My male diabetic cat, Mookie: 13 years or older, (not knowable, as he was a rescue,) 3 years diabetic. Gets 3/4 unit insulin 2x/day. Has become blind in the last months, (progression over the last 9 months, or so,) and is anxious because of it. Also weak in his legs. In the last couple of weeks he has dropped 2 lbs. (Under 8 lbs. now.) We saw the vet today for blood work, etc. (Last time, Oct., when he had already dropped a lb.) His sugar is stable, with insulin, and he eats.
The vet is concerned about giving steroids, which he would if Mookie weren't diabetic, and wants to see test results before prescribing an anti-anxiety drug. (I'm interested in the anti-anxiety because Mookie has been prone to circling and crying, and also falling, since he became nearly blind/blind, and tends to hide. I have cat-proofed my entire apt., but he is a danger to himself. Also, he is so much less happy than he was.)
I've worked with this vet a long time. He understands that what works for some can defy conventional wisdom. (He told me of a 23-yr. old diabetic cat that was on steroids, not his patient, but a friend's pet.) He's cautious, but we have discussed "quality of life" issues. We're due to discuss test results on Friday.
My questions: Does anyone have experience with giving steroids to diabetic cats? Or anti-anxiety drugs? Also, he has given me some Hill's Diet a/d to put some weight on him, which Mookie likes. Any thoughts on the notion that he might be age-demented, or just disoriented, due to blindness? He is pretty adapted to the blindness, beyond the anxiety, I think.
Mookie is a fabulous, big-personality cat, even in his diminished state. I'm trying to navigate what best to do to make him happy and calm now. And to get his weight up.
Thanks.
The vet is concerned about giving steroids, which he would if Mookie weren't diabetic, and wants to see test results before prescribing an anti-anxiety drug. (I'm interested in the anti-anxiety because Mookie has been prone to circling and crying, and also falling, since he became nearly blind/blind, and tends to hide. I have cat-proofed my entire apt., but he is a danger to himself. Also, he is so much less happy than he was.)
I've worked with this vet a long time. He understands that what works for some can defy conventional wisdom. (He told me of a 23-yr. old diabetic cat that was on steroids, not his patient, but a friend's pet.) He's cautious, but we have discussed "quality of life" issues. We're due to discuss test results on Friday.
My questions: Does anyone have experience with giving steroids to diabetic cats? Or anti-anxiety drugs? Also, he has given me some Hill's Diet a/d to put some weight on him, which Mookie likes. Any thoughts on the notion that he might be age-demented, or just disoriented, due to blindness? He is pretty adapted to the blindness, beyond the anxiety, I think.
Mookie is a fabulous, big-personality cat, even in his diminished state. I'm trying to navigate what best to do to make him happy and calm now. And to get his weight up.
Thanks.