Boston Herald

Does fat cat have diabetes?

- ASK THE VET Dr. John de Jong

One of our cats is titis can be caused by

almost 15 and recently eating toxins, having

developed issues that parasites or even trauma

have had her in and including that

out of the ER. We hope brought on by inflammato­ry

you might shed some bowel disease,

light on the situation however the cause is

because we’re still usually unknown.

confused as to what Pancreatit­is is an

happened yet relieved inflammato­ry condition

she is stable now. She in which some of

used to be a heavy cat the enzymes normally

and had lost at least 6 produced are shed

pounds over three to almost eating away at

four months’ time. local tissues.

One day she developed In the case of your severe lethargy cat, despite the confusion,

and stopped eating so I suspect that she

we were concerned. Of note is that may have had an underlying mild

she had been drinking more water. pancreatit­is for some time that

The ER admitted her and after fully manifested itself leading to

blood tests and an ultrasound, we the acute need for hospitaliz­ation.

were told she had moderate to This probably also led to a reduction

severe pancreatit­is and her glucose in insulin production causing

was elevated. What could have diabetes mellitus over the previous

caused the pancreatit­is or possible month. That your cat was

diabetes? They stabilized her quickly, overweight before also likely led the pancreatit­is resolved almost to the diabetes. In other words,

immediatel­y, and she came home on the situation is complex and both

insulin for diabetes. After a seizure conditions often have an

at home returned her to the ER, we unknown cause.

adjusted the insulin dose and things Pancreatit­is in cats can often

are good. resolve in two or three days with

Could they have been that confused, hospitaliz­ed care and IV fluid and can pancreatit­is resolve therapies. Since you do not specify

so quickly? how long the cat was there, I

You may want to do some independen­t suspect that might have been the reading on pancreatit­is case. Insulin dosing can be a challenge and diabetes in cats. Both are, as and while cats are usually the name suggests, related to the started at a low level, I suspect an pancreas, which is an organ that initial dose was too high, causing produces digestive enzymes that the seizure and the dose was lowered break down foods thereby allow- to a manageable level that ing digestion to take place. It also is you have seem to have achieved the body organ that produces insu- now. It seems as if good care was lin in cells called Beta cells, as well given to your cat and I am glad as a few other hormones. Pancrea- things are now under control.

 ?? ?? Got a question for Dr. John? Send it to askthevet@ bostonhera­ld.com.
Got a question for Dr. John? Send it to askthevet@ bostonhera­ld.com.

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