My cat's belly is hard and distended after starting insulin. Why?

Yes, the ultrasound should have seen if there was anything abnormal in his abdomen. It may have been intestinal movement as you thought. Hopefully with treatment of his diabetes his weight will stabilize. The abdomen may just seems larger now since he lost the weight. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Farafero.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would check the blood sugar again. Stress can make the blood sugar go up. Can you post the blood work as your values are not the same as the US? I would confirm it again. I haven't in 13 years seen a diabetic cat present with out weight loss. Unless you caught him very early.

Heavy shedding this time of year can be normal, so this does not seem like a cause for alarm. However, Chi Chi's abdominal distension could either be due to fairly severe causes (heart failure, liver failure, FIP), or more mild causes (parasites or a result of weight gain). If this is a new finding, it is worth further investigation. Consider first taking a stool sample to Chi Chi's vet to be examined for microscopic evidence of parasites. If no parasites are found, she should be examined to assure that more serious conditions are not occurring. Otherwise, watch her food intake and measure her meals for proper portion control. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! From the X-rays, I can see that Mara's abdomen appears to be filled with fluid. It is obscuring his liver and intestines from being seen and there may even be a small amount in his lungs. Unfortunately it is impossible to tell what the fluid is from the x-ray alone. His blood work shows some abnormalities with his electrolytes, which may be if he is not eating or from fluid in the abdomen. Mara also has a high white blood cell count, these are the cells that are responsible for fighting off infections and increase if there is one present. Your vet can run some additional diagnostics, and perform a tap and remove the fluid as well as a blood test to determine if Mara is infected with FIP, a mutated form of a common virus that cats are exposed to. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is hard to know what you are referring to by swelling up. If you mean that her belly gets distended then that could be normal to some extent after eating. If this appears to be severe or marked, then she should be evaluated by a veterinarian as other possibilities would have to be considered. However, of this happens just after eating then I would be suspicious that this is due to that and not anything serious. Good luck and have a great day!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Common causes for a pot belly include intestinal parasites, organ enlargement and abdominal fluid. Unfortunately, this can also be caused by feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), which can be deadly. The fact that Muffin’s spine has become more prominent is also cause for concern as it indicates weight loss. I recommend having him seen by his vet as soon as possible - they can perform bloodwork, x-rays and an ultrasound if necessary to determine what is going on and begin the appropriate treatment. I hope all is well and that Muffin gets well soon!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is concerning as it may be an indication that his diabetes is not well-controlled at the moment. I would highly recommend that you check in with a veterinarian as soon as possible to check for this possibility. If this is the case, they can work in getting him to feel better and then possibly focusing in controlling his diabetes better. Best of luck!