Dizziness in Diabetic Cats
As in humans, diabetes in cats occurs as a result of the inability the body to regulate glucose, or blood sugar. A regulated diet and daily insulin injections can allow a diabetic feline to live a seemingly normal, healthy life for years. However, owners of diabetic cats must be prepared to deal with hypoglycemia, a common side effect of diabetes, the initial symptom of which is dizziness, and which can rapidly result in coma or death.
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Diagnosis
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Increased food and water consumption are early symptoms of feline diabetes. The initial symptoms of feline diabetes are overeating and excessive thirst, leading to rapid weight gain and constant urination. Within a week to several months following the onset of diabetes, a diabetic feline will suffer drastic weight loss, hair loss, physical weakness, dizziness and lethargy. A veterinarian can perform a quick blood glucose test in order to determine whether or not the cat is suffering from diabetes.
Causes
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Hypoglycemia can occur if a cat doesn't eat enough food. Despite proper treatment prescribed by a veterinarian, diabetic cats often suffer from dizziness. This is a result of hypoglycemia, which occurs when a cat's blood glucose levels drops below 70 milligrams per deciliter. This can happen if the cat does not eat enough food, if it vomits its food, if it exerts more energy than normal, or if it has too much insulin in its system.
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Symptoms
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Dizziness is a symptom of hypoglycemia in diabetic cats. Initially, a cat suffering from hypoglycemia will appear dizzy and disoriented, staggering and stumbling as though unable to control its movements. Additional symptoms often include loud, distressed crying, repetitive walking in circles, eyes moving rapidly back and forth, and difficulty seeing. If the cat does not receive immediate treatment, symptoms will progress to include seizures, followed by diabetic coma and death.
Treatment
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Honey is an effective treatment for feline hypoglycemia. It is important to treat a diabetic cat for hypoglycemia as soon as dizziness is noted. According to the Feline Diabetes website, hypoglycemia treated consists of administering a substance high in sugar, such as sugar-water, honey, corn syrup or cake frosting. If the cat is in the early stages of hypoglycemic shock, it will still be able to swallow, and will be able to drink or lick the sugary substance on its own.
If the cat is in a more advanced state of hypoglycemic shock, rub the sugary substance on the cat's gums and the inside of its cheeks. The cat does not need to swallow, as glucose will absorb through the mucous membranes and into the cat's bloodstream.
Recovery
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Most cats will recover within minutes of ingesting sugar. In most cases, the cat will recover from hypoglycemia within minutes of ingesting sugar. Though recovery from hypoglycemic shock occurs rapidly, take the cat to a veterinarian following an episode of hypoglycemia to determine if its insulin dosage needs to be altered.
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References
- Photo Credit cat image by Ivan Zhelev from Fotolia.com liking milk image by aprilira from Fotolia.com white angora cat eating from food bowl image by Stephen Orsillo from Fotolia.com Cat-mother image by askimfox from Fotolia.com honey image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com cat 3 image by Dragan Saponjic from Fotolia.com
