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Quiz about Feline Diabetes
Quiz about Feline Diabetes

Feline Diabetes Trivia Quiz


What do you know about feline diabetes? Learn more about this treatable condition.

A multiple-choice quiz by Hawise. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
Hawise
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
140,135
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
4876
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Lrgindypants (10/10), Guest 172 (10/10), Guest 173 (7/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Which of these can be symptoms of feline diabetes? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Feline diabetes is treatable, and many diabetic cats live out their normal life expectancies.


Question 3 of 10
3. What are the three basic factors in regulating diabetes in most cats? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Assuming a diabetic cat has no other medical problems, what should its diet be like? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Which of these is not a way that a vet and/or owner may use to adjust insulin dosage? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Which statement best describes the relationship between spaying and neutering and diabetes? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Which type of vet would know the most about feline diabetes? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Which of these is not a common complication of feline diabetes? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. In the context of feline diabetes, what is a hypo? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. You can learn a lot about feline diabetes on the internet.



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 13 2024 : Lrgindypants: 10/10
Mar 10 2024 : Guest 172: 10/10
Feb 20 2024 : Guest 173: 7/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Which of these can be symptoms of feline diabetes?

Answer: all of these

Without sufficient insulin, diabetic cats can't metabolise what they eat. They feel like they're starving and become ravenous. However, high blood glucose levels (BGs) can also make them nauseated and generally miserable, causing a loss of appetite.

When BGs are very high, the kidneys start dumping glucose into the urine. Because they need extra water to process the glucose, the cat becomes very thirsty.
2. Feline diabetes is treatable, and many diabetic cats live out their normal life expectancies.

Answer: True

If a cat is well regulated it can expect a normal life span. Treatment usually consists of one or two shots of insulin a day, although a minority of cats do well on pills. While the thought of giving a cat shots can be frightening, most people find it easier than convincing a cat to swallow a pill.
3. What are the three basic factors in regulating diabetes in most cats?

Answer: food, medication and exercise

Regulation is the process of finding the combination of food, insulin and exercise that keeps the cat's BGs in a safe range. Granted, there's only so much you can do to control a cat's exercise, but it's a good idea to remember that if a generally lazy diabetic cat encounters an unusually exciting fly and spends an hour bouncing off the walls in noble pursuit, he's probably going to need an extra snack or a little less insulin.

Not all diabetic cats need insulin to control their diabetes. Some can be managed with oral glucose pills like Glipizide. Also, some can be maintained with food, water and exercise alone.
4. Assuming a diabetic cat has no other medical problems, what should its diet be like?

Answer: high in protein and fat, low in carbs

The ideal diet for a diabetic cat is the same as that for a non-diabetic. Generally, cats have no need for any carbohydrates in their diets, and it has been suggested that high levels of carbs in many brands of cat food actually contribute to diabetes.

There are exceptions. Certain diseases have dietary restrictions that supersede the diabetes. Chronic renal failure (CRF) and pancreatitis are the ones most commonly seen in diabetics. Cats with CRF need very low protein diets. Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas that often leads to diabetes. Cats suffering from it need diets low in protein and with virtually no fat.
5. Which of these is not a way that a vet and/or owner may use to adjust insulin dosage?

Answer: assessing how hard the cat bites you when he realises you're taking him back to the vet

There are advantages and disadvantages to each method. Urine testing is the easiest and cheapest, but it is very inaccurate, relies on keeping the cat's BG at a dangerously high level and cannot detect some serious problems. Curves done by a vet are very expensive and often useless.

The readings themselves are very accurate, but many cats are stressed by vet visits. Stress increases BGs dramatically, so what happens at the vet may not represent what happens on a normal day at home. Home testing with a glucometer (which you can get an any pharmacy) is probably the best option for most people. Since the glucometers are made for humans they are not entirely accurate - the cat's BG will be somewhat higher than the meter shows.

However, the trends - whether BGs are going up or down - are accurate, and even though the readings are a bit low they're usually better than the readings you'd get from a stressed cat at the vet's.
6. Which statement best describes the relationship between spaying and neutering and diabetes?

Answer: Spaying or neutering a cat decreases the risk of diabetes.

If an animal that hasn't been neutered gets diabetes it's essential to neuter or spay it immediately. Hormones of all types affect glucose levels, and an intact animal is difficult to regulate.
7. Which type of vet would know the most about feline diabetes?

Answer: endocrinologist

Most people don't have access to a veterinary endocrinologist, so diabetic pets are usually treated by small animal vets. Small animal vets have to treat thousands of conditions in any number of different species. Diabetes isn't one of the most common conditions they'll encounter, so it's not surprising that they learn very little about diabetes during their education. Concerned owners can often do their own research and learn more about the latest ideas than their vets know, but the vets' backgrounds will enable them to better evaluate that information.

The best relationship with a vet is a partnership.
8. Which of these is not a common complication of feline diabetes?

Answer: cataracts

Dumping excess glucose into the urine is very hard on the kidneys. If the diabetes isn't well controlled it will eventually lead to kidney failure (CRF). Glucose in the urine provides ideal conditions for the growth of bacteria and will create recurrent bladder infections. Neuropathy is nerve damage caused by high BGs.

In cats, it usually presents as hind leg weakness. The cat may even begin to walk with its hocks (the part of the leg below the knee) flat on the ground. Neuropathy can often be reversed by adjusting the insulin dosage and bringing the cat under better control. Cataracts are proof cats are weird.

They're very common in human diabetics, almost guaranteed in diabetic dogs and virtually unheard-of in diabetic cats.
9. In the context of feline diabetes, what is a hypo?

Answer: when blood glucose drops dangerously low

A hypo means an episode of hypoglycemia. They can happen because the cat got too much insulin, because it got the regular dose of insulin but vomited or didn't eat when expected, because it got more exercise than usual or because the sky is blue and the day ends in y. Hypos are emergencies and can kill very quickly.

The cat may stagger or run into things (basically acting like it's drunk), shake, have seizures or lose consciousness. If it is conscious and will eat it should be given a simple carbohydrate (most cat treats will do) to raise its glucose levels quickly and some high protein food to keep them up. If it's unconscious, seizing or refusing to eat, you can rub corn (Karo) syrup, honey or any other kind of syrup on its gums. When it wakes up, give it treats and food as above. If the cat does not wake up or gets worse, take it to the vet.

It will probably need intravenous glucose. Contact the vet in any case as you may need to adjust the next dose of insulin.
10. You can learn a lot about feline diabetes on the internet.

Answer: True

There are many web sites, message boards and mailing lists about feline diabetes, but do check several sites to make sure the information is consistent.
Source: Author Hawise

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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