Posted on 12/09/2022 9:09:49 AM PST by Red Badger
Owners whose cats have diabetes now have a new option to care for the condition in their otherwise healthy pets.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved the first pill to improve control of diabetes in some cats.
The drug, called Bexacat (bexagliflozin tablets), is not insulin and is not meant for cats who have the type of diabetes that requires treatment with insulin. Rather, it is what is called a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor.
The active ingredient in this pill prevents the cat's kidneys from reabsorbing glucose into the blood. This excess glucose leaves the body through the urine, lowering blood sugar levels.
As part of the approval, the FDA requires that Bexacat labels include a boxed warning about the importance of patient selection. Only certain cats should take the drug, determined through careful screening.
Potential patients must be screened for kidney, liver and pancreatic disease, as well as ketoacidosis, a high level of a type of acids known as ketones in the blood.
Bexacat also shouldn't be used in cats who are being treated with insulin or in those who have previously been treated with insulin.
The drug should not be started in cats who are not eating well or who are dehydrated or lethargic at diagnosis.
Cats taking this medication should be monitored regularly with exams and blood tests, as well as watched for lack of appetite, lethargy, dehydration and weight loss.
Cats who are treated with Bexacat may be at an increased risk of serious adverse reactions, including diabetic ketoacidosis, the FDA said. This can be fatal and should be treated as emergencies.
In a news release about the approval, the FDA explained that like in humans, the cells of a cat's body need sugar in the form of glucose for energy. Cats with diabetes can't properly produce or respond to the hormone insulin. Insulin helps cells use glucose for normal function.
Without any treatment, diabetic cats will have high levels of glucose in their blood and urine. They may experience symptoms such as increased thirst and urine, weight loss and increased appetite.
Typically cats with diabetes are treated with diet and insulin therapy, including twice-daily injections given 12 hours apart.
Bexacat is a once-daily flavored pill given with or without food to cats who weigh at least 6.6 pounds.
The FDA cited two field studies that were six months long and an extended field study in its approval. The studies found the medication was more than 80% effective in improving blood sugar control in cats with diabetes.
Veterinarians and clients should report any adverse events to the FDA.
More information:
Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine has more on diabetes in cats.
A veterinarian I use to know once told me that a majority of cats that develope diabetes had white and black fur. Something in that genome?
Sounds racist!.......................
Hmmm. Getting a cat to swallow a pill, vs. an injection...
In my experience the latter is easier.
There may be a genetic predisposition associated with some coat colors.
But this is likely about the crap cat food that’s sold these days.
Deep State regulates the excrement out of lots of businesses, but not the corporations manufacturing and selling carbo laden bleep to feed your obligate carnivore.
No wonder diabetes is on the rise in cats.
It’s easy.
Just give the cat a bath first................So it’s nice and relaxed......................
And after you come back from the ER...
😜👍.............................
This is a two-fer for Deep State’s cronies.
They get away with selling unhealthy food to cat owners.
Then more money is made treating the diabetes caused by the crap cat food.
I have a 14 year old cat with normal blood sugar and a healthy weight.
But I don’t feed him carbo laden cat food.
My cat was just diagnosed with diabetes a week ago! She is a brown and black tabby. So who knows.
Actually, there is a very good trick to having a cat swallow a pill. Several years ago, when we had to do such I looked it up on YouTube and watched a demo by a vet. Sure enough, it worked on our cat.
It’s been quite a while, so the only part I remember is swaddling the cat in a towel first.
Been trying to find prices for the med.
Not easy.
My bet is decent cat food will cost far less than these pills and associated lab tests will cost cat owners.
And your cat will be healthier for it.
I was taught by a vet to do it; but cat always managed to spit it out anyway :-)
You used to be able to buy treats that had space for a pill to be inserted. I don’t know how that would work. Some cats are finicky even about treats.
Tying it up! that a good idea!.................
.
Reminds me of a friend's Siamese cat long ago.
This cat LOVED potato chips - could hear the crinkling of the
bag in the kitchen all the way from the dining room.
Would come running and beg for them.
The cat was blind. Had gone blind early in her life.
Could that cat have had diabetes and become blind due to diabetic retinopathy??
Sheba (the cat) died many years ago - so it no longer matters.
Moral of story: Don't feed potato chips to your (possibly) diabetic cat.
Hmmmm...
Since people food is often just a treat, the big problem is likely the stuff owners buy specifically for their cats.
Their obligate carnivore cats.
Finding higher quality cat food used to be easier.
Not now.
Plus, like everything else, it’s gotten really expensive.
Sick cats are just another reason to loathe Deep State.
Looks like a rough customer.I’ll bet there’s a shot of whiskey dumped in that beer.
Now if they could figure something out for chronic pancreatitis.
HAHA. You are mean.
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