How To Test A Cat For Diabetes
Introduction
Much like humans, cats can develop diabetes. This condition causes a cat’s blood sugar levels to get too high, and if left untreated, it can cause serious complications and even death. So if you suspect your cat has developed this disease or if you have a cat who is middle-aged or older, there are some tests that will help you diagnose the problem early and get your feline friend on the road to wellness.
Signs And Symptoms
There are a number of signs and symptoms that may be associated with diabetes. However, these signs and symptoms are not always present, nor are they necessarily related to each other. The following list is not exhaustive and does not include every symptom that can occur in cats with diabetes:
- Increased thirst and urination
- Weight loss (or poor weight gain) despite having an appetite
- Increased appetite (possibly associated with nausea)
- Fatigue or lethargy
- Poor coat quality/loss of fur
Eating More Than Usual
If your cat is eating more than usual, it may be a sign of diabetes. If this happens, you should see a vet. The vet will check for diabetes by checking for sugar in the urine. If sugar is found in the urine and if your cat does not have other medical problems, then it seems likely that he/she has diabetes.
Drinking More Water Than Usual
Increased thirst is a common symptom of diabetes, but it’s also something that can be caused by other health issues.
If your cat is drinking a lot of water and this seems unusual for him or her, it’s best to talk to your veterinarian about what might be going on. It could be that your cat has diabetes, but it could also mean there’s another issue affecting his health.
Urinating More Frequently
As you’re probably aware, cats can have diabetes. It’s important to know how to test a cat for diabetes—or any other ailment—so that you can live in harmony with your beloved feline companion.
If your cat is urinating more frequently than normal and has lost some weight, it could be a sign of diabetes. If these symptoms are present and accompanied by excessive thirst or hunger, it’s time to take action!
Weight Loss Despite Increased Appetite
- Weight loss. A cat with diabetes can lose weight, but that is not a guarantee. In fact, more than one-third of cats with diabetes are overweight when diagnosed.
- Other diseases. There are many other diseases that could cause your cat to lose weight, including parasites and cancer. If you suspect something else might be the problem, see your veterinarian right away for an accurate diagnosis.
Lethargy
Of all the signs of diabetes in cats, lethargy is one of the most common. Lethargy is characterized by a lack of activity and a decrease in overall activity. In other words, if your cat was constantly running around before and now they’re more likely to sleep during the day, you would consider them lethargic.
This is because lethargic cats often have trouble regulating their blood sugar levels due to insulin deficiency or resistance. The result? They’re tired all the time!
Lethargy can manifest itself in different ways depending on how long you’ve noticed it for and how severe it is:
Excessive Thirst
Excessive thirst is one of the most common signs of diabetes in cats. While it’s normal for your cat to drink more than usual when they’re sick, they shouldn’t be drinking all day long. If your cat is constantly lapping up water and you don’t think they are in need of hydration, consider taking them to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
It’s important that you keep an eye on how much water your cat drinks every day because they may start to lose weight too quickly if they aren’t eating enough food; this could potentially lead to health problems like skin infections or urinary tract infections (UTIs). A loss of appetite can also be caused by other conditions such as kidney disease or hyperthyroidism so see a vet if this happens!
Vomiting
Vomiting is a common symptom of diabetes in cats. It can be caused by other conditions, such as liver disease. Vomiting is not always a sign of diabetes, so it should be investigated further before assuming that your cat has the disease. If your cat vomits once or twice and then seems to recover from the problem, it may not be important. However, if you notice an increase in frequency or duration of vomiting along with other symptoms such as increased thirst and urination (drinking more than usual), lethargy (tiredness), increased appetite and weight loss or gain—these are signs that warrant immediate attention for your pet’s health!
Feline Urinalysis
- Suspect your cat may have diabetes? You can test their urine at home to find out.
- Urinalysis is a simple test that can be done at home to detect abnormalities in the urine. It will also help you determine if your cat has a problem with its kidneys, bladder, or urethra.
- To get started, collect some fresh urine from your cat and put it into a clean container (like this one). Then bring the sample to your veterinarian for analysis!
It is easy to test your cat at home
- Glucose meters are simple devices that you can use to test the glucose level in your cat.
- Catheters allow for urine testing, which is a common way to diagnose diabetes in cats.
- Blood glucose meters offer another option for testing your cat’s blood sugar levels.
To check if your cat has diabetes, you can also use:
Conclusion
In conclusion, we have given you the tools and information to test your cat for diabetes. If you are concerned, talk to your vet and they will be able to help you further!