Worried About The Costs Of Treatment
A cat has recently been diagnosed with cat diabetes and its owner is worried about the costs of treatment and whether the cat will be comfortable during treatment. She is looking for help and does not want to have the cat put down.
“Our family cat (male, 12 years), has today been diagnosed with diabetes. We were told a treatment course that consists of prescription foods and insulin shots, I have done a bit of research and have found numerous articles stating that dry cat food is high in Carbohydrates and this is a common cause as the cat does not feel “full” and will continuously eat and build up on the amount of carbohydrates. They also highly recommend to put your diabetic cat straight onto wet meaty high in protein low in Carbs cat food. Will this work in easing my cats condition? Will he be more comfortable? The insulin shots are expensive, $80 per vile, and the food is also.”
She is right. Dry food is very high in carbohydrates and some contain vegetable protein which is not the same as animal protein. You see cats have evolved over millions of years to eat animal protein. In the wild cats tend to eat small rodents and fish and mammals. What’s more they will eat these whole including the skeleton. Cats have only been domesticated for a few hundred years which is miniscule in evolutionary terms and need to stick to their natural diet as much as possible.
So we would be very very wary of giving any dry food to a diabetic cat. Look for a wet food that is very high in protein and very low in carbohydrate. But be careful as some wet foods can contain high carbohydrate gravies.
Unfortunately if blood sugar levels are unacceptably high when the cat is first diagnosed then diabetic shots may be necessary and it is sometimes best to look for a long lasting insulin. We also recommend that home testing be carried out to ensure that the correct dose of insulin is being administered. This will also save costs and reduce vet visits.
In many cases by changing diet and encouraging the cat to exercise more can quickly lead to remission. Furthermore whilst the cat is under treatment there is no reason why the cat should not lead a normal and comfortable life, so there is no need to consider euthanasia. So if you are worried about the costs of treatment, by following our advice the costs can be kept to a minimum and hopefully soon disappear altogether as the cat goes into full remission.
I am a 60 yr old female with a small fixed income. My cat was recently diagnosed with diabetes and I am overwhelmed by the cost to care for her. DO NOT DESPAIR! First of all, I found a vet who would work with me on a monthly payment plan. Even if I cannot keep to the agreed amount, I still send in something to keep in good standing and they are fine with that. I’ve also found really CHEAP ways around the insulin purchase. There are websites who sell insulin for cats costing $90 a vile and if you ALWAYS keep it refrigerated, it will keep for 6 months, thereby costing approx $180 yearly. If you sterilize the needles, you can also reuse the syringes several times before disposing. I also called around and found a vet who only charges $60 for the glucose curve test that also must be done on a regular basis. Cats have an amazing ability to right themselves and most people I know have cats who are now diabetes FREE. It will take some work on your part to provide your cat with the proper diet, but the internet is a wealth of information making it possible to care for our beloved pets. I don’t have a problem with anyone who may wish to email me regarding your animal care. I think it’s such an injustice to put an animal down for manageable illnesses over “lack of funds”. Where there is a will there is a way. I know. I make a $700 income work for me. If your cat has diabetes, there is a good chance you are to blame because of the foods you’ve fed your pet. I let my cat get 5 pounds overweight. Why should they pay the ultimate price for the choices we made for them in the first place. Oh, if you have access to levemir (long acting insulin for humans) you may be able to use it instead of the expensive Lantus. My vet approved it for my cats use and one insulin pen will last my cat for an entire year. I cannot see why your vet wouldn’t approve it for your cat or dog’s use. Most levemir insulin pens have a 2 year expiration date so 1 pen may last you longer than just 1 year making it safe to do so. Above all,take preventative measures to avoid such illnesses. Feeding a cat a low carb, canned food diet can not only help prevent diabetes, but can also prevent renal failure, another expensive illness, and one they don’t usually recover from. I’ve NEVER fed my cat cheap, crappy cat food. Again, educate yourself via the internet. Everything is at your fingertips, so there is no longer an excuse of “but I didn’t know”. Your pets life depends upon you to KNOW!
I just left a comment but do not wish for my last name to be revealed. Can you please remove my last name if you publish it.
Thanks
I am a 60 yr old on a fixed income of $700 a month and my overweight cat was diagnosed with diabetes. I was overwhelmed by the expense but don’t despair! Where there is a will there is a way. First, I found a vet who made a monthly payment plan for me. If I find a month I cannot keep to the agreed amount, I still send something to remain in good standing. There are also websites who offer Lantus insulin for $90 a vile, and if you KEEP it refrigerated, it will keep for 6 months. If you sterilize the syringes, you may also reuse them several times. If you have access to Levemir (long acting insulin for humans) your vet will more than likely approve it for your cats use and It not only has a 2 year expiration date, but 1 insulin pen will last my cat for an entire year perhaps longer. For the glucose curve test, that will have to be done periodically, I found a vet who performs them for approx $60. The best defense is proactive care for your pet to avoid such illnesses.If you feed your cat low carb, wet canned food, there is a good chance you can not only avoid diabetes, but renal failure. I allowed my cat to become overweight , and now I’m paying for it and so is she. Educate yourself via the internet on best foods to feed, etc. Your pets life depends on your acute awareness, ability to see a vet when necessary and knowing the best ways to care for your cat. It would be a shame to put any animal down for a MANAGEABLE illness, when there is a good chance your overall care is the reason they became ill in the first place. Not fair to put an animal down over a choice we made for them in the first place. Most diabetic cats right themselves, so your looking at a temporary diabetic situation anyway. Do not let finances dictate whether or not your pet lives. DO YOUR HOMEWORK using the internet!!! Your cats life depends on you to “KNOW”! I don’t have a problem with anyone wishing to get in touch with me regarding this matter.
Done 🙂
Bravo, Pam. That is what we like to hear 😀