'Eating Like A Stoner' Or: How To Look Out For Diabetes

Hi All,

Libby here.

I hope you are one week closer to making all of your New Year's resolutions come true.

If you are, that makes one of us. I haven't been doing so well on the 'nice front' as per my blog post last week. So, I figure I'll work extra hard on my other resolutions-ie imparting my extensive medical knowledge to you fine folks.

To that end, in light of the recent holiday season (granted it's coming to an end but I'm still riding on my holiday high), this week's post relates to excessiveness. Excessive drinking and eating are two symptoms of the condition du jour, amongst others.

Drinking and eating  are good in moderation, of course. Most things are. But, when you notice your cat or dog eating, drinking or urinating excessively, and losing weight in spite of this, your pet may have diabetes. Another tell-tale sign of diabetes is if your animal is walking low in the saddle. This means that the lower joints on your pet's hind leg (their ankle joints) are down low to the ground

Recently, a two year old cat came into the PPAC displaying these symptoms. When Dr. S. asked about the cat's recent eating habits, the owner remarked 'Man, my cat is eating like a stoner'. HAHAH. Come on, that's pretty funny! 

Well, when Dr. S. heard about the cat's excessive eating, he pressed the client further and found out that the cat had also been drinking and peeing more than usual. Blood and urine tests were then taken, and it was discovered that the cat not only had diabetes, it also had a urinary tract infection; the excess sugars in the blood stream (results of the diabetes), can sometimes cause UTI's.

Dr. S. gave the cat antibiotics to treat the UTI and twice-daily insulin injections to treat the diabetes. Now here's where it gets a bit tricky. The proper amount of insulin is not always easy to determine immediately. So, if your pet does in fact have diabetes, and you are committed to treating them, it might take a bit of finagling to figure out the appropriate amount. Once that has been sorted out however, your pet can continue to live a healthy life!

Stoner jokes aside, diabetes is serious but it can be treated. So if you notice your pet chowing down stoner style, bring them in for a checkup.

Til' next time,

Libby