My senior cat with diabetes and kidney disease isn't eating. Vet?

I am so sorry that Alex has been diagnosed with Kidney disease and it sounds like possibly hyperthyroidism. Unfortunately, these two diseases can be difficult to battle. I would talk to your vet about starting him on an appetite stimulant. You can also have fluids given to him under his skin on a daily or every other day basis to help keep the kidney values down to help make him feel better. I would have your vet recheck the thyroid and kidney values if his have been on medicine for awhile to ensure it is working properly and there isn't something else going on. You could also look for an alternative vet to seek acupuncture to help stimulate appetite. I hope this helps!

HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am so sorry about Sweet Pea's diagnosis! I would call your Vet today. A diabetic that won't eat is a big deal. They may want to see her today to check her for the presence of ketones. Ketones are formed when a diabetic breaks down muscles and fat to feed the body. But ketones cause the animal to feel sick and perpetuates the cycle of not eating and not feeling well. If ketones are present, usually hospitalization is required to get rid of the ketones. Another cause of a diabetic not eating is pancreatitis. Some cats become diabetics from chronic pancreatitis. The treatment for that is supportive care. Even if you can't bring her to your Vet today, I still recommend that you talk to them over the phone. Maybe they can prescribe an appetite stimulant, but a minimum they can guide you on how much insulin to give Sweet pea while she isn't eating well. Giving insulin at normal doses when animals aren't eating well can cause the blood sugar to drop too low, which is serious as well. I wish you and Sweet Pea the best!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Appetite stimulants sometimes do not help so it is not uncommon to be in this spot especially if there is significant underlying disease. I would recommend you contact your veterinarian who knows the entire medical history to make further recommendations. There are other appetite stimulants that can be tried such as Entyce. Good luck and have a great day!

This is very concerning and may not related to progressing kidney, thyroid disease or diabetes. An urgent vet check and urine and blood tests is recommended. Do not delay investigation as early treatment is required

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!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. It sounds like your kitty is very ill. I would recommend taking him to an emergency clinic (or his regular clinic tomorrow if an emergency clinic is not possible) for an exam and labwork. This could be something treatable (or at least manageable, if not curable) or it may not be. I would be worried about kidney disease, thyroid disease, diabetes, cancer, and liver disease - it could definitely be other things too, but these are at the top of my list. Good luck with your kitty. Let me know if this was helpful advice or setup a consultation if you need further help.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Princess. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian. Cats typically hide signs of illness well. So when there is a decrease in appetite, this is significant. She will be examined and will likely need laboratory work to help diagnose her problem. Kidney disease, thyroid disorders, pancreatitis and diabetes are commonly seen in older cats. I hope this information helps!