*** LONG POST ALERT ***
Hi Sif,
I've only skimmed through the latest posts but my current understanding is this:
* Epi is overweight and his food portions need to be controlled or he will eat more. Current vet recommended high carb dry food for weight loss.
* Current vet diagnosed feline diabetes after Epi was presented with symptoms of excessive drinking and peeing. (Polydipsa/polyuria, aka PU/PD)
* Current vet did not do a urine test to check for presence of glucose at time of diagnosis.
* Current vet did a spot check of blood glucose at time of diagnosis.
* Current vet did not order a fructosamine test and thus diabetes diagnosis was based on blood glucose spot check and possible PU/PD.
The following comments are based on the assumption that the information above is a correct picture of events up to and including the time of initial feline diabetes diagnosis.
The vet SHOULD have immediately checked for presence of urine in glucose (a crude diagnostic measure indicative of existence of significant hyperglycaemia - over the renal threshold - in the home setting and therefore not influenced by vet/travel stress.) As a standard diagnostic measure the vet should have performed a fructosamine test to determine whether BG had been at diabetic levels over the previous fortnight.
A single BG spot check is NOT sufficient information upon which to base a diagnosis of FD. Without urine and fructosamine testing at time of diagnosis if your vet then went on to prescribe insulin then the vet made a serious, potentially life-threatening treatment recommendation.
Blood glucose levels may be influenced by a non-FD disease process in the body (e.g. infection).
PU/PD can be a symptom of several conditions, so your vet was wrong not to order further tests upon which to base a differential diagnosis including comprehensive blood and urine testing, and possibly advanced diagnostic procedures, e.g. ultrasound. The blood and urine tests would also have given an indication of whether any other problems existed, e.g. inflammation or infection. (I cannot see any mention of your vet having ordered any blood tests so I am assuming that none were carried out.)
The vet should also have assessed your cat's behaviours and carried out a comprehensive physical examination to identify other clinical signs to aid differential diagnosis (e.g: pot-bellied appearance; unexplained and unexpected weight loss; poor coat condition, etc.).
Here is an article by a world-leading feline endocrinologist, Dr. Mark Peterson, listing conditions in felines commonly associated with PU/PD:
http://www.endocrinevet.info/2011/01/diagnostic-approach-to-pupd-urine.html
From the above article:
Cats
- Chronic renal failure
- Diabetes mellitus
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypercalcaemia
- Pyelonephritis
- Hypokalaemia
- Acromegaly
- Postobstructive diuresis
- Hyperadrenocorticism
- Hypoadrenocorticism
- Diabetes insipidus
This second article provides a good overview of what you should expect in terms of assessment and diagnostic best practice from a competent vet:
https://petdoctormom.wordpress.com/2011/03/01/polyuria-and-polydipsia/
So you were thinking to just do blood tests ...
Yes. I recommend doing this at another - more competent - vets. Also urine testing.
... not let him all the day at the vet like it was planned ?
It appears that now your cat is running in normal BG ranges. If a glucose curve is needed you can do this at home with your own home BG testing kit. Apart from sparing yourself unnecessary vet bills the data you gather at home will not be influenced by vet/travel stress and will therefore give a more accurate picture of Epi's day-to-day blood glucose levels in his normal unstressed home environment.
I would not take my cat back to this current vet for diagnostics, and most certainly not for any advice on diabetes. Knowledge of FD appears to be extremely limited, and response to a possible serious hypo event was pitifully inadequate to the point of putting the cat's life at risk. Food advice appears to be based on promotional literature from major pet food companies and not on scientific principles.
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Has there been any change in water consumption and pee volume:
- While Epi was receiving insulin.
- Since you have stopped giving insulin.
I recommend you monitor water consumption for the next while to help you assess whether there is actually any excessive water consumption. (Measure the amount you put out for both cats each day, then measure how much is left after 24 hours. It's easier to do this if you use ONE big bowl which can contain enough water for both cats for 24 hours. It may be necessary to confine both cats to the house during the monitoring period so you can exclude access to alternate water sources outside the home. You will also need to record how much wet food is given to the cats so that you can add the moisture from this into your calculations.)
Also if your cat runs in normal BG numbers for 14 days (as Sophie advises above) then Epi is either a diabetic in remission - or he may not be diabetic at all (further diagnostics recommended).
Mogs
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