Urine loss with diabetes

[lograham]

My cat was diagnosed with diabetes about a month ago.  He was up to 9 units of Vetsulin and his blood sugar was still over 500.  The vet switched him to PZI at 4 units twice a day.  For the last month he has been losing urine.  If he lays in a spot, when he gets up his fur on the back of his legs is wet.  His bladder gets huge and when I find the wet spots I take him to the litter box and he goes and goes and goes.  One day he walked on the counter and was dripping urine the whole time.  The vet has told me that this is a sign of diabetes and should clear when his blood sugar goes normal,  How long will this take.  Our other cat is having a fit and acting aggressively at times toward the one with the issues.  I am so sad about this.  Can you tell me your opinion.  He had a liver count of 5700 2 months ago but with treatrment we got that down to 77.  The vet believes since it came back down so quick, and has stayed down, that he may have found one of our pills on the floor and ate it.  I lost a cat in April, and I dont want to lose another.

[Jim Humphries, B.S., D.V.M.]

Your vet is right, this urinating excessively (polyuria) is caused by the diabetes.  It does take quite a while in some cases to stabilize a cat with the right type and dose of insulin.  Could be months.  Once on the right dose and blood sugar normal you should see the polyuria subside.

The other cat showing aggression is a common behavior toward a sick animal.  I would try to keep the two apart if you can as your sick one does not need the extra stress of dealing with that, nor a fight.  

clean up your house with a good enzyme odor and stain remover like Simple Solution.  this will help keep your other cat from marking over these spots.  

You do need to work very closely with your veterinarian to find the right dose for the insulin.  keep regular on the diet and very regular on the injections.  

The liver should be monitored because of that spike, but may very well have been an transient toxicity.  Glad it is down now.  

[lograham]

Doesnt he feel his bladder is full and have the urge to go to the litter box rather than having his bladder overflow?  I have been putting him in the box when I notice he has left a spot or the fur on the back of his butt is wet?  Is this okay or will he get used to me taking him to the box and expect me to take him?

[Jim Humphries, B.S., D.V.M.]

No I think you should help him as much as possible until you get him regulated.  Be sure your veterinarian also checks kidney function.