Sheila and Minky
Active Member
I am seeing people use this medicine. I don't know if any kitty who is diabetic can use this? Thoughts on its effectiveness? Miss Mink hates the insulin shots and I was wondering if this might be better.
Bexacat
- Thread starter Sheila and Minky
- Start date
- Status
This is our post on the newer diabetes treatments. The immediate issue for Minky is that Bexacat is not recommended for use with a cat that has already been prescribed insulin.
Sheila and Minky
Active Member
Ah okay, I see. Thank you! I will remove this question as I didn't see the other forum.
No need to remove the question, others may have similar questions.
One thing to add to what Sienne said, there is an increased chance of DKA/ketones with Bexacat, so that definitely wouldn't be good for Minky.
One thing to add to what Sienne said, there is an increased chance of DKA/ketones with Bexacat, so that definitely wouldn't be good for Minky.
Last edited:
Sheila and Minky
Active Member
I couldn't find a place to delete it so I left it. I just wanted to make sure as you said it would be good for her? Or it wouldn't be good?
Last edited by a moderator:
SmallestSparrow
Very Active Member
I think not only do they not recommend it for cats already on insulin but they also don’t r recommend it for those who’ve had dka. The rationale for the former (I think) is the cat is probably insulin dependent and won’t produce insulin in its own (probably the same issue for cats with pancreatitis). Bexacat just makes the cat pee out excess glucose but doesn’t help the cat adsorb/utilize glucose. This means the cat must be able to produce insulin or it can cause a euglycemic dka (meaning the cat has a normal BG but goes into dka )so close monitoring of cat health, behavior, and ketones required. Can also alter kidney function and electrolytes.
Methos was on it only because we knew his response to insulin would be poor due to his tumor. I otherwise would probably have passed due to the risk and newness of the drug (meaning they don’t have a lot of data on complication rates yet—I don’t like being on the cutting edge). I don’t recall exactly the number of cats in the initial study but it was small (I want to say 12 or 24) and the complication rate was high, including some fatalities. I don’t lay this at the feet of Bexacat bc diabetic cats are sick to start and the complications —such as pancreatitis—often happen in them even if not taking Bexacat. Someone posted on here in August about their cat being started (probably inappropriately) on Bexacat and passing away.
I don’t say this to put down or scare off trying it if cat meets their somewhat vague criteria bc while methos was on it, it worked like magic. His BG numbers were perfect. But I became obsessed with his ketones and making sure he didn’t get perineal skin problems. You can Google Bexacat and find online the package insert—that lists complications including fatalities in the study cats. That may make you feel better about not being able to use it.
It’s questionable if methos should have been on it to begin with as it says “otherwise healthy”—in a way that implies cat isn’t in dka and is eating/drinking but also could mean absolutely no health problems except diabetes. Not a huge number of diabetic cats with zero other health problems. We stopped it when he developed pancreatitis but he could very well have developed that anyway from his tumor. His BUN also increased but in retrospect this may have been his spiranolactone
Methos was on it only because we knew his response to insulin would be poor due to his tumor. I otherwise would probably have passed due to the risk and newness of the drug (meaning they don’t have a lot of data on complication rates yet—I don’t like being on the cutting edge). I don’t recall exactly the number of cats in the initial study but it was small (I want to say 12 or 24) and the complication rate was high, including some fatalities. I don’t lay this at the feet of Bexacat bc diabetic cats are sick to start and the complications —such as pancreatitis—often happen in them even if not taking Bexacat. Someone posted on here in August about their cat being started (probably inappropriately) on Bexacat and passing away.
I don’t say this to put down or scare off trying it if cat meets their somewhat vague criteria bc while methos was on it, it worked like magic. His BG numbers were perfect. But I became obsessed with his ketones and making sure he didn’t get perineal skin problems. You can Google Bexacat and find online the package insert—that lists complications including fatalities in the study cats. That may make you feel better about not being able to use it.
It’s questionable if methos should have been on it to begin with as it says “otherwise healthy”—in a way that implies cat isn’t in dka and is eating/drinking but also could mean absolutely no health problems except diabetes. Not a huge number of diabetic cats with zero other health problems. We stopped it when he developed pancreatitis but he could very well have developed that anyway from his tumor. His BUN also increased but in retrospect this may have been his spiranolactone
Last edited:
Hi Sheila, I fixed my typo above. In cats with previous recent DKA it is risky to go on Bexacat. We've seen a couple kitties here with ketones (but not full blown DKA) go on Bexacat, with sad results. 
Sheila and Minky
Active Member
@SmallestSparrow and @Wendy&Neko thank you for sharing all of that; I definitely would not even think about using it in that case. Sometimes when you see something that would be easier, it looks intriguing. I love my baby too much to chance it. Thank you both for explaining it to me.
SmallestSparrow
Very Active Member
It was easier. Still did ear sticks (primarily for ketones) but no hypo worries, no dose adjustment. Unfortunately quite a bit of risk. Maybe in time with more data they can better predict which cats benefit and which don’t.
- Status