Natural Pet Health

Is Your Cat at a Higher Risk?

As cases of obesity rise in canines and felines around the world, so do corresponding cases of the diseases caused by obesity. One of the most prominent and perhaps alarming examples of this trend is the drastic rise in instances of feline diabetes.

There are many causes of feline diabetes, including excessive weight and obesity, as well as the use of medications including steroids and progesterone derivatives used to treat behavioral abnormalities and skin diseases.

Feline diabetes can be potentially devastating to your cat’s health, especially if it goes undiagnosed and untreated. Diabetes is a disease where your pet is unable to regulate its sugar levels.

This can be very dangerous, as at times sugar levels may drop low enough, where cells no longer receive the glucose they need to function properly. This leads to Hypoglycemia and your pet can suffer from muscle agitation and eventually experience a seizure.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland released a report recently concluding that overweight cats are more than three times as likely to develop diabetes as cats who maintain a normal body weight throughout their lives. The same report also indicated that one in every 230 cats in the United Kingdom currently has diabetes, a figure that has increased nearly five-fold since the 1970s.

What Are the Symptoms of Feline Diabetes?

* Excessive thirst and urination
* Loss of weight due to the body’s inability to handle glucose
* Vomiting
* Loss of appetite
* Weakness
* Poor skin and coat condition
* Breathing abnormalities
* Dehydration

Researchers and veterinary professionals attribute these findings to the stationary lives that most domestic cats live. These pampered felines are simply not leading healthy, active lifestyles. Professor Danielle Gunn-Moore of the University of Edinburgh feels as though the distinction between indoor and outdoor cats is so well-defined, that many cats that stay indoors never get the chance to exercise at all.

He says, “While cats would naturally exercise outside, many cats are now housebound – perhaps because they live in a flat [an apartment] or because their owners feel that it is too dangerous to let them out – so they have little to do all day but eat, sleep, and gain weight.”

Gunn-Moore draws attention many pet owners who live in the city apartment environment, where letting their cat run freely outside is simply not an option. For these cat owners it is especially important to keep all pets on a strict diet, avoid constant overeating and consuming calories they are unable to burn off.

Gunn-Moore remarks, “Unfortunately, just like people, cats will overeat if they are offered too much tasty food, particularly if they are bored and have little else to do.”

Male cats are diagnosed more frequently than females, and all breeds can be affected. Obesity and the use of medications including steroids and progesterone derivatives used to treat behavioral abnormalities and skin diseases are also risk factors for the development of diabetes in cats.

The most common symptoms of diabetes are increased thirst, increased urination, and weight loss, despite an increase in appetite. Owners may notice that they have to change the litter box more frequently because it is wet all the time. Some cats will begin to void large amounts of urine in places other than the litter box. This may mistakenly be perceived as a behavioral problem in some cats.

If your cat is overweight or displaying any of the ocmmon symptoms it is important to have them diabetes. Your veterinarian can perform a series of simple tests to determine whether or not your cat needs treatment, and can also recommend additional tips on how to avoid diabetes if your cat is at an elevated risk due to excessive weight.

Standard treatment for feline diabetes involves the administration of insulin, the hormone which helps control sugar levels in the blood stream. Treating cats with insulin can be physically difficult as insulin is commonly administered in daily injections.

There are many natural remedies that can work as complementary treatments to insulin and help control your cat’s sugar levels.PetAlive SlenderPet Encourages weight loss by elevating metabolism and aids in the elimination of fat.

GlucoBalance, by PetAlive, works remarkably well to help cats maintain normal sugar levels and avoid those drastic lows that potentially lead to serious complications. For overweight cats that have not yet developed Diabetes, GlucoBalance also works extremely well as a preventative measure.

For pets currently living with Cushing’s Disease, diabetes complications can be a serious problem. Taking GlucoBalance in combination with Cushex Drops can be an effective preventative treatment as well.

Diabetes is a serious growing problem, but all the facts on its causes are in!

A sensible diet with plenty of exercise and the addition of herbal products for prevention is the best way to avoid obesity, diabetes and to simply give your feline friend a happy, healthy and long life!

“I just wanted to let you all know that we have been very pleased with the results of your treatment for our cat. She had been ill with all sorts of ailments for some time and we were so upset when she was diagnosed with diabetes! Your support team have been wonderful in suggesting healthy diet etc and with the Glucobalance capsules we have seen a huge improvement.” — Sue.

“Your capsules are easy to administer. We used to have to fight to get our cat to take any medication at all and I don’t know who was more upset – us or her! It is easy to open your capsule and mix it with a little tuna and she takes it with no trouble at all – simple but very effective! Thank you for a great remedy for diabetes!”
— Deb

“Our vet is very happy with us after making diet changes and using Glucobalance our dog has improved enough to receive a clean bill of health! She has just turned 10 years old and is back to her former self again that is thanks to Pet Alive! I like that you stress the health aspects and not just taking pills. Thank you for your help. We will definitely return when we need to.” — Steve B

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Originally posted 2007-09-13 11:44:33. We hope you have enjoyed this Post From the Past!

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Tags: cat health, dog health, litter box, overweight cat, pet health