[Sanctus]

Hi, my cat stopped eating completely and was consistently throwing up, so I took him to a vet..
He was diagnosed with having diabetes.. The vet specified it as diabetes insipidus.
I am seriously doubtful about this, as my cat seems to have completely stopped eating and drinking. His skin is getting yellow, he is vomiting, and although he has stopped any nutritional intake, he still goes to the toilet. He has lost a lot of weight, and doesn't move as much.. Also, if he has diabetes, then shouldn't he be drinking consistently?
Please, he's my first cat, and I've had him since he was a baby(he's about 10 years old now), and I don't want to lose him. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.. Thank you.

 

[imatarb]

I'd go to a different vet IMMEDIATELY. A second opinion can't hurt, plus it sounds like he's not doing much better than when you took him into the first vet.

Keep us posted,
Lisa

 

[Zalensia]

See another vet. If it was diabetes they wouldnt completly stop like that. And also like you say the water intake would be much higher, not stop alltogether.

 

[Mogadeet]

With the skin turning yellowish, it sounds like Liver problems.

Mogadeet

 

[jvan71]

I agree with everyone else...get a second opinion! A cat with diabetes should be drinking ALOT of water (at least those that I've known with it).

My bf and I actually noticed a friend's cat exhibiting signs of being diabetic and pointed them out to him..sure enough, he was diabetic and he just didn't know! The main thing we noticed was how much he was drinking and urinating.

Losing weight and the yellow skin is what really concerns me though...neither of these are consistent with a diabetic cat that I'm aware of. I could be wrong, but I've never heard of this if so.

Keep us posted on what the new vet says!!

 

[Annissa]

My cat was diagnosed with diabetes in 2002.

Weight loss is most definitely a sign of diabetes. Sabby lost 7 pounds just before he was diagnosed. The water intake seems off to me, though. Normally a cat (or any creature, really) with diabetes will increase water intake to flush the sugar out of their system. Further, because there's so much sugar they're prone to urinary tract infections. Maybe your cat stopped drinking because it hurt to pee? The lethargy your cat is experiencing can be from the infection. Sabby would just lay on the kitchen floor where it was cold all day.

When Sabby was diagnosed, my vet immediately got me a prescription for insulin, showed me how to administer injections, and changed Sabby's food to Purina DM. Did they do a blood test to determine your cat's blood glucose? If so, what was it?

I'm concerned because from your post it doesn't look as though your vet has really done anything to help the diabetes. It can't heal on its own. What has your vet done to educate you and get your cat's blood glucose stable? If he just diagnosed your pet and nothing else, you most certainly need a new vet.

I hate to second-guess a veterinarian, but I am concerned about how he came to this diagnosis.

 

[sunshine9]

I just wanted to add that diabetes insipidus is very different from diabetes mellitus. Diabetes insipidus has nothing to do with blood glucose levels. It is a disorder of water metabolism.

As for your cat not eating or drinking, with diabetes insipidus your cat should still be drinking more than usual.

Also if he is still vomiting and not eating, he needs to see a vet ASAP. The yellow skin color can be a sign of liver damage.

 

[Sanctus]

Thanks everyone

I took my cat to another vet, and sure enough, they say he looks like he has liver problems..
I don't know how severe it is though, and have hospitalized him for two days..
How high is his chance of complete recovery?
I am so scared that it might be fatal...
Thanks again for all your replies..

 

[Mogadeet]

The liver is the toughest organ the animal has! That is the only organ that can actually regenerate itself. So if you're going to have an organ problem, the liver is the one to have. I wouldn't be surprised if that is indeed treatable with diet and medication, but if human beings are any indication then it will take awhile.

Mogadeet