Spidercat - Back from the brink - Treendale Vet Medical Centre

Spidercat – Back from the brink

The Incident

Spidercat presented with barely hours to live. She was so dehydrated her skin was permanently tenting. Spidercat hadn’t eaten for a few days now and she was weak and barely able to move. Only a few weeks earlier she was a ravenously hungry healthy cat and the weight had just fallen off her in recent times.

Dr Rob was suspicious that she had diabetes but it could have been a few other problems like renal failure, hepatic lipidosis or any number of different types of cancer. Dr Rob ran some blood tests that showed Spidercat had sugar diabetes (diabetes mellitus) and she was in diabetic ketoacidosis and acute renal failure from severe dehydration.

Spidercat’s blood sugars were over 40. They should be between 4-9 approximately. Spidercats blood sugars were very high because her pancreatic cells had stopped producing insulin.

The Assignment

Spidercat was in ketoacidosis from diabetes and her kidneys had shut down. We weren’t sure whether we could save her but her loving mum did not want to give up.

We started fluid and electrolyte therapy along with insulin and Spidercat was admitted to hospital. Through some very intense few hours where Spidercats life hung in the balance we kept checking her electrolytes and response to insulin.

Spidercat responded well to treatment and after fluid rehydration she was starting to feel a little better by the evening. The next day her blood sugars were back to normal but she had become mildly hypokalemic.

We had to supplement potassium with her fluids and she rapidly regained her strength. Over the next 24 hours her appetite and strength returned and Spidercat was BACK FROM THE BRINK!!

The Outcome

Spidercat was discharged and her loving mum was shown how to do insulin injections. Mum picked up this skill very quickly. A lot of clients are frightened by having to do injections of insulin but after a few goes, most people are very confident and very good at it.

Spidercat’s blood sugars are back to normal and she has started eating normally and is doing extremely well. We recommend a special type of diet for diabetic cats. There are a few on the market but we recommend Hills Feline MD diet. Spidercat loves it and she’s thriving on it.

Did you know that cats are the only species of animal that can be cured from diabetes? With proper insulin and dietary management, some cats can be cured of diabetes. If you’d like to know how, then please give us a call and talk to one of our experienced veterinarians.