Bexacat tablets cannot be used in cats that have previously received insulin.
When Mark Winterheimer’s 12-Year-Old Tabby Cat Was Diagnosed diabetes Last year, treatment was grueling: twice-daily insulin injections, an implanted monitor, and frequent visits to the vet.
Despite his objections, Winterheimer and his wife, Courtney, of New Albany, Indiana, learned to give Oliver injections.
“To us, they’re part of the family,” Winterheimer said of Oliver and his two other cats, Ella and Theo. “You shall not deny medical care to another family member if it is available.”
Now a new once-a-day pill promises to make it easier to treat diabetes Feline in newly diagnosed animals, without the need for injections.
“A pill is a big step up from a needle,” said Dr. Audrey Cook, a cat veterinarian at Texas A&M University.
But there’s a caveat: The pill, called Bexacat, can’t be used in cats, like Oliver, who were previously on insulin.
The biggest advantage, according to experts, may be the ease of use. While many cat owners successfully treat their cats with insulin twice a day, sometimes for years, others struggle.
Studies Show Owners Euthanize One in 10 Newly Diagnosed Cats diabetes, Another 10% of cats are euthanized within a year, partly because of the difficulties of treatment.
“Some people are afraid to inject them with insulin. Some just don’t have the time to care for their cats,” said Dr. Catherine Scott-Moncrieff, a veterinarian at Purdue University who spoke to Bexacat’s makers about testing the product. was consulted.
