and a poor coat.  An increase in thirst is easy to detect, as you can easily notice the water dish empty throughout the day.

If you don’t get your cat treated for feline diabetes immediately, the cat will eventually become inactive, vomit on a regular basis, and eventually fall into a coma.  On the other hand, if you get the diabetes treated in time, your cat will lead a normal and healthy life.  Keep in mind that treatment doesn’t happen overnight – it takes time and dedication.

I can live a long life with treatment!

Diet

Overweight cats have a tendency to get feline diabetes.  If your cat is overweight, make sure to put your kitty on a diet immediately for his or her overall health and to prevent diabetes.  Your veterinarian can give you recommendations of how to get your cat’s weight down.

Cats that have feline diabetes should be given food at the same time every day. They should be prevented from going outside as well.  If your cat has diabetes, you’ll need to give him insulin shots once or twice or a day.  Once your veterinarian checks your cat, he or she will tell you how many shots and how much insulin you need to give your cat.  Other diabetic cats respond well to carbohydrate-restricted diets. Although diabetic cats have been successfully managed with both types of diets, some cats respond better to high-fiber diets and others to low-carbohydrate diets.

Cats with feline diabetes are usually given insulin

Before you give your cat his insulin shot, you should always make sure that he has eaten first.  If he hasn’t eaten and you give him a shot anyway, he could end up with a hypoglycemic shock.  This can also occur from too much insulin as well.  A hypo can be really dangerous, and should be avoided at all costs.

If you have to give insulin shots to your cat due to feline diabetes, you should always keep a watchful eye on him after you have administered the shot.  After your cat has been on insulin for a period of time, your vet may reduce the amount of insulin.  Even though he may have to stay on insulin the rest of his life, he will lead an otherwise healthy life.

Most diabetic cats require insulin injections administered under their skin twice daily. The injections can be given at home, preferably at the same time each day. Your veterinarian will show you how to give these injections, which are not painful for your cat. Because each is different, the proper type of insulin, dose, and frequency of administration needs to be determined by your veterinarian.

What to look our for in your cat that has diabetes

At home, you'll need to be constantly aware of your cat's appetite, weight, water consumption, and urine output. It is important to feed a consistent amount and type of food at the same times each day, so that you can be aware of days that your cat either does not eat or is unusually hungry after the feeding. Additionally, since water consumption is highly variable from one cat to another, monitoring your cat's water consumption for a few weeks will allow you to establish what is normal for your cat.

Urine output can be roughly estimated by determining the amount of litter that is scooped out of the litter box. This is less accurate if more than one cat uses the litter box, but changes can still be meaningful. Any significant variation in your cat's food intake, weight, water intake, or urine output can be a sign that the diabetes is recurring and immediate veterinary care is needed.

A cat with diabetes can live a long time

If your cat develops feline diabetes, don’t despair.  With a good, healthy consistent diet and the consistent monitoring of insulin, your cat can live and thrive.   A cat with feline diabetes needs to be watched and monitored more than a cat that doesn’t have diabetes, but is worth the effort!

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I’m sure most dog owners know that it is really important to feed your dog a good, high-quality food.  A high quality dog food can sometimes be slightly more expensive, but in the long run, your dog will be in better health, look better and you will cut down on your veterinarian bills.  It’s easy to overlook the importance of dog food but it is essential to pick the right one for your dog.

Of course, you also need to make sure your dog drinks plenty of fresh water and should be fed a good quality dog food in the right amount for his or her breed and body type.  Always follow the guidelines on the dog food package for recommended feeding amounts.

Choosing a good quality dog food

The first challenge in choosing a dog food is picking one that has a good overall quality. The quality of food that is essential in your dog’s food is that it is human grade. Human grade means that the dog food is good enough for us to eat (but I don’t recommend it!); many commercial dog foods are made from ingredients that aren’t desirable for our consumption.

I love my healthy dog food!

Many dog food companies try to provide balanced proportions of vitamins and minerals for the maximum benefit to your dog. Although you may see that many brands of dog food have almost identical labels, a reputable dog food company will provide an explanation for each supplement and how it benefits your dog.

Learn to read the labels on the canned food

Always read the label to see what proteins, vitamins and minerals are being provided to your dog. Try not to use the store brand dog food they as they are usually not as high in nutrition.

The primary ingredient in dog food should be a meat-based protein, not corn meal, flour or corn gluten meal. A better quality dog food results in a healthier coat and fewer digestive problems.

The best dog food is made from human-grade ingredients like meat, whole grains and vegetables.

Types of dog food

There are many varieties of dog food to choose from. The three most popular types of dog foods are dry, semi-moist and canned products. Check the color of your dog food. Usually dog food made from natural ingredients will have soft earth tones and contain no preservatives, artificial colors and flavors.

Raw dog food is becoming more popular. More and more veterinarians recommend feeding your dog with raw dog food. They feel that this is the best choice and is the healthiest food for your dog. After all, you've never seen your dog enjoy commercial dog food the way he enjoys a good meaty bone.

A raw food diet can be more costly than traditional dog food and it might not be feasible for you to if you don’t have the time to cook.  However, if you have time and a little extra money to spend on raw food, your dog will probably love it.

All natural dog food

Many natural dog foods contain only fresh, natural and wholesome ingredients for your dog. Not only are the protein ingredients digestible, but the carbohydrates in the dog food are digestible. Natural dog food has 100% nutritional value which is important for healthy strong dogs. Chicken, egg and fish are generally the type of protein that is provided in natural dog food. There are also ingredients in natural dog food that really help the health of your dog’s skin and also your dog’s coat. One of the main draw backs of natural dog food is that it has a shorter shelf life and may spoil before it is used so just be mindful of how much you buy at one time.

Dried dog food

A good high quality dry dog food will work out to be more economical than the generic brands even though they cost more per pound.  Many dog owners like dry food for its convenience and easy storage. The cheaper dry dog foods are made from soybean, corn or rice, while many premium dry dog foods are made with all-natural, human-grade ingredients.  Again, make sure to read the labels.

With so many different healthy dog foods on the market, it should be fairly easy to find one that you like for your dog – price and quality- and that your dog loves to eat!    As always, if you are unsure of what type to buy, ask your veterinarian as he or she knows your dog best.

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If you are a dog lover and/or have never owned a dog in your life, there are so many reasons to add their lovely, fun personalities into your home.  They teach you how to take care of someone else, bring you joy, compassion and another pal.  I know some new dog owners worry about the costs of bringing a furry friend into your life.  Well, not to worry, there are ways to save money on your new housemate.

Make sure to adopt a dog

I am always an advocate of adopting a dog; there are so many dogs waiting for a new home.  And you are not just saving a dog’s life, but adopting from a shelter or rescue group can be very inexpensive.  If you compare adopting a dog to purchasing a new dog, your adopted dog usually has received its shots, been examined by a veterinarian and neutered.  Some shelters and /or adoption agencies have the dog's health records and life history from its previous owner which can also give you a history of any medical costs that might exist.  And, above all, you have given this new dog a new lease on life.

Sales and Price Comparison

Treat a dog as you would yourself (or like me) when you buy groceries or anything that could add up.  Make sure to check sales for pet items and comparison shop.  You can find coupons in the mail and/or visit the big retailers such as Pet Smart or Petco to get great deals.  Both Petco and Pet Smart are also on-line retailers and will send you coupons if you sign up for their newsletter.  The savings really help.

Dog Food

While I always recommend going for a higher brand of dog food, you don’t have to feed your dog excessively.  It is not good for them and can be costly.  Make sure to feed your dog according to his or her weight and activity level.   If you buy your dog food in bulk, it will usually lower the costs.  Even if you spend a little more money on healthy dog food, your dog will eat less of it and be more satisfied.  And, of course, the healthier your dog eats, the less expensive your veterinarian bills will be and the overall health of your pup will be improved.

Goodwill and/or Surplus Stores have Items for Dogs

I’m sure you’ve donated gifts, clothes or other items to Goodwill or other surplus stores in your life.  Well, next time you are there, see if you can purchase toys for you dog.  Even the local Salvation Army is a good place to pick up a leash or simply some fun toys for your pooch.    You can also use different items around your home to fix a bed for your pup and make toys that are simple for your dog and not expensive.   Most dogs are not too picky and are simply happy for your companionship.

Pet Insurance

While there are many different types of pet insurance on the market, you should think ahead and purchase insurance to avoid big, unforeseen costs.  You can ask your veterinarian for recommendations and/or friends with dogs.  Veterinary bills can get expensive so a monthly or quarterly payment could be a great long term investment for you and your dog.  Think of it as our health insurance and how much (it usually) saves us in the long term.

The most important thing you can do for your dog is to provide him or her with a lot of love and companionship. Dogs are not picky and you do not need to break the bank just to bring this new furry friend to your home.

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