Diabetes Mellitus (DM) – “sugar diabetes”- is a common hormonal (endocrine) disorder in cats. It can occur in any breed, in all ages, but is more likely to affect older obese animals.
Possible causes of diabetes:
Genetic makeup
Obesity
Hormonal shifts
Pancreatic disease
Medications
Cats with diabetes are not capable of using glucose properly, and as a result, they have high levels of glucose in blood (hyperglycemia) and in urine (glucosuria). Diabetic cats are prone to secondary infections, including urinary tract infections. If pet's diabetes is not well controlled, sugar levels in urine and bladder are very high. This creates an environment for growth of bacteria.
The symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus:
Frequent trips to the litter box
Thirst
Glucose in urine
Depression, dehydration, increased appetite, weight loss
The symptoms of urinary infections:
Frequent trips to the litter box
Failure to use litter box and urinating in unusual places
Straining to urinate with little urine expressed
Blood in urine
Crying when urinating or licking genital area excessively
KittyCheck™ 4 Diabetes Screen signals you when glucose is present in your cat's urine.
KittyCheck™ 1
To find out more about diabetes click on the links below:
www.animalnetwork.com/cats/library/health/diseases/diabetes1.asp http://web.vet.cornell.edu/Public/FHC/diabetes.html