Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
continued. If good regulation is not achieved with insulin, then I add
in an oral agent. The combination typically lowers the amount of
insulin needed. If a cat seems to need less insulin, I will try to maintain
the patient on oral treatment alone. Managing this disease requires a
balancing act.
Diet can play a role in managing diabetes, but it can also be a cause.
Since cats are naturally carnivores and metabolize protein for glucose, it
is thought that dry cat foods that contain a high percentage of carbohy-
drates may predispose certain cats to developing diabetes.Although older
research indicated that fiber added to a diet helped control blood glucose,
newer studies show that higher protein and lower carbohydrate diets may
be more ideal for diabetic cats. Fiber is actually a type of carbohydrate.
Canned foods tend to contain higher protein levels than dry.There
is a specially formulated high-protein diabetes diet that comes in both
canned and dry forms, but most canned kitten food contains similar
protein levels.Whichever diet is chosen, weight management is anoth-
er important aspect to controlling diabetes.
UTERINE INFECTIONS
One of the reasons spaying is recommended for cats is that intact female
cats are at risk for pyometra, a uterine infection. Pyometra is a serious
condition in which the uterus becomes distended and filled with pus.
If the infected organ ruptures, pus can spread all over the abdominal
cavity and cause peritonitis—a potentially fatal infection of the
abdomen.
Fortunately, most pet owners spay their cats at an early age and do
not have to worry about this problem. Experienced cat breeders are
aware of the condition and monitor their queens for the telltale sign of
creamy-colored vaginal discharge.
Cats with pyometra can have fever, lethargy and poor appetite. If a
veterinarian suspects pyometra, she may confirm the diagnosis by pal-
pating the abdominal cavity and finding an enlarged, fluid-filled uterus.
If this is not found, she may do a blood test to look for a high white
blood cell count. Other useful tests are vaginal smears to look for white
blood cells (the components of pus) and bacteria, and X rays or ultra-
sound, which can be more sensitive for identifying uterine enlargement.
Unless there is an exceptional reason to keep a female cat intact, the
best treatment for a cat with pyometra is spaying her. The surgical
procedure is more complicated than a routine spay surgery because
the infected uterus is fragile and must be handled carefully to prevent
