Use of steroids to treat medical situations for diabetic cats in remission?

[LeosGotTheBetus]

Hello all, happy to say my Leo has been in remission for over 5 years. Thanks to raw food, close monitoring, and essentially, this group.
He happens to have stomatitis which is currently inflamed, we have a vet appointment soon but I’ve been keeping a close eye; my vet has given me oral antibiotic drops as well as prednisone, should things get really bad or should he stop eating.
I’m wondering if anyone has experience with diabetes and steroids, especially with cats in remission. Steroids raise bg and seeing as how his pancreas hasn’t had to do much for a few years, I’m seeing the prednisone as a last resort. My vet advised a half dose as to not disturb sugars but I’m not trying to risk him going out of remission if I can help it. If anyone has given their cats low doses of steroids after remission, did sugars rise? Temporarily or is insulin once again needed for blood glucose management? Thanks all.

 

[Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)]

The steroids can send him out of remission. Bobo actually became diabetic after a month on budesonide which is suppose to be safer than pred. If he needs it, he needs it but if there are any other options I’d look into it. Just know he may fall out of remission on pred.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

How bad is the stomatitis?
I know it might sound drastic, but is it bad enough to remove the teeth?
This could be a way around not using steroids and possible falling out of remission.
One of my cats (not a diabetic cat) had stomatitis and she had most her teeth removed and the whole problem went away.
She eats a homemade raw diet that I cut up each day and has no problem with eating at all.
Just something to think about.

 

[LeosGotTheBetus]

The steroids can send him out of remission. Bobo actually became diabetic after a month on budesonide which is suppose to be safer than pred. If he needs it, he needs it but if there are any other options I’d look into it. Just know he may fall out of remission on pred.

thank you for this input! I really had a bad feeling about the pred and am glad I held off on giving it to him. Clyndamicin is helping for now and our vet appointment is tomorrow. Because of your message, I will restock insulin if we need to start on pred. You said after a month, did you see issues with short term usage? I hope to not need to find out! Thanjs

 

[LeosGotTheBetus]

How bad is the stomatitis?
I know it might sound drastic, but is it bad enough to remove the teeth?
This could be a way around not using steroids and possible falling out of remission.
One of my cats (not a diabetic cat) had stomatitis and she had most her teeth removed and the whole problem went away.
She eats a homemade raw diet that I cut up each day and has no problem with eating at all.
Just something to think about.

That is reassuring to hear about your issues clearing up! I am considering tooth removal, he doesn’t have many and they’re in bad condition but finance is the issue. I’ve read many stories of the situation continuing after tooth removal, additional issues popping up from surgery, ect. Lots to consider but if it came down to it, I would be willing to. Not a drastic suggestion at all though, in fact it’s the most discussed and successful treatment I’ve seen so far. Thanks for your input! And yessss to raw food, it got my Leo into remission and transformed and freed my other cat, as well as family and friends cats as I spread the word.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Let us know how you grt in at the vet. Clover has her teeth removed several years ago now when she was less than a year old. She is almost 7 now and we have had no further problems.

 

[LeosGotTheBetus]

Let us know how you grt in at the vet. Clover has her teeth removed several years ago now when she was less than a year old. She is almost 7 now and we have had no further problems.

Thank you! Y’all’s’ support seriously is so helpful. Am I being silly in fearing surgery complications so much? I don’t know the statistics but I’ve always heard horror stories when it comes to big surgeries and complicated recoveries ect.

 

[Deborah & Muffy(GA) & Wendall]

A full mouth extraction doesn't necessarily cure stomatitis and I would not put a cat through that without at least trying to find out what caused it in the first place. FME should be a last resort. Stomatitis has been linked to infection with feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and calicivirus.

An association has been established between feline stomatitis and a specific bacterial organism called Bartonella which is transmitted to cats by fleas and ticks. In one study, 70% of cats with severe gingivitis/ stomatitis tested positive for this organism. Up to 40% of cats in the US test positive and can be carriers even when they appear otherwise healthy. It is suspected that bartonella may also be responsible for about 40-50% of other chronic inflammatory conditions such as upper respiratory infections, conjunctivitis and IBD.

You can have your cat tested for bartonella or just go ahead and treat without testing. The treatment of choice for stomatitis caused by bartonella is a minimum 21-day course of Azithromycin (28 days is better), which clears over 80% of infected cats. Other antibiotics will NOT work and steroids can actually make it worse.