How often are emaciated strays diabetic?

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Chiquita

Member Since 2014
I've been down this road once before and he was severely, severely diabetic - in such severe ketosis he should have been in a coma. I fostered him for a year. This one is similarly thin - weighs 5 lbs and should be more like 8 or 9. She is fiv/felv negative and has been wormed. She's been here a week eating cheap canned food like Friskies mixed grill. I have no diabetic kitty supplies anymore. Her urine doesn't smell cloyingly sweet like his did but does smell a little sweet to me. I was incapable of doing the sticks on my old boy so would take into the vet for curves etc. Not sure how much experience the local vet has with diabetic kitties - this is a small town vet and I doubt anyone here has time or money for diabetic cats.

As far as nutrition, my vet recommended the canned food and supplemental boiled chicken thighs. Good idea? Would MCT oil or plain whey protein benefit her? Heavy cream? KMR?

Thanks for your help!
 
Feed modest meals frequently, so the cat doesn't scarf 'n' barf.

Hyperthyroidism and cancer may cause weight loss if diabetes and parasites have been ruled out.
 
Get keto diastix at the drug store to test her urine. It isn't expensive. You place the strip in the urine flow or catch urine in a small plastic cup or in a ladle. There will be a key in the package that will tell you if there is glucose or ketones present.
 
Why are you assuming that a emaciated stray has some sort of medical issue? It could just be starving sue to lack of food.
 
Starvation often leads to hepatic lipidosis in cats; keep an eye out for yellowing of the skin (jaundice), a sign of liver compromise.
 
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