Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Spectrum of veterinary care in feline diabetes mellitus.
- Journal:
- Journal of feline medicine and surgery
- Year:
- 2026
- Authors:
- Rand, Jacquie S et al.
- Affiliation:
- The University of Queensland · Australia
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
About 10% of cats diagnosed with diabetes are put to sleep right away, and another 10% are euthanized within the first year of treatment, even though diabetes is a condition that can be managed. This review discusses different treatment options that veterinarians can offer to help pet owners make informed decisions, which could prevent the need for euthanasia right after diagnosis. Many owners worry about how diabetes will affect their cat's lifestyle and well-being, and some may face financial challenges that limit their ability to seek care. The authors emphasize the importance of providing a variety of care options for cats with diabetes to lower euthanasia rates and improve outcomes for both pets and their owners.
Abstract
Approximately 10% of cats with diabetes mellitus (diabetes) are euthanased at diagnosis and a further 10% euthanased within the first year of treatment, despite diabetes being a treatable disease. This review presents a spectrum of veterinary care aimed at providing practitioners with a range of treatment options to discuss with owners, potentially helping to prevent euthanasia at the time of diagnosis. Barriers such as owner concerns about lifestyle impact, pet welfare and presence of comorbidities contribute to decisions to euthanase, while financial limitations can significantly restrict access to veterinary care for cats with diabetes. This highlights the urgent need to implement a spectrum of care approach for feline diabetes with the aim of reducing euthanasia rates and improving owner and cat outcomes.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41251300/