“Diabetes in pets is diagnosed through clinical examination supported by blood and urine testing.”
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The phone call from an owner when their pet develops diabetes usually goes something like this…
“I’m worried about Bess – she’s drinking heaps and heaps of water, and seems to have a huge appetite. She’s also tired and lazing around a lot.”
There are many reasons our pets might drink more water, and diabetes mellitus is just one of them. The first stage with a patient like Bess is some detective work to get to the bottom of the problem.
We will arrange for our mobile vet to visit so we can chat more about Bess’s recent health and do a full clinical examination.
We will also need to perform blood and urine tests to check for several conditions. If the problem is diabetes, we’ll find abnormally high levels of sugar in the blood and urine. In some cases, pets like Bess are very sick by the time we see them because their blood sugar has reached dangerously high levels in the blood. In this case, we’ll need to admit the patient to the hospital for intensive treatment to rehydrate and stabilise blood sugar levels.
What causes Diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus (Type 1) occurs when the pet’s pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin. Insulin is the hormone that helps convert the energy from food into the cells of the body. Not storing energy results in it being wasted and lost in the urine, which makes the pet thirsty, hungry, and tired.
Diabetes most often occurs in middle-aged to older dogs and cats, but we also see it in young animals. Certain conditions predispose your dog or cat to developing diabetes. Animals that are overweight or female dogs that are not de-sexed are more prone to the disease. Diabetes can also be caused by the use of corticosteroid medication.
Currently, the only way to treat type 1 diabetes is with regular insulin injections. Injections are usually given twice daily. If the condition is not treated, the pet will get very sick.
Many owners worry about whether they will be able to give their pet injections. The reality is that the needle is so fine that most patients don’t even notice it! Our mobile vets spend heaps of time with you explaining how to give the injections and how to ensure your pet can live a normal, healthy and happy life despite their diabetes.
Case study
“Hello Kitty” is a 13-year-old beautiful male Burmese cat, who lives with his loving brother and sister, Ferris and Honnemein, and his doting human family. Like the scenarios described above, Hello started drinking and urinating a lot and had a huge appetite, and one day he became very flat and sick, started to vomit and stopped eating completely.
This was when I was called to his home, and found that he had diabetes, which had progressed to the life threatening stage called ketoacidosis. Hello was hospitalised in an intensive care facility where he spent a few days getting fluids and medications, and luckily for him, he made a full recovery.
Hello’s mum was very relieved and took him back home to start his twice-daily insulin injections. We kept a close watch on him, and he was generally doing fine, but as sometimes happens with these cats, he had a relapse.
This time, he showed a classic type of response to increasingly uncontrolled diabetes, where he couldn’t use his back legs properly and was walking in almost a crouched state with his ankles touching the ground. Fortunately, this made the diagnosis a little easier, and we quickly got him back on track with some careful adjustments to his insulin while he was in the hospital for a few days. Now he is back to his beautiful, loving self with his gorgeous family.
In Hello’s case, he will probably need the insulin injections for life with close monitoring of his blood glucose, but some cats can be lucky and, in fact, go into remission, which means no further insulin injections are required, especially if the diabetes is diagnosed early.
So be sure to give me a call as soon as you notice anything different with your cat, even if you think it may be nothing.
“With consistent insulin treatment and monitoring, many pets can continue to live a normal life.”
Key Takeaways
- Increased thirst and appetite are common early signs
Changes in drinking, eating and energy levels can indicate diabetes. - Diagnosis requires proper testing
Blood and urine tests are needed to confirm elevated sugar levels. - Treatment is ongoing and structured
Most pets require regular insulin injections and monitoring. - Early detection improves outcomes
Prompt assessment can reduce the risk of serious complications.
In-Home Services
In-home care forms the foundation of how we treat and manage your pet’s health. Most conditions can be assessed, treated, and monitored in a familiar environment where pets are calmer and easier to handle. Available to residents of Sydney’s inner city, Inner West, Eastern Suburbs and the Lower North Shore.
Testimonials
Debby Ross
First visit from Ari and Ellie and it went beyond all expectations. They were so genuinely interested in my two cats. Of course I couldn’t stop talking about them but they clearly were not bored. Did excellent health checks and vaccinations – was an absolute pleasure and I would totally recommend them to anybody. So fabulous having no stress of lugging…
Daniel Birchall
Elle’s exceptionally professional, warm, and helpful phone manner, together with Dr Ari’s prompt arrival, gentle approach with Hudson, and clear, thorough medical explanations and recommendations, immediately put my mind at ease. The high level of care and professionalism demonstrated confirmed that contacting VETaround was the right decision.
Amanda Yeates
Ari is the best vet ever. His home visits are incredible. Such a great service to not have to put your beloved pets in the stressful situation of a car. Or around sick pets in a waiting area. My cats LOVE HIM. Ollie my male cat NEVER comes out of hiding when visitors come over. With Ari, he not only came out, let him weigh him, have his check up done…
Charmaine Caffrey
I was very pleased with the ladies from VETaround Mobile vet. Professional, polite and very knowledgeable. Certainly eased my mind about my cat 🐈 would recommend them to anyone needing good veterinary care for their pet. We all know just how important our four legged friends are!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the early signs of diabetes in pets?
Common signs of diabetes in pets include increased thirst, increased appetite and reduced energy levels. Some pets may also become lethargic or show changes in urination patterns. These symptoms can develop gradually and should be assessed early.
How is diabetes diagnosed in dogs and cats?
Diabetes is diagnosed through a clinical examination combined with blood and urine testing. Elevated sugar levels in both the blood and urine confirm the condition. Additional testing may be used to rule out other causes of similar symptoms.
Why do pets with diabetes drink so much water?
When a pet has diabetes, excess glucose is lost through the urine. This leads to increased urination and dehydration, which drives the pet to drink more water. It is one of the most noticeable early signs.
Can diabetes in pets become life-threatening?
If left untreated, diabetes can progress to serious complications such as ketoacidosis. This condition requires urgent hospital treatment to stabilise the pet. Early diagnosis and management significantly reduce this risk.
How is diabetes managed in pets long-term?
Most pets with diabetes require regular insulin injections, usually given twice daily. Ongoing monitoring of blood glucose levels is also important to maintain a stable condition. With proper management, many pets maintain a good quality of life.
Can cats recover from diabetes or go into remission?
Some cats can go into remission, particularly when diabetes is diagnosed early and managed carefully. This means they may no longer require insulin injections. However, ongoing monitoring is still important as relapse can occur.