My cat drinks/pees a lot. Can I test for diabetes at home? Vet help?

The fact that you are reaching out for help does show that you love your dogs, and it's the right thing to do. While you are correct that Pixie's symptoms could be due to diabetes, they could also be due to a UTI. A UTI would make her feel ill, and consequently cause her to want to sleep more. Should she have a UTI, then a course of antibiotics will cure it. The only way to know for sure what is going on with her, however, is to take her into the vet. A vet can do routine blood tests, and a urinalysis to see if she does have diabetes or a UTI, and can treat her accordingly. I would take her into the vet to diagnose what is causing her symptom because both can be treated. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com

Hi, it depends on the test. If you suspect your cat has diabetes, you could just start with a urine test which is pretty cheap but can give lots of information. If your cat has diabetes and is on treatment your vet might recommend a general biochemistry panel, check her pancreas, and a fructosamine test, depending on his clinical findings and that would be more expensive. We also perform blood glucose curves in cats that suffer with diabetes, to see if the insulin dosage is appropriate.. I would recommend to see your vet and discuss all the various options with him. Hope this helps !

Hello, It does sound like Cheeky has many clinical signs of diabetes, but they could also be signs of kidney disease. I'd recommend having Cheeky's blood and urine tested. Your vet can guide you best after a physical exam. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Unfortunately this is a really tough disease to treat, even with veterinary care. Your cat would likely need to be on fluids and then start getting regulated on insulin to get his diabetes under control. Until his dehydration and blood sugar is under control he will probably still be lethargic and anorexic. I am sorry you're having to go through this with your cat. I wish there was more I could tell you. Best of luck.

Hello! I'm afraid it sounds like Kit T Kat may have diabetes, but unfortunately there is no home remedy for this! She needs to have some bloodwork done, and, if she has diabetes, may need to be on insulin. Sorry to hear about this! Hope you are able to take her in.

Increased thirst and urination can be commom symptoms of many disease processes and you are right that the first things we check for are metabolic (kidney disease, diabetes, etc.). The answer to your question is both. A urinalysis should always be performed as part of a blood panel, otherwise you are missing crucial information. Your vet will likely order a senior kitty wellness panel from an outside lab which will include cbc, chemistry panel, thyroid testing, and urinalysis. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hello there. It is very possible that Persephone Jane has diabetes. However there are many other reasons for increased thirst in a cat, including kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, or urinary tract infection. I recommend taking her to the veterinarian where she can have bloodwork to determine if she is diabetic or not. Once the cause of her excess thirst is discovered, your veterinarian can develop a treatment plan to help your kitty. Hope this helps!